Show Caption
LONDON – Prince George is officially a teenager.The eldest child of Prince William and Princess Kate turned 13 on July 22. Recent photos show the prince is almost the same height as mom, who is 5 feet, 9 inches.For George, growing up will bring more responsibilities than the average teenager. After all, he is also carefully being prepared for kingship. There is much to think about as he enters adolescence, including education, military service, charity work and royal engagements.There are already signs that George, who is second-in-line to the British throne, will mirror some of his father's life choices. Though he is on his own path to becoming a modern monarch, which may mean he breaks away from some long-standing traditions.Here's a look at how life will start to change for the teenage prince.William and Kate's softer approach on George, despite fewer working royalsWilliam and Kate have worked to give George as normal a childhood as possible, despite the pressures of being in the royal spotlight and on the radar of the ever-watchful British tabloids."William and Catherine are loving, caring parents. If one of their children did not want to take up royal duties, they would not be forced to as would have happened in the past," royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams tells USA TODAY, adding he does not believe George will suddenly "be doing more" the minute he turns 13. "Certainly not yet," he says.Fitzwilliams notes that while the pressure may not be felt by George straight away, there is "a serious problem" with the way Britain's royal family is currently structured."Only two working royals are under 60," he points out, adding that apart from George and his siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, no other working royal is currently expected to emerge, which may place more pressure on the Wales children as they grow older."Although William and Catherine are reportedly in favor of giving them as much choice as possible, the institution needs them and there will be enormous pressure for them to conform," Fitzwilliams says.Prince George is headed to a new school with family tiesIn September, George will start at the prestigious Eton College in Berkshire, England. William also went to Eton, enrolling in 1995 and has spoke fondly of his time there.The boarding school for boys is just a short drive from George's family home, Forest Lodge.George's estranged uncle, Prince Harry, also attended Eton, which was founded in the 15th century by King Henry VI. Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, also studied there, as did 20 British prime ministers, including Boris Johnson.A place at the school, which provides education from the ages of 13 to 18, costs 63,000 pounds a year (around $84,400) and it is understood fees will be paid by the family.Will Prince George adhere to the royal tradition of military service?Military service has long been at the heart of Britain's royal family, with the sovereign serving as the ceremonial head of the Armed Forces. Traditionally, senior royals are encouraged to undergo training and serve in the British armed forces.During World War II, Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service, training as a mechanic and a driver. In doing so, she became the first female member of the royal family to become a full-time active member of the services.George's grandfather, King Charles, served in the Royal Navy and trained in the Royal Air Force, while father Prince William completed more than seven-and-a-half years of full-time military service, spending time in the Royal Air Force and the Navy.Unlike Prince Harry, Prince William was not allowed to serve in combat, because of his placement in the line of succession.Harry served in the British army for 10 years, as a forward air controller and an Apache helicopter pilot. He completed two operational tours of Afghanistan before ending his military career in 2015. In his memoir, "Spare," Harry wrote that he killed 25 Taliban soldiers while serving in the Helmand region of the country and has since spoken out about his experience in a bid to prevent veteran suicide.While it is too soon to know if George will undergo military training or serve, Fitzwilliams tells USA TODAY that "it would be expected" that George "follow his father into the services."Prince George embraces charity work that started with Princess Diana, Prince WilliamWith George growing up, his charity work is also starting to take off.William took George to volunteer for the first time at Passage, a homeless charity in London that is close to his heart, in December 2025. William is the charity’s royal patron and was taken to the shelter by his mother, Princess Diana, when he was 11 years old.George and William donned aprons and prepared vegetables for the annual Christmas lunches, which would feed 150 people. While there, George signed a visitors' book on the same page signed by his father and his grandmother Diana when they visited in 1993.For William, who is next in line to the British throne, George one day becoming king gives the family much to think about. Top of the list, is bringing "change" to the royal family and beyond, he said in a 2025 episode of "The Reluctant Traveler" with Eugene Levy.William said he is focused on creating an environment and an impactful role that the young prince will inherit when he becomes reigning monarch."I want to create a world in which my son is proud of what we do and a job that actually does impact people’s lives for the better," William said.
