Prince George turned 13 last week with the release of a new birthday photo — and 4 other royal moments you’ll want to see

Look past the tabloid noise for a minute. Underneath the usual palace headlines, the last few weeks have brought us some of the most human, feel-good royal moments in ages. There was a robot handshake, a soon-to-be teenager heading off to secondary school, and a jewelry tribute with real meaning behind it. Here are five stories worth your click, for all the right reasons.

Princess Anne shakes hands with a robot in South Korea

Princess Anne doesn’t really do “fuss,” and that held true even when she came face-to-face with a humanoid robot. During a three-day official visit to South Korea, Anne stopped by a smart mobility laboratory at Korea University in Seoul, where she watched a robot demonstrate its speed and agility before it turned and waved directly at her, according to the Newcastle Herald. Wearing her signature navy day gloves, the princess leaned in and shook the machine’s hand without missing a beat.

Anne, who was accompanied by her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, reportedly wanted to hear how the robot “learns movement from trial and error as well as simulation,” and went on to see a dual-arm robot and a motion-capture system in action, the outlet reported. The trip highlighted UK–South Korea collaboration in science and tech. However, for royal watchers, it was the handshake that stole the show.

Prince George turns 13 and gets ready for a new school

Prince George became a teenager last week, on July 22, and his parents released a brand new birthday photo of him. The photo was taken by Matt Porteous, who is clearly one of the Wales family’s favorite photographers. He has recently taken several of their official photographs. Along with a party popper emoji, their simple celebratory message read: “Happy 13th Birthday, George!”

Prince William and Princess Kate also posted a video collage of George’s adventures with a message of thanks for all the birthday wishes for George on his 13th birthday. The video showed clips of George waving at the camera, smiling on a boat, petting a dog, and walking near a cliff with his little brother.

His birthday comes with more than a formal new portrait and video collage. He’s expected to start secondary school this fall, and for years the guessing game has centered on two schools: Eton College, where his father Prince William and uncle Prince Harry attended, or Marlborough College, his mother Kate Middleton’s alma mater. 

Kensington Palace put speculation to rest when it confirmed in June that George will attend Eton College this fall, reported the BBC. That will bring many changes. For example, he has been attending school with his younger sister, Princess Charlotte, but won’t be able to go to school with her in September since Eton College is ​​exclusively an all-male boarding school. 

Queen Camilla’s birthday portrait quietly honors Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Camilla marked her 79th birthday on July 17 with a new official portrait. There was a small, deliberate detail in the picture that stole the spotlight. Photographed by Chris Jackson in the State Drawing Room of Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland, Camilla wore a diamond and sapphire butterfly brooch that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth II, gifted to the late monarch at the Birmingham Spring Fair back in 1977, according to celebrity.land.

Body language expert Darren Stanton told Marie Claire the gesture reflects years of Camilla’s “deep respect for royal protocol” within the family. Butterflies are traditionally associated with renewal and transformation, a fitting detail for a woman who’s gone from serious royal outsider to queen consort over more than two decades.

Camilla’s birthday gift to Britain’s schoolchildren

Camilla used her birthday to announce a gift for thousands of children she’s never met. Every Year 6 and P6 pupil across the United Kingdom (ages 10 and 11) will receive a free copy of the bestselling novel Impossible Creatures by author Katherine Rundell this Christmas, tied to the National Year of Reading 2026, according to The Guardian. The palace’s birthday post explained the initiative is “led by the National Literacy Trust, of which the Queen is Patron.”

Prince William reacts to England’s World Cup heartbreak like any other fan

When England fell to Argentina 2-1 in the World Cup semifinals this month, Prince William didn’t hide behind a formal statement. Instead, he took to social media and posted like a heartbroken fan. In a post on X, the Prince of Wales, who serves as royal patron of the Football Association, wrote: “Gutted. England, you gave it everything and we are all so proud of you.”

He went on to state, “Thank you to everyone on and off the pitch, for an incredible tournament. The fight and belief you have shown has inspired us all. The most complete England team in a tournament. Hold your heads high.” 

It capped off a summer of William showing up in the stands the way millions of other sports fans do: fist-pumping goals, wincing at near-misses, and generally looking like a dad who’s a massive fan of his team. HELLO! rounded up years of these unfiltered sideline moments, including some with a young Prince George right beside him, cheering just as hard.

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