Prince George beams in official birthday photo – in pictures

Royal Family to mark eldest son's birthday on Friday with new photo taken by Duchess of Cambridge

A new photograph has been released to mark Prince George's ninth birthday. Prince George is the eldest child of Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and the great grandson of Queen Elizabeth II. The prince is third in line to British throne. PA

Prince George watches the men's singles final at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London with his parents, earlier in July. Reuters

Prince George stands alongside the queen and his younger sister Princess Charlotte on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June. Getty Images

Prince William, Prince George and the Duchess of Cambridge at the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium in June 2021. Getty Images

A photograph of Prince George taken by his mother in 2020 to celebrate his 7th birthday. Reuters 

Prince George in the garden at Kensington Palace in a photograph taken by his mother to mark his 6th birthday in 2019. Getty Images

The bridesmaids and page boys, including Prince George, arrive ahead of the wedding of Princess Eugenie of York and Mr Jack Brooksbank at St. George's Chapel, Windsor, in October 2018. Getty Images

Prince George poses for a photograph to mark his 5th birthday in 2018, in the garden at Clarence House in central London. Reuters

Prince George's official 4th birthday portrait, taken in June 2017 at Kensington Palace in London. AP

Prince George arrives for his first day of school in London in 2017. Getty Images

Prince George at the family's Norfolk home, released to celebrate his 3rd birthday in 2016. Shutterstock

US President Barack Obama, Prince William, and US first lady Michelle Obama speak with Prince George at Kensington Palace in 2016. Getty Images

Prince George with his parents and younger sister Princess Charlotte, in a photograph released to celebrate his 2nd birthday in 2015. PA

Prince George walks with his parents Prince William and Kate, as they arrive at the Sandringham Estate for the Christening of Princess Charlotte in 2015. Getty Images

Prince William arrives with his son Prince George at St Mary's Hospital in London on the day Princess Charlotte was born in May 2015. Getty Images

The Duchess of Cambridge holds Prince George while visiting the Natural History Museum in London in 2014. Getty Images

Prince George looks at an Australian animal called a Bilby, which has been named after the young prince, during a visit to Sydney's Taronga Zoo during a tour of Australia in 2014. Getty Images

Prince George plays while at Government House in Wellington, New Zealand, in 2014. Getty Images

Prince William and Kate depart with their newborn son Prince George from St Mary's Hospital, on July 23, 2013. Getty Images

Prince George marks his ninth birthday on Friday and a new photograph has been released to mark the special occasion.

The young prince is pictured smiling for the camera on a UK beach in the photograph, taken by his mother the Duchess of Cambridge, who is well known for taking pictures of her children to mark their milestones.

Her son is shown beaming this month while wearing a polo-style top with a sandy shoreline and water behind him.

The Queen’s official Twitter account led the monarchy in marking the birthday of the young royal.

Above the image was a birthday cake emoji and the words “Wishing a very Happy 9th Birthday to Prince George!”

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall’s Twitter account retweeted the official birthday image of the young prince with the words “Happy 9th Birthday to Prince George!” alongside a cupcake emoji.

According to reports, the future king will start at Lambrook School in Ascot near Windsor Castle this year.

Prince William and Kate are rumoured to be planning a move to Berkshire to be close to their son’s new school, and to Queen Elizabeth II.

The British public caught a glimpse of Prince George and his younger siblings when they appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Queen Elizabeth's platinum jubilee in May, which marked 70 years of her reign.

The cheerful antics with his brother Louis and sister Charlotte were widely reported in the media, a clear sign that Britain is taking the future monarch to their hearts.

Prince George, who is third-in-line to the throne, was born at St Mary's Hospital in London in 2013 to much national fanfare.

He lives a relatively normal life despite his royal status. He is a pupil at the private fee-paying Thomas's School in Battersea, where his sister Charlotte also attends.

The Queen's great-grandson also looked the part at Wimbledon this month as he watched the men's final alongside his parents.

Before the final, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge greeted ball boys and girls, as well as military personnel, with Prince George in the Millennium building.

The duchess, who is patron of the All England Club, explained to Prince George what the military personnel do.

“They look after everybody to make sure the crowds are safe and happy, doing the right thing, in the right seats, making sure the grounds are safe,” Kate told him.

When asked why their daughter Princess Charlotte was not there, the Duchess of Cambridge said: “It’s George’s treat today.”

Last year, Prince William and Kate marked released a photograph of their son with a beaming smile to mark his eighth birthday.

The photograph shows the Cambridges' first child perched on a Land Rover synonymous with his late great-grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh.

In 2017 the Kate accepted a lifetime honorary membership of the Royal Photographic Society, which recognised her “talent and enthusiasm”.

Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, with their children - in pictures