Prince George celebrated his 12th birthday on July 22nd. We know, we can’t believe it’s already been 12 years since Prince William and Kate Middleton debuted their firstborn and the second heir to the throne on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s hospital in London!

As is royal tradition, the Prince and Princess of Wales marked the occasion by releasing a brand-new portrait of the young royal. Over the past year, Prince George has made several high-profile public appearances, including the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, the Wimbledon tennis championships, and the balcony at Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Color. He’s growing up so fast!

A New Picture Of Prince George Is Released To Mark His 12th Birthday

The latest photo was shared to the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Instagram account on July 22nd, alongside the caption, “Happy 12th Birthday to Prince George!” followed by a birthday cake emoji.

While some birthday pictures have been taken by the Princess of Wales, on this occasion, the picture was taken by photographer Josh Shinner in Norfolk earlier this year. It shows Prince George smiling warmly for the camera while wearing a white checkered long-sleeve shirt with a khaki gilet on top, and a friendship bracelet on his wrist.

While some royal fans couldn’t help but comment on how grown up he looked, many thought they were seeing double, as they thought he was his father’s twin!

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Prince William as a child and Prince George now

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Fan Comments

“Omgggg he’s all grown! And is he a mini of William or what!” exclaimed one royal fan on a Vogue Instagram post featuring the picture, followed by the heart eyes emoji. “Why I thought this was a throwback of the father,” echoed a second, followed by the crying laughing emoji. “Gorgeous like his father… Happy birthday, darling,” commented a third, followed by the red heart emoji. “He looks like his daddy,” observed a fourth.

“What a handsome young man,” gushed a fifth fan, as a sixth added: “He’s a cutie.” “This is definitely a beautiful picture, I know Grandma Diana is proud,” praised a seventh. “How time flies,” added an eighth, as a ninth declared: “A dashing prince and future king.”

“What a lovely way to mark Prince George’s 12th birthday,” commented a tenth fan. They added: “It’s heartwarming to see how much he’s grown and these annual portraits have become such a sweet tradition for royal watchers. The setting at their Norfolk home adds a personal, relaxed touch. Looking forward to seeing the full collection of portraits over the years such a beautiful glimpse into the family’s life.”