Prince George uses sweet nickname for Prince William as spotted 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 father Prince William before him

Christopher Sharp Trendswatch Reporter and Chloe Dobinson Digital Production Editor

07:00, 22 Jul 2026Updated 12:43, 22 Jul 2026

[LONDON, ENGLAND - July 12: HRH Prince William, the Prince of Wales, with Prince George. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Getty Images)]

Prince William and his son Prince George have a close relationship(Image: Tim Clayton, Getty Images)

Prince George affectionately bestowed a charming nickname upon his father, Prince William, during a significant royal occasion.

The young prince is marking his 13th birthday today and is mere weeks away from commencing secondary school at Eton College, following in the footsteps of his dad.

In 2025, he accompanied his mother Kate Middleton, sister Princess Charlotte, brother Prince Louis, his father and other high-ranking royals to the VE Day Celebrations.

During one heartfelt exchange, a lip reader detected George revealing his pet name for his father. They reported seeing the young prince tap William to get his attention before exclaiming: "Papa, what a sound".

Earlier that day, they had attended a tea party for veterans where William spoke about George's interest in veterans and their wellbeing, as reported by LBC.

[Prince George and Prince William on the Buckingham Palace balcony]

A lip reader spotted Prince George calling Prince William "papa" at a royal event in 2025(Image: Getty)

Speaking to Hello!, Royal commentator Emily Nash noted that this appearance marked a significant step in the young royal's journey towards eventually becoming a future king.

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 significant moments in history, such as the Holocaust, so this is another way for them to connect that wartime generation with their own next generation."

[In a formal setting, an individual in military attire is engaged in a conversation with two other individuals. One is a young boy dressed in a suit, and the other is an elderly person. They are seated around a table adorned with various items, including a red cloth, a white cup, and a floral arrangement. The atmosphere appears to be one of attentive interaction and engagement.]

Prince George is set to attend Eton this September

George celebrated his final day at Lambrook earlier this month before he embarks on his journey to Eton College in September. The three siblings all attended the private preparatory school in Berkshire, which provides a weekly Saturday school followed by an afternoon of sports for all pupils in Year 5 and above.

Charlotte, 11, and eight year old Louis continue to attend the school in Berkshire.

At Eton, George will have an impressive selection of 28 subjects to study, including "nine Modern and Classical Languages."

Although William is said to be "thrilled" that his son will be attending the school where he studied, both the future king and his wife, Princess Kate, are likely to also "be concerned" about their son's new experience.

Outside of official engagements, William and George enjoy spending quality time together in more casual settings, such as attending Aston Villa football matches, including their team's recent Champions League fixture against PSG.

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Reflecting on their attendance at the match, William emphasised how crucial it was for him that they experienced this occasion together.

He declared: "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."

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