The young heir to the throne is following in his father’s footsteps in more ways than one
Credit: The Prince and Princess of Wales/Instagram; Michael Regan – UEFA/UEFA via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Prince George is following in the footsteps of his father, Prince William
- George was seen wearing a new watch in his 13th birthday video, echoing his father, who is rarely without his own treasured timepiece
- The aviation-focused model also reflects a passion for flying that George shares with William
Prince George is following in his father’s footsteps in more ways than one.
The eldest child of Prince William and Kate Middleton, both 44, turned 13 last week, and the royal family shared a new photo and video of the young royal to mark the occasion. The portrait featured George in a navy suit and crisp white shirt, looking strikingly similar to his father in 1995, as he was preparing to begin life at Eton College — where George is also set to begin his secondary schooling this fall.
But it was the accompanying birthday video that revealed another subtle way George is following his father. Throughout several clips, the young prince can be seen wearing what appears to be a Garmin D2 Air X15 smartwatch on his left wrist. While William has been photographed wearing Garmin watches over the years, the timepiece most closely associated with him is the Omega Seamaster Professional his late mother, Princess Diana, gave him.
George’s choice of watch may also hint at another shared passion. Garmin markets the $650 D2 Air X15 as a smartwatch “for those with a passion for flight,” featuring aviation weather, flight logging, an altimeter and other pilot-focused tools alongside standard smartwatch functions.
The aviation tie is fitting given George’s growing interest in flying, something he shares with his father, a former RAF search and rescue pilot.
George will have to wait before making use of many of the watch’s connected features, however. Prince William has previously said that he and Princess Kate do not allow their children to have smartphones at home, and George’s new school follows a similar approach. When he begins at Eton this fall, tirst-year students at the boarding school are issued simple “brick” phones without internet access, allowing them to call and text family members while keeping social media and other online distractions off-limits.
Credit: The Prince and Princess of Wales/Instagram
Like his father and many other members of the royal family, George has already long expressed an interest in flying. He took his first flight lesson almost two years ago, just after his 11th birthday. The Sun reported at the time that Prince William and Princess Kate watched from the ground as George flew with an instructor for just under an hour at White Waltham Airfield in Berkshire, England, where George’s late great-grandfather, Prince Philip, earned his wings with the Royal Air Force in 1953.
An onlooker told the outlet, “He loved it. It’s the right time to start.”
In June of this year, George joined his mother at the Royal Air Force base in Coningsby, where they took turns sitting in the cockpits of various historic military aircraft.
“Learning about the extraordinary history of these aircraft and meeting the pilots and engineers who keep their legacy alive. A powerful reminder of the courage, skill and dedication of those who serve, past and present,” the family’s social media accounts shared. “Thank you to all those who have served and continue to serve.”
Credit: The Prince and Princess of Wales/Instagram (2)
William received his RAF wings from his father, King Charles, at RAF Cranwell in 2008, after completing a 12-week flying course. He then worked as an RAF search and rescue pilot in Anglesey, Wales, before working as an air ambulance helicopter pilot from 2014 to 2017.
Credit: Darren Staples – WPA Pool/Getty
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A source close to the family recently told PEOPLE that “George has always wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps,” which may have influenced William and Kate’s decision to start him at Eton this fall.
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Some royal watchers expected the couple to choose a more modern secondary option for their eldest — perhaps even a co-ed institution that would allow him to continue attending school in the future with his siblings, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8. However, in June, the palace announced that George would be following the lead of William, Prince Harry, and many other royals to the prestigious all-boys boarding school.
“Eton was a much-needed haven for William,” royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told PEOPLE last month, following the announcement. “It will give George a rigorous education that he will need for his role.”
Founded in 1440 by King Henry VI, all-boys Eton costs about $80,000 a year and has educated generations of leaders, including 20 prime ministers and many other members of the British royal family. It has a posh reputation, but Bedell Smith insisted the student body has “moved with the times.”
She added that she believes William and Kate ultimately made their choice because of Eton’s “academic excellence and the many ways it develops its students for leadership roles.”
Another benefit is keeping George close to home. Eton is just 15 miles from the Wales family’s new residence at Forest Lodge on the Windsor estate. While he will board with his schoolmates during the week, George will be able to return home on designated weekends, and parents are encouraged to attend sporting events, performances and other school activities.
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