Prince George looked right at home as he joined his family for Trooping the Colour, but royal fans were amazed by one change in his appearance. By Sophie Roberts 15:50, Sat, Jun 13, 2026 Updated: 15:53, Sat, Jun 13, 2026
The Royal Family took to the balcony at Trooping the Colour (Image: Chris Jackson, Getty Images)
It seems like only yesterday the world witnessed him make his debut on the steps of the Lindo Wing, yet Prince George has grown up right before our very eyes. Now aged 12, the future monarch is conducting himself with a remarkable degree of maturity and understated poise at recent royal occasions – especially during today's highly-anticipated Trooping the Colour ceremony.
Beyond his very composed demeanour before the enthusiastic crowds, one particular detail of his appearance took royal observers by surprise. We're talking about his height!
Prince George has evidently inherited the renowned Windsor, Middleton and Spencer height genes. Despite his 5'9'' mother, Princess Catherine, wearing high heels, her pre-teen son stood nearly as tall as her.
Expressing their astonishment on X, one observer wrote: "Wow, Prince George is so tall. Princess Catherine looks beautiful as always."
Another said: "The height on Prince George is just blowing my mind." Meanwhile, a third shared a shocked emoji and added: "The fact that Prince George (not yet 13) is almost as tall as his mum in heels!"
Prince George wasn't the only member of the Royal Family to experience a viral moment at Trooping the Colour. Princess Catherine donned a powder-blue dress by Catherine Walker, complemented by an oversized Philip Treacy hat and her beloved statement pearl earrings. She received praise for this outfit because it included a subtle tribute to Princess Diana that you may have missed at first glance.
Prince George – the future King – already carries himself with poise (Image: Samir Hussein, Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty Images)
Why do we celebrate Trooping the Colour, anyway?
During the 17th century, battlefield communication was utterly chaotic. Surrounded by smoke, din, and the disorder of combat, a regiment's distinctive flag – its "Colour" – served as a visual assembly point. If a soldier became separated, they searched for the flag. To guarantee every man could identify his unit's Colour, junior officers would parade, or "troop," the flag gradually along the ranks ahead of battle.
In 1748, King George II chose to merge this military custom with his official birthday celebrations. Born in November, a month infamous for appalling British weather, he simply shifted his public birthday to June to ensure better weather for a parade. That quirk endured, and today, Trooping the Colour functions as the official, public birthday celebration for the reigning British Sovereign, presently King Charles III.
Nowadays, the parade represents a remarkable logistical achievement executed by the Household Division, the monarch's personal forces. The immense scale of the undertaking is difficult to understate. It showcases over 1,400 parading soldiers, 400 military musicians, and approximately 200 horses. Yet, the most iconic moment remains watching the Red Arrows soar over London in celebration.
Millions of viewers watch the occasion globally each year. After all, it is a magnificent display of British pomp and pageantry that you wouldn't want to miss.
