A lip reader has revealed that Prince George affectionately calls his father Prince William "Papa" during a significant royal occasion. The young royal celebrated his 13th birthday today and is weeks away from starting secondary school at Eton College, following in the footsteps of his parents.
VE Day Celebrations
In 2025, George joined his mother Princess Catherine, sister Princess Charlotte, brother Prince Louis, his father, and other senior royals for the VE Day Celebrations. During the event, a lip reader witnessed George tapping William to get his attention before saying: "Papa, what a sound."
Earlier that day, the family attended a tea party for veterans, where William spoke of George's keen interest in veterans and their wellbeing, as reported by LBC.
Significance for Future Monarch
Speaking with Hello!, royal commentator Emily Nash noted that this appearance marked a significant milestone in George's journey toward becoming a future monarch. She said: "It was a lovely surprise to see Prince George joining the King and Queen and his parents for the veterans tea party at the Palace. It's a big moment for him as second-in-line to the throne and one he will remember for many years to come."
Nash added: "Both William and Catherine have spoken about their desire to teach their children about major moments in history, such the Holocaust, so this is another way for them to connect that wartime generation with their own next generation."
Education at Eton
George celebrated his final day at Lambrook earlier this month before he embarks on his journey to Eton College in September. All three siblings attended the private preparatory school in Berkshire, which provides a weekly Saturday school followed by an afternoon of sports for all pupils in Year 5 and above. Charlotte, 11, and eight-year-old Louis continue to attend the school.
At Eton, George will have the opportunity to choose from an impressive 28 subjects, including nine Modern and Classical Languages. While William is said to be "thrilled" that his son will attend the school where he himself studied, both the future king and Catherine are likely to also "be concerned" about their son's new chapter.
Father-Son Bonding
Beyond official duties, William and George cherish spending quality time together in informal settings, such as attending Aston Villa football matches, including their side's recent Champions League fixture against PSG. Reflecting on their attendance, William said: "You know what, it's been 43 years since anything like this has happened in my generation as a Villa fan, and I want George to experience a night out away from home in a big European competition. I hope it's not 43 years until the next one happens, but I think those memories are really important to create and bringing him along tonight is a big deal for me."
