Prince George Teams Up With Louis and Charlotte for Adorable 12th Birthday Video—And Channels Mom Princess Kate

The future King brought back memories of one of his mother's famous photos.

Prince George wearing a vest smiling and leaning on a fence, George, Louis and Charlotte holding hands and laughing
(Image credit: The Prince and Princess of Wales/Josh Shinner, Instagram)

Prince George celebrated his 12th birthday on Tuesday, July 22, and Prince William and Princess Kate treated fans to both a new portrait and a sweet video for the occasion. The future King looked all grown up—and just like his dad—in his official birthday photo, but the portrait also brought to mind one of the Princess of the Wales's iconic moments.

Wearing an olive green fleece vest over a white and blue checkered button-up shirt, Prince George beams as he leans across a weathered wood fence in the picture, taken by photographer Josh Shinner. The pre-teen also wears one of Princess Charlotte's favorite accessories—a blue string friendship bracelet—in the snapshot. Eagle-eyed royal fans might have noticed that the photo is similar to the ones Princess Kate (then the Duchess of Cambridge) took for British Vogue in 2016.

Kate posed for the magazine's cover at the time, wearing a suede jacket as she rested her arms on a fence in the countryside. And in another photo from the shoot, snapped by Josh Olins, she wore a red striped shirt as she leaned over a rustic wood fence.

Prince George wearing a vest leaning along a fence in 12th birthday photo

Prince George is the spitting image of Prince William in his 12th birthday portrait.

(Image credit: The Prince and Princess of Wales/Instagram)

Prince George and Princess Charlotte lifting Prince Louis and laughing

The siblings lifted Prince Louis in George's birthday video.

(Image credit: The Prince and Princess of Wales/Instagram)

British Vogue Kate cover

A photo posted by on

Prince Louis, 7, and Princess Charlotte, 10, joined in the fun for George's birthday video, walking hand-in-hand and giggling in one scene and lifting Louis up in another shot.

The video follows a new tradition the Prince and Princess of Wales started for Prince Louis's birthday in April, releasing both a photo and video instead of just a birthday portrait. However, the couple didn't release a video for Princess Charlotte's 10th birthday in May, instead sharing a casual snapshot of the tween in a camo jacket that was snapped by the Princess of Wales on her phone—a royal first.

George's birthday posts follow a fun day out at Wimbledon for the Wales kids (minus Prince Louis), who joined their parents for the men's singles final match on July 13.

Kristin Contino
Senior Royal and Celebrity Editor

Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.