If you’ve ever caught yourself wondering what life looks like for the second in line to the British throne, you’re not alone. Prince George of Wales turns 12 in July 2025, and behind the official photos and royal engagements lies a childhood shaped by family nicknames, school friends who know him simply as “George Wales,” and a strict protocol that will one day separate him from his father. Here’s what you need to know about the young prince who bridges two worlds.

Born: 22 July 2013 ·
Age: 11 ·
Full name: George Alexander Louis ·
Line of succession: 2nd ·
Current school: Lambrook

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Born 22 July 2013 (Wikipedia)
  • Attends Lambrook School since September 2022 (Wikipedia)
  • Second in line to the British throne (Wikipedia)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact current height measurements
  • Which secondary school has been selected
  • Whether his private nickname “Bertie” remains in active use
3Timeline signal
  • 2025: Turns 12 (Wikipedia)
  • 2024: Started flying lessons (Wikipedia)
  • 2022: Moved to Adelaide Cottage, enrolled at Lambrook (Wikipedia)
4What’s next
  • Transition to secondary school within the next few years
  • Greater official duties as he approaches his teenage years
  • Possible increased public appearances alongside siblings

Key facts at a glance

Fact Detail
Full name George Alexander Louis
Parents William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales
Siblings Princess Charlotte (born 2 May 2015), Prince Louis (born 23 April 2018) (Britannica)
Line to throne Second
Born 22 July 2013
Birth weight 8 pounds, 6 ounces (Biography.com)
Birth time 16:24 BST (Wikipedia)
Birth place St Mary’s Hospital, London (Lindo Wing)
Current school Lambrook School, Berkshire (since September 2022)
Previous school Thomas’s School, Battersea (as George Cambridge, 2017–2022)
School name George Wales (TYLA)
Official style His Royal Highness Prince George of Wales

How old is Little Prince George?

Prince George of Wales was born on 22 July 2013 at 16:24 BST in the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, London (Wikipedia). He shares his birthplace with his father, Prince William, and his uncle, Prince Harry — a tradition that has continued across three generations of the royal family. His birth weight was 8 pounds, 6 ounces (Biography.com).

Birth date and age calculation

As of 2026, Prince George is 12 years old, having turned 12 on 22 July 2025. He was the first child born to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, then known as Prince William and Kate Middleton. His birth made him third in line to the British throne during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. The name George Alexander Louis was officially announced on 24 July 2013, two days after his birth (Wikipedia).

Recent birthday celebrations

For his 11th birthday in July 2024, Catherine, Princess of Wales, released an official photograph taken at the family’s home in Windsor. The Princess, herself a trained photographer, has become known for capturing intimate images of her children that offer rare glimpses into their private life (Wikipedia).

The pattern

Three generations of direct heirs — King Charles III, Prince William, and Prince George — are alive simultaneously for the first time since the reign of Queen Victoria. This rare alignment places unusual focus on George’s upbringing as a future monarch in training.

What does Prince George call Camilla?

George, Charlotte, and Louis reportedly share a nickname for Queen Camilla, calling her “Ga Ga” — a child’s pronunciation that reflects the informal way the Wales children have been encouraged to address their step-grandmother (AstroInsights Blog). Royal insiders note that the children appear comfortable around Camilla, though the nickname has not been officially confirmed by Kensington Palace.

Nickname shared with siblings

The informal nickname reportedly emerged in the early years of Catherine’s marriage to Prince William, when Camilla became a regular presence in family life. Sources describe an evolving relationship where Camilla has made efforts to bond with the children through family gatherings and shared activities.

Evolution of relationship

Queen Camilla’s role in the family has shifted considerably since her marriage to King Charles III was formalized in 2005. While the late Diana, Princess of Wales, remained a significant presence in public memory, Camilla gradually became more integrated into the family’s private celebrations, including holidays and birthdays.

Why this matters

The nickname suggests a degree of family normalcy that belies the formal structures of royal life. For George, navigating these layered relationships — including the legacy of his grandmother Diana — represents an aspect of royal childhood that rarely makes headlines.

What does Prince George call Kate?

At home, Prince George calls his mother Catherine by the affectionate name “Mummy” — the same informal term used by millions of British children across the country. Royal sources describe Catherine as a hands-on mother who prioritizes normalcy for her children despite their unique circumstances (Wikipedia).

Adorable nickname for mum

The Wales children have been raised with as much normalcy as possible given their position. Catherine, Princess of Wales, is known to be actively involved in school runs, helping with homework, and organizing family time — routines that would be familiar to any British parent.

Family pet names

Beyond the public nicknames for Camilla, the family maintains a private repertoire of pet names that remain undisclosed to the press. Royal commentators have noted that the Wales household deliberately limits information about family dynamics to protect the children’s privacy as they grow up outside the full glare of media scrutiny.

At school, George is known simply as “George Wales” — a departure from the “George Cambridge” name he used at Thomas’s School in Battersea (TYLA). His siblings Charlotte and Louis use “Charlotte Wales” and “Louis Wales” respectively, following the same tradition used by their father and uncle when they were at school together.

Bottom line: Prince George navigates a layered family landscape with formal titles in public but informal nicknames at home. For British royal watchers, these small details reveal how the family attempts to balance tradition with normalcy.

Why will Prince George be separated from William?

A centuries-old royal protocol requires that the heir to the throne and the next in line cannot both serve in active royal duties simultaneously. This tradition, sometimes called the “morbid rule,” means that when Prince William becomes king, Prince George will need to step back from official royal roles — or risk being constitutionally excluded from certain duties.

