Everything We Know About Prince George as He Turns 9!
On July 22, Prince George celebrates his 9th birthday! Doesn’t it seem like just yesterday that Kate Middleton and Prince William stood on the steps of the Lindo Wing, cradling their firstborn child? Fast forward to the present, and that tiny bundle turns nine! And already, young Prince George has made quite a mark on the world with his charming personality, dapper style, and mischievous grin. But for as much as you’ve probably heard about Prince George, there are some fun facts about the super-cute heir (he’s third in line to the throne) that you’d probably be surprised to learn.
Although Kate and William do an impressive job of maintaining their children’s privacy as much as possible for members of the monarchy, some of what we know about George comes from his public appearances — which are always memorable. A lot of what we know, though, comes from George’s proud parents themselves. Both Kate and William routinely share snippets of information about their eldest child and, well, who doesn’t love to learn more about this kid? It seems like he just gets more adorable with each passing year.
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So, in celebration of the young royal growing another year older, here are some interesting things about Prince George you may not know.
Performing Is His Passion (And a Family Tradition!)
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When Prince William met a young dancer by the name of Junior at an event for BBC Radio 1’s Teen Awards, he revealed that his firstborn inherited a love for movement, too. “George is doing dancing as well, he loves it,” William shared. “And my mother always used to dance, she loved dancing.”
Dancing isn’t George’s only creative outlet, though. In 2017, William shared that George had starred in the nativity play at his school (“He was a sheep”). And in 2019, while at the annual Royal Variety Performance at London’s Palladium Theatre, Kate told two young performers that George and little sister Charlotte “love performing” at home.
He’s Quite the Little Swimmer
During an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in late 2019, William sounded like any other proud papa talking about how George could swim “quite well.” According to Eileen Fenton, a swimmer honored at the event, William said that the whole family enjoys swimming together. “I can remember seeing when the Queen was young and her sister Princess Margaret — we used to see them swimming in pictures,” Fenton recounted, adding of William’s revelation, “He said the whole family have done it.”
The Queen Is One of His Favorite People
You can practically tell when looking at photos of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince George that she has a soft spot for the nine-year-old. Back in 2016, Kate confirmed as much, explaining that George shares a close bond with the monarch. “He calls her ‘Gan-Gan,’” Kate said. “She always leaves a little gift or something in their [he and Charlotte’s] room when we go and stay, and that just shows her love for her family.” Aww!
He’s a Lot Like Any Other Boy His Age
Okay, so there is a lot that differentiates George from the quote-unquote average nine-year-old. Having said that, there are plenty of ways he’s a lot like any other boy his age. For example, in 2017 William visited McLaren Automotive headquarters, where he was shown a McLaren sports car crafted entirely out of Legos. His first thought? “Wow! My son’s very into Legos, and he’d love this,” William said of George’s affinity for the colored building blocks.
He’s Not Above a Bit of Sibling Rivalry
If you need further proof that all families deal with sibling rivalry, look no further than young Prince George. During a gardening event, Kate confessed that George had turned their family’s pastime of growing sunflowers into a competition with his sister Charlotte and brother Louis. “The children are really enjoying growing their sunflowers,” Kate said before noting, “Louis’s is winning, so George is a little grumpy about that!”
It isn’t just Louis’ sunflowers that have made George jealous of his siblings recently, either. “George gets very upset because he just wants to do all of Charlotte’s projects,” Kate told ITV. “Spider sandwiches are far cooler than literacy work!”
He’s a Cool Kid at School
The Duke and Duchess are very pleased to share a photograph of The Duke and Prince George at Kensington Palace this morning. pic.twitter.com/MxcU0RqGvi
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) September 7, 2017
If you’ve ever wondered how George gets on with his non-royal classmates at Thomas’s Battersea school in London, well, rest assured he does all right. Speaking to Vanity Fair, a classmate’s parent said, “George is really happy at school, [and his nickname is P.G. He’s very popular and has lots of friends, and there’s very little fuss made about who he is.”
