Prince George Is Turning 10! See the Best Photo from Every Year of His Royal Life

The young prince has had a charmed childhood as Kate Middleton and Prince William prepare him for the destiny ahead

Prince George is growing up! The heir to the throne turns 10 on Saturday and will likely ring in the special occasion with his family. Prince William and Kate Middleton’s eldest son may be king one day, but the Prince and Princess of Wales have worked to ensure he still has a normal childhood largely outside of the royal spotlight.

In honor of Prince George turning double digits, look back at the best photos from his ten years.

2013

On July 22, 2013, a young couple welcomed their first child. Keeping with royal tradition, Prince William and Kate Middleton posed for a photo call outside the hospital the following day to introduce the world to the new addition to the line of succession to the throne (when he was born, George was third in line behind his grandfather Charles and father William).

The little prince’s name was soon announced as George Alexander Louis, likely a tribute to the regnal name of Queen Elizabeth’s father, King George VI.

2014

Prince George sweetly reached from his mom’s arms while checking out the Sensational Butterflies exhibit at the Natural History Museum in London with his parents in July 2014.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as William and Kate were styled at the time, released the shot in honor of their son’s first birthday — kicking off a tradition that would continue ever since (and eventually extend to his siblings).

2015

In an especially memorable image from George’s toddler days, the almost 2-year-old prince animatedly chatted with his great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth at the 2015 christening of his sister, Princess Charlotte.

2016

Prince George stole hearts with a darling double wave while visiting Canada with his family in October 2016 at age 3.

2016

Is there anything cuter than a tiny prince enjoying Christmas?

2017

Prince George had another iconic photo moment when he explored a helicopter with dad Prince William during a royal tour of Germany on the eve of his 4th birthday.

2018

The little prince bounded around the grounds of the Beaufort Polo Club during one of his dad’s matches a few weeks before his 5th birthday.

2019

Prince George and Princess Charlotte matched in uniforms on the steps of Kensington Palace on an important morning: their first day at the same school! The sweet bond between George, then 6, and Charlotte, then 4, was evident as they posed close together before heading off to Thomas’s Battersea in September 2019.

“They are close in age, and they spend so much time together,” a source told PEOPLE at the time. “Playdates [with outsiders] can be tricky, so they learn to lean on each other.”

2020

George joined dad William, mom Kate, sister Charlotte and little brother Louis to support the “Clap for Carers” campaign during the coronavirus pandemic. The royal family applauded frontline workers from Amner Hall, their country home in Norfolk, in a special appearance that aired on the BBC.

2021

Prince George was treated to a soccer game on a school night a few weeks before his 8th birthday to watch England and Germany play their Euro 2020 match at Wembley Stadium.

The little prince (who has inherited his father’s love of football, as the sport is known in Europe) proved to be a lucky charm, and England advanced to the quarterfinals.

2022

Prince George looked at Queen Elizabeth with love during the royal family’s appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on the final day of Platinum Jubilee.

The picture was even more poignant as it caught four generations of royalty — including heirs Prince William and then-Prince Charles — in one frame.

"That's an extra dynamic you have with royal photos, you have that deeper historical context which makes these moments so important to capture," explained royal photographer Chris Jackson, who was behind the lens, on the Hello! A Right Royal podcast. “As a photographer, you do feel the pressure of that history and you don't want to bugger it up, basically.”

2023

Nine-year-old George adorably served as a Page of Honor at the coronation of his grandfather King Charles on May 6. The young prince — who is now second in line to the throne following the death of Queen Elizabeth in September — helped carry a corner of the King’s robes during the crowning ceremony at Westminster Abbey and flashed a grin while leaving the balcony of Buckingham Palace balcony behind his grandfather.

“He was terrific,” a close family friend tells PEOPLE of George’s Page of Honor part in this week’s exclusive cover story.

Birthday Boy

George will likely ring in his 10th birthday with loved ones — and maybe even some pizza! While he may seem shy at some public events, sources tell PEOPLE in this week’s cover story that William and Kate’s eldest son is truly coming into his own.

"He's a cracking lad," a close family friend tells PEOPLE.

Party Prince

Happy birthday, Prince George!

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