NEED TO KNOW

  • Prince George stepped out in casual attire for an annual royal holiday outing, serving as a small example in his father Prince William’s plans for the future of the monarchy
  • During a charity event in London on Dec. 16, the 12-year-old could be seen dressed in a red quarter zip with a plaid button-down — and archival photos from 1993 showed William wearing a suit and tie to the same event when he was 11
  • Prince William has been candid in recent years about his goal to modernize the monarchy

Prince George stepped out in casual attire for an annual royal holiday outing — and the 12-year-old’s style choice may reflect his father Prince William’s plans for the future of the monarchy.

On Dec. 16, George joined William, 43, to help prepare the annual holiday lunch at The Passage, the U.K.’s largest resource center for homeless and insecurely housed people.

George could be seen dressed in a red quarter zip with a plaid button-down underneath along with a pair of navy blue slacks, while his father donned a sweater, blue button-down and black slacks.

The father-son duo’s down-to-earth attire wasn’t just practical for a hands-on volunteer shift. It also symbolizes the more relatable, approachable image William hopes to cultivate as he modernizes the monarchy. In contrast to the formality expected of young royals in past generations, George’s casual outfit reflects a deliberate shift toward accessibility — a visual cue that the future King and his heir intend to meet people where they are, in settings that feel less ceremonial and more human.

Princess Diana took William and Prince Harry to the same event when William was around the same age that his eldest child is now. Archival photos posted by the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Instagram account showed William wearing a suit and tie to the event when he was 11.

William has been candid in recent years about his goals to bring the traditions of the royals into the modern age — and his eldest son’s outfit is a clear step as he attempts to modernize the monarchy.

During an October interview with actor Eugene Levy, host of Apple TV+’s The Reluctant Traveler, Prince William said that while tradition has played a “huge part” in his role (and his children‘s roles) as monarchs, “there are also points where you look at tradition and go, is that still fit for purpose today?”

“Is that still the right thing to do? Are we still doing and having the most impact we could be having?” William questioned during his conversation with Levy, 79.

“I think it’s safe to say that change is on my agenda – change for good,” he told the American Pie comedian, as they discussed his future role as king and how George will one day succeed him. William added: “And I embrace that, and I enjoy that change – I don’t fear it.”

Talk then turned to William’s eventual role as King of England, and the prince shared his desire for progress.

“If you’re not careful, history can be a real weight and an anchor around you, and you can feel suffocated by it,” he said. “I think it’s important to live for the here and now.”

“I want to create a world in which my son is proud of what we do,” William added, referring to his and Princess Kate‘s eldest child. “A world and a job that actually does impact people’s lives for the better.”

Prince William and Prince George visit The Passage on Dec. 16, 2025.

Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

“Prince William’s been quite vocal about what he wants to do when the time comes,” a source with ties to the palace told PEOPLE in an exclusive cover story soon after his conversation with Levy aired. “[To be] more accessible, more approachable.”

During the Dec. 16 event — the same day the royals had their own Christmas lunch hosted by King Charles at Buckingham Palace — George was also introduced to some of the users of the charity’s services and heard about their experiences and the support The Passage provides.

Prince William and Prince George visit The Passage on Dec. 16, 2025.

The Prince and Princess of Wales/Instagram

“It was important to the Prince of Wales to share with Prince George the work of The Passage and to spend time volunteering alongside the team,” William’s spokesperson told PEOPLE. “They both greatly enjoyed meeting staff, volunteers and service users as well as learning more about the charity’s work. The dedication shown not only by The Passage but by organizations across the homelessness sector, at Christmas and throughout the year, is invaluable.”

This wasn’t Prince George’s first introduction to service — or his first time slowly becoming immersed in the duties that will be his future. Princess Kate, 43, got George and his siblings, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, involved in a volunteer event in December 2023, when she took them to a baby bank.

This past May, George also joined his parents at a lunch at Buckingham Palace for World War II veterans as the 80th anniversary of VE Day was marked. In November, the royal also accompanied Princess Kate to the Festival of Remembrance, marking his first Remembrance Day event with the royals.

Prince William and Princess Kate’s eldest son also took a moment to honor his late grandmother Princess Diana at Tuesday’s event. A photo shared by the royal family on social media showed George signing a visitors’ book — right underneath his father and late grandmother Princess Diana’s signatures.

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In the 2024 documentary Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, William opened up about how much his mom inspired him with her generosity. 

“I’d never been to anything like that before. And I was a bit anxious as to what to expect,” he explained at the time. “My mother went about her usual part of making everyone feel relaxed and having a laugh and joking with everyone. I remember at the time kind of thinking, ‘Well, if everyone’s not got a home, they’re all going to be really sad.’ But it was incredible how happy an environment it was.”