He Might Be Switching Schools
On the subject of George’s education, it would seem William and Kate are torn. In June 2020, royal biographer Ingrid Seward pointed out that royal kids typically head off to boarding school around age eight — but they’re struggling with the decision due to the coronavirus pandemic. Even so, Seward thinks George would fit right in, saying, “William loved it at Ludgrove, as did his brother Harry. They both boarded full-time but Diana would visit at weekends. It’s a super-friendly school so it could be a good choice for George. He might follow his father to Eton College for his secondary education.”
He Enjoys Screen Time
George might be a royal, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t enjoy watching TV and movies like the rest of us. In fact, it sounds like George might just be a budding cinephile! “Fireman Sam is taking an awful lot of interest,” William told BBC radio of his son’s viewing habits. “You have to pretend you’re really into [his shows] because George gets very upset if you’re not showing due diligence to the characters.”
William has also let it slip that George’s favorite movies are The Lion King and How to Train Your Dragon. Then, during a post-BAFTAs meet-and-greet, Kate reportedly told director Lee Unkrich, “Paddington is definitely up there, and so is Coco now. It’s great obviously because of William’s interest in film. It’s great to have that father-son thing.”
He Can Be a Handful, Like Another Mischievous Royal
George may look just like his dad, but his personality is shaping up to be more like another famous royal: Prince Harry! William told CNN that his eldest child is a “rascal” who reminds him a lot of his brother. And when asked in 2016 why they didn’t bring the lad along during a visit to India, Kate reportedly joked, “Because George is too naughty. He would be running all over the place!”
Just Call Him Chef Boy-Ardee
Kate has commented on her firstborn’s culinary prowess in the past, but fans got to see it in action last Christmas. To commemorate the holidays in 2019, Buckingham Palace released a series of photos of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Prince William, and — who else? — Prince George. The group was preparing four different puddings, all said to bring good luck.
He Missed a Birthday Tradition in 2020
Unfortunately, the novel coronavirus pandemic means that 2020 is basically a do-over year. Things are weird and different and sometimes scary, not to mention so many things have been canceled. Among them is the ringing of the bells at London’s Westminster Abbey, an annual tradition — something that can’t happen until the pandemic dies down again. However, something tells us George will still manage to make the most of his special day!
He’s Interested In Wildlife
In October 2020, Prince George and his two siblings had the opportunity to ask renowned natural historian and documentarian Sir David Attenborough some questions about wildlife and the planet. Prince George was keenly interested to know what animal Attenborough thought would become extinct next. Fortunately, Attenborough assured George that he’s hopeful we won’t have to find out, as long as we work together and take care of the planet.
Prince George Was Close with His Great Grandfather, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
In April 2021, the royal family lost one of their most beloved members with the passing of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Prince William paid tribute to his grandfather by sharing two photos of him, and one just so happened to be a photo Kate took of Prince George riding in a carriage with his great-grandfather. “I will never take for granted the special memories my children will always have of their great-grandpa coming to collect them in his carriage and seeing for themselves his infectious sense of adventure as well as his mischievous sense of humour!” Prince William’s caption read, in part, in the above April 12 post.
He Loves Sports
Christian Charisius/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images.
Prince George definitely seems like he’s growing into a major sports fan — and he has a love for one team in particular. During the Euro Final, which took place on July 11, 2021, Prince George joined his mother and father to support England in a tight match against Italy! Although England lost, Prince George did his best to proudly stand and cheer on the team he loves. We’re sure it was an emotional experience for him, but there will be plenty more Euro Finals in the future!
He Takes His Role As Big Brother Very Seriously
MEGA.
Being the eldest Cambridge kid comes with plenty of responsibility, including looking out for younger siblings. Prince George is reportedly “very protective of his younger siblings.” It’s not often we get to see the young Cambridge trio together, but during the Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, all eyes were on the youngest royals at Trooping the Colour!
Before you go, click here to see some of the best photos of the royal family.
Launch Gallery: Looking Back at Prince George's All-Time Cutest Photos
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