Revealed: The very thoughtful reasons why royal children always wear suits – after Prince George sported formal attire for his 11th birthday portrait

Prince George was very happy yesterday with the unveiling of his 11th birthday photo.

In the photo, the young royal, who is second in line to the British throne, appeared in high spirits as he beamed for the camera. The Waleses posted the photo on social media, saying: ‘Wishing Prince George a very happy 11th birthday today!’

George opted to wear a smart suit and a crisp shirt in the monochromatic photo, adding a touch of formality to his special day.

It’s a trend often followed by royal children, such as Prince William and Prince Harry, who regularly wore suits during their childhood.

In an exclusive interview with FEMAIL, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said the decision to dress young royals in suits is not taken lightly. It is a centuries-old tradition that is full of meaning.

Richard said: ‘When royal children are in public they are the centre of attention. There is also a certain formality that comes with being in public. George wore a suit to the European Championship final that matched his father’s. It worked.

‘It’s important to keep in mind that if they wore casual clothes to a formal occasion, it would be world news.

“Although they are children, they represent an institution. It is clear that being smart is the smart option. What royal children wear can start trends.

“It’s clear that in the photos that are released of them, what they’re wearing varies greatly depending on the mood they’re trying to convey. They’re just kids, but they’re not regular kids.”

The royal expert continued: ‘They often adhere to upper-class traditions, such as young boys wearing shorts.

“But they should avoid controversy when it comes to the clothes they wear in public. That means always playing it safe and being smart.

We have seen him many times [Prince George] casual look on his birthday. This is smart casual, but the image is particularly striking because he inherited the looks of his parents, the most glamorous royal couple in the world.

“Some of the recent photos that have been released of him have been casual. In Taylor Swift’s selfie, he has just the right balance. This is deliberately different and therefore memorable. Catherine is a skilled photographer.”

Pepa González, founder of Pepa London, a brand the Welsh children have worn several times, agreed with Richard’s ideas.

She said: ‘The Royal Family always wear formal clothing as it represents the tradition and craftsmanship of the outfits once worn by their ancestors. They need to look smart but also recognisable.

‘We are seeing an increasing demand for traditional blazers, formal shirts and suits for young children aged five and up, as their parents want to emulate the royal look.’

Rachel Riley, owner of the eponymous baby and children’s clothing brand, who has been photographed with all three royal children, added: ‘We’re used to seeing the children in timeless outfits for official occasions. By opting for more classic styles, the images will never look dated.’

Royal fans compared Prince George to his father, the Prince of Wales, in a photo he posted for his 11th birthday.

The black-and-white photo, taken by 42-year-old enthusiastic photographer Kate, shows the future king in a suit, beaming into the camera.

George, the eldest of the Welsh children and second in line to the throne, had his hair combed to one side in the image.

He looked handsome and sharp, dressed in a blazer, dress pants and a crisp white shirt, smiling and looking into the camera lens.

Fans of The Firm are comparing the young royal to his father, Prince William, 42, adding that he “looks a lot like his dad.”

They responded on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ social media accounts on X, formerly known as Twitter, and on Instagram.

One wrote: ‘He looks just like his dad, he really does. Congratulations George! How can he be 11 already?’ Another wrote: ‘A handsome young man! He looks so much like his dad, so much like him.’

A third said: ‘Oh my goodness he looks just like his dad. Congratulations Prince George. And congratulations to the Princess of Wales on another perfect photo.’ A fourth commented: ‘Prince George looks so much like his dad.’

The young royal was born George Alexander Louis on July 22, 2013, at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London.

In the photo, he wears what appears to be a handmade bracelet on his left wrist, strikingly similar to the jewelry recently worn by Princess Charlotte and King Charles.

The Waleses posted the photo on their social media accounts, writing: ‘Wishing Prince George a very happy 11th birthday today!’

They confirmed that Kate took the photo sometime this year.

The Princess of Wales has been an avid photographer for many years and is often the one behind the camera when birthday photos are taken of her children.

She is particularly good at capturing her family in natural poses, allowing their personalities to shine through.

And it seems George has strong Spencer genes, as other fans noted how much he resembles the other members of the group.

Some said he resembled his grandmother, the late Princess Diana, his great-uncle, Charles Spencer, and his great-grandfather, John Spencer.

One wrote: ‘George looks like Diana’s father,’ while another wrote: ‘He looks like his uncle Charles Spencer.’ A third joined in the conversation, saying: ‘He looks like Diana,’ followed by a red heart.

The Prince and Princess of Wales keep their children’s lives a closely guarded secret. Royal fans will be wondering how George will spend his special day.

However, the 11-year-old royal’s godmother has revealed a special tradition, inspired by Princess Diana, that she takes part in every year on her godchild’s birthday.

British psychotherapist Julia Samuels, 64, formed a close friendship with Lady Diana after meeting her at a dinner party in 1987.

Speaking on the How to Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast, she previously revealed that she buys the “feisty and sassy” young royal “impossible” noise toys that the Prince of Wales, 42, “takes days to put together”, a running joke inspired by Diana.

In 2020, Mary Berry described Kate as a “normal mom” who stays up late for her children’s birthdays to bake cakes for them.

When asked about her baking skills, Mary said, “She’s good with piping bags and she makes her children’s birthday cakes herself, just like a normal mother.”