Prince George’s tender one-word nickname for Prince William picked up by lip reader

Prince George is celebrating his 13th birthday today and is just weeks away from starting secondary school at Eton College, just like his dad and uncle before him

Prince George affectionately used a sweet nickname for his father, Prince William, during a big royal event.

The young royal is marking his 13th birthday today (Wednesday, July 22) and is mere weeks from beginning his secondary education at Eton College, following in his dad and uncle’s footsteps.

In 2025, he accompanied his mother Kate Middleton, his sister Princess Charlotte and brother Prince Louis, alongside his father and other senior Royals, to mark the VE Day Celebrations.

During one particularly poignant exchange, a lip reader detected George using his special name for his dad. The youngster was spotted tapping William to get his attention before exclaiming: “Papa, what a sound.”

Earlier in the day, the family had been present at a tea party honouring veterans, where William spoke about George’s keen interest in veterans and their wellbeing, according to LBC, reports Wales Online.

In conversation with Hello!, royal commentator Emily Nash noted that this public appearance marked an important step in George’s journey towards his future role as monarch.

She commented: “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. 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.”

George completed his final day at Lambrook earlier this month ahead of his move to Eton College in September. All three siblings have been pupils at the private preparatory school in Berkshire, which includes a weekly Saturday school followed by sporting activities for all children in Year 5 and above.

Charlotte, aged 11, and eight year old Louis remain at the Berkshire school.

At Eton, George will be able to select from an impressive 28 subjects, including “nine Modern and Classical Languages.”

While William is said to be “thrilled” that his son will be attending his former school, both the future monarch and his wife, Princess Kate, are thought to also “be concerned” about their eldest child’s new chapter.

Away from official duties, William and George enjoy spending quality time together in more informal settings, such as watching Aston Villa football matches, including their team’s recent Champions League clash against PSG.

Speaking about their attendance at the fixture, William emphasised how important it was for him that they experienced this moment together. He explained: “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.”