2013

On July 22, 2013, Prince William and Kate Middleton welcomed their first child. Keeping with royal tradition, the proud parents 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

From his mom’s arms, Prince George took in the Sensational Butterflies exhibit at the Natural History Museum in London 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 Prince George’s toddler days, the almost 2-year-old royal 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 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

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to share a photograph of Prince George and Princess Charlotte at Kensington Palace this morning.

The photo was taken shortly before Their Royal Highnesses left for Thomas’s Battersea ✏️📚🏫 pic.twitter.com/oiMKArFQnd

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) September 5, 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 the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022.

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 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 2022, helped carry 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 part.

2024

The preteen prince joined the royal family at Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024, sporting a suit and tie for the annual celebration of the British monarch’s birthday.

2025

At 12, Prince George already has a deep understanding of sports drama — he was utterly invested in the Jannik Sinner vs. Carlos Alcaraz match-up at Wimbledon last year.

2026

Prince George nearly towered over his mom as the duo was pictured standing on the Buckingham Palace balcony during Trooping the Color in June 2026.

2026

The young prince was later captured getting silly alongside little brother, Prince George.