Prince George will turn 10 on Saturday, a milestone birthday that is special for every child.
Prince William and Princess Kate are understood to have planned a party for family and many of the prince’s friends at their Windsor home, but in keeping with all “big” birthdays, the celebrations will be “special but not showy,” according to one family friend. Football, one of George’s greatest passions, is likely to feature prominently during the gathering.
There will be official pictures to mark the occasion, a royal tradition William and Kate have made their own with the princess often taking charming and candid photographs of her children on their birthdays.
One person who will be watching the occasion closely is childrenswear designer Rachel Riley, as she has been dressing the prince since he was a baby. Her pieces are also popular with Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and together, the children have been spotted wearing her brand on 23 occasions. Riley, who works closely with the Princess of Wales’s dresser, Natasha Archer, to ensure Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are all immaculately dressed, has had a pivotal role in all three of the Wales children growing up.
For Riley, who started making clothes for her own children so that they could be comfortably and smartly attired, watching George, Charlotte, and Louis grow up wearing her clothes has been a privilege and an honor. It’s possible that George, who has worn Rachel Riley outfits on many occasions, will be wearing something from Rachel’s collection to celebrate his 10th birthday, however, she never knows what the children will wear until the occasion itself.
“Seeing pictures of the royal children is uplifting and joyous and I think it makes everyone feel happy,” Riley exclusively told Vanity Fair. “There’s a lot of hardship in the world and these children seem to bring a smile to people around the world.”
In recent years, the Prince and Princess of Wales have been more relaxed about allowing their children to be in the public arena. Prince George and Princess Charlotte have attended various important occasions from the memorial service for their great-grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh to the queen’s state funeral in September last year. In May, all three children attended King Charles’s coronation where Prince George had a key role as page of honour.
“It has been a very important year for Prince George,” Riley observed. “Turning 10 is always a big deal as a child, as it’s turning double digits, and it puts you on the path to becoming a teenager and moving towards ‘big school’ with all the responsibilities that comes with growing older and becoming more mature. I am sure they will have a lovely celebration with family and friends for this momentous occasion.”
Last September, the Waleses swapped their imposing apartment at Kensington Palace for the more humble four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage in Home Park, Windsor, where they are said to be loving their new, quieter lifestyle. William and Kate take turns doing the school run and the family operates without any live-in help, although they still employ their long-term nanny, Spanish-born Maria Borrallo who has been with them since George was a baby.
While Borrallo often chooses clothes from Spanish clothing outlets, Rachel Riley has been Kate’s go-to designer of choice. “I feel so proud being able to dress them,” Riley said. “It’s remarkable that a dress I designed for my daughter who is now 30 is one that Charlotte has worn at least four times. Classic style never goes out of fashion. We bring in new prints and fabrics, but the timeless styles are relevant today as much as they were years ago.”
Having dressed royal children for decades (Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, was the first British royal to champion the brand and dressed her daughter Lady Louise in Rachel Riley couture), Riley says that the real fascination into royal dressing began with Prince George.
“It all started with Prince George—everyone wanted to see what a modern-day prince looked like. The princess has chosen our clothes for a number of very important occasions. George wore our embroidered dungarees for his first ever play date in New Zealand and they sold out in hours. He also wore our heritage piped shirt and shorts when he presented his baby sister to the world, and again for the queen’s 90th-birthday commemorative stamps. He also wore the shirt again for when he made Christmas puddings with the queen for another important photo call. I think it’s great the royals re-wear and recycle and hand the clothes down because they are made to last.”
Riley says she is enjoying watching the Wales children enter the spotlight. “It’s so lovely to see Prince George growing up into a handsome older boy now. As he is the eldest (and, of course, heir to the throne) he looks responsible and as though he is looking out for his younger siblings.”
Royal watchers may have noticed George’s style evolving over the years. Traditionally he has been dressed in the brand’s heritage shorts and smart piped white shirts, however, his clothes are more casual now that he is getting older.
“I loved seeing the images from the Father’s Day photographs where both Prince William and Prince George were both wearing blue shirts and casual trousers. They all looked so happy in those photos. Prince George looked so comfortable and at ease in his check shirt and blue jeans. It seems as though he has the freedom to enjoy himself as a child and have fun with his siblings. He was equally at ease when he visited the Chelsea Flower Show in 2019 when Prince George and Princess Charlotte were barefoot with their feet in the stream. I loved that casual look and the appreciation of nature.”
Comfort is of utmost importance to Princess Kate, who oversees the children’s wardrobes with Archer, as is being color-coordinated. “I think the Princess of Wales is very involved. She has a fashion background, so it’s important to her what her children wear. Every mum wants the best for their children, and for them to look great and feel comfortable.”
On recent occasions, including last Sunday’s Wimbledon final, George has upped the fashion stakes and worn a blazer like his father Prince William. “It’s been wonderful to see Prince George wearing suits and more formal wear for certain occasions, and he always looks good. He’s like a mini Prince William and we have seen that with Charlotte too—when she wore McQueen just like her mother for the coronation. I think Princess Charlotte is one to watch, she’s about to go into her tween years, so it’s going to be interesting to see how her style evolves. Interestingly, she wears more blue than pink. That’s quite a trend in France and America. She goes for the blue color palette—then she can match back to her brothers and her parents.”
When it comes to what Prince George will wear on his birthday, it’s a case of wait and see. Having scored more than a hat trick when it comes to dressing the royals, Riley will be hoping to make it 24 times lucky.