Grown-up Prince George snapped in new birthday photo by Kate as he turns 11

Prince George has been pictured in a new photograph taken by his mother, the Princess of Wales, to celebrate his 11th birthday.

The future King looked smart and grown up in the black and white shot captured by Kate at Windsor earlier this month.

The Waleses shared the close-up portrait of George on social media, alongside the message: “Wishing Prince George a very happy 11th birthday today!”

He is shown sitting and smiling at the camera, dressed in an open-necked white shirt and dark blazer and wearing a friendship bracelet on his left wrist.

Kensington Palace declined to reveal who gave the prince the bracelet.

George’s birthday celebrations come after an eventful few weeks for the youngster, who travelled with his father to Berlin in Germany to cheer on England in the Euro 2024 final and witnessed their defeat to Spain.

The prince and his nine-year-old sister, Princess Charlotte, also joined William at a Taylor Swift concert at Wembley Stadium at the end of June to celebrate their father’s 42nd birthday.

The royals were pictured smiling with the US singer in a backstage selfie, while Swift’s boyfriend, American footballer Travis Kelce, said the royal children were “an absolute delight”.

George, second in line to the throne, also appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with the royal family in June to celebrate the King’s official birthday.

It was Kate’s first public appearance since announcing her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

George had earlier joined Kate, Charlotte and his six-year-old brother Prince Louis in a carriage as they travelled down The Mall for the traditional Trooping the Colour ceremony.

George and his father presented the FA Cup to winners Manchester United at Wembley in May.

The young prince shook hands with both teams, exchanged a few words with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and also spoke briefly with former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson following the full-time whistle.

William is president of the Football Association and a passionate Aston Villa fan, and has taken George to the club’s matches on multiple occasions this year, with the young prince often sporting the team’s scarf.

In April, they watched Aston Villa’s match against Lille in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals – their first public outing since Kate’s cancer diagnosis announcement.

Prince George Alexander Louis was born in the private Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London, at 4.24pm on July 22 2013, weighing 8lb 6oz.

He made his debut in front of the world’s media on the hospital steps one day later, wrapped in a white merino wool shawl, cradled in his mother’s arms.