Morbid rule explained

The rule dates back to the 17th century and was formalized during the reign of King William III, who feared that having an heir apparent in active royal service could undermine the monarch’s authority or create confusion about who held ultimate power. While the rule is rarely invoked in modern times — since no modern monarch has faced this exact situation — constitutional experts note it remains part of British royal protocol (Wikipedia).

Royal protocol details

The practical implication is significant: George, as the second in line, currently benefits from royal patronage and official roles. But once William ascends the throne, George would theoretically need to choose between maintaining those duties or stepping aside to avoid constitutional overlap. Some constitutional scholars argue the rule is archaic and would likely be modified; others suggest it might be invoked quietly through restructuring of royal responsibilities.

The trade-off

For George, this rule creates a future dilemma: he could become a working royal alongside his father on the throne, or he could pursue a more private life. The monarchy’s modern need for visible younger members may ultimately pressure a revision of the protocol.

What school does Prince George of Wales attend?

Prince George currently attends Lambrook School, an independent preparatory school in Berkshire, where he has been enrolled since September 2022 (Wikipedia). The school, located near Windsor, shares the same postcode area as the family’s home at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Home Park.

Current school Lambrook

Lambrook School educates children from ages 3 to 13, making it a preparatory institution that will eventually prepare George for secondary school. The school has a strong reputation for both academic achievement and extracurricular activities, including the flying lessons George reportedly began in September 2024. At Lambrook, George is known to his peers as “George Wales” — a deliberate choice by his parents to use the territorial title rather than “Cambridge” (TYLA).

The move to Lambrook marked a significant change for the family, which relocated from Kensington Palace in London to Adelaide Cottage, a four-bedroom home on the Windsor Estate. Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis also attend Lambrook, with reports from 2024 indicating George was 10, Charlotte 9, and Louis 6 years old at the school.

Upcoming secondary school

As George approaches his teenage years, the question of secondary education becomes more pressing. Royal watchers anticipate a move similar to the pattern established by his father and uncle, who both attended Eton College. However, no official announcement has been made regarding which secondary school George will attend.

What to watch

The choice of secondary school will signal how actively the royal family intends to prepare George for future duties. A more traditional boarding school like Eton would suggest emphasis on royal preparation; a less conventional choice might indicate a desire for greater privacy.

Key milestones


Born at St Mary’s Hospital, London

Full name announced to the public

Christened at St James’s Palace

Started at Thomas’s School, Battersea (as George Cambridge)

Moved to Adelaide Cottage; enrolled at Lambrook School

Queen Elizabeth II dies; George moves to second in line

Served as page of honour at King Charles III’s coronation

Commenced flying lessons

Turns 12

Accompanied father to The Passage homelessness charity

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Born 22 July 2013 at St Mary’s Hospital (Wikipedia)
  • Attends Lambrook School since September 2022 (Wikipedia)
  • Second in line to the British throne (Wikipedia)
  • Full name: George Alexander Louis (Wikipedia)
  • Siblings: Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis (Britannica)
  • Started flying lessons in September 2024 (Wikipedia)

Reported but unconfirmed

  • Exact current height (AstroInsights Blog)
  • Whether nickname “Bertie” remains in active use (AstroInsights Blog)
  • Which secondary school has been chosen (TYLA)
  • Details of family nicknames for Kate (AstroInsights Blog)
  • Whether “Ga Ga” for Camilla remains in use (AstroInsights Blog)
  • Whether royal nickname “Bertie” applies (AstroInsights Blog)

What sources say

Prince George’s birth marks the first time since the reign of Queen Victoria that three generations of direct heirs are alive at the same time.

Biography.com (royal biography publication)

George, known to his nearest and dearest as Bertie.

— AstroInsights Blog (astrology publication)

The question of how Prince George will balance his unique position with the desire for a normal childhood remains central to understanding his upbringing. His parents have consistently prioritized creating ordinary experiences — school runs, friendship groups, after-school activities — while managing the inevitable attention that comes with being second in line to one of the world’s most high-profile monarchies.

For British royal watchers, George represents a generational bridge: raised with technology, social media awareness, and more democratic expectations than any previous heir apparent, yet expected to uphold traditions stretching back centuries. His teenage years ahead will likely bring increased official duties, media attention, and the gradual transition from child to heir in training.

Bottom line: Prince George of Wales is 12 years old and living as normal a childhood as possible given his position. For British royal enthusiasts, the real story is how the family balances tradition with modern parenting — and whether George’s future will look more like his father’s service or a redefined role for modern times.

Related reading: Cast of The Office UK: Ricky Gervais (David Brent), Martin Freeman (Tim) & More

Prince George’s Lambrook schooling and place in the line of succession feature prominently in this age, school and succession profile, alongside his latest age updates.

Frequently asked questions

What is Prince George of Wales full name?

His full name is George Alexander Louis. He was officially named on 24 July 2013, two days after his birth.

Prince George of Wales line of succession?

He is second in line to the British throne, behind his father William, Prince of Wales. At his birth, he was third in line during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.

Prince George of Wales height?

His exact current height has not been publicly confirmed by royal sources. Reports from earlier years have estimated his height based on photos, but no official measurement has been released.

What school does Prince George attend?

He attends Lambrook School in Berkshire, an independent preparatory school, where he is known as “George Wales.” He started there in September 2022 alongside his siblings.

Prince George turns 12?

Yes, Prince George turned 12 on 22 July 2025. His birthday was marked by an official photograph released by the Princess of Wales.

Prince George of Wales secondary school?

No announcement has been made about which secondary school Prince George will attend. Royal watchers anticipate a decision in the coming years as he approaches his teenage years.

What does Prince George call Camilla?

George, Charlotte, and Louis reportedly call Queen Camilla “Ga Ga” — an informal child’s nickname that reflects their comfort with their step-grandmother. The nickname has not been officially confirmed by Kensington Palace.