A tale of two birthdays

Two princes, two birthdays, two very different destinies. While Prince Felix of Denmark became a teenager today, the world was much more interested in a toddler who was turning two. George Alexander Louis of Cambridge and Felix Henrik Valdemar Christian of Denmark might both have July 22nd birthdays but with a crown only awaiting one of them the response to their celebrations is always going to be different.

Prince Felix of Denmark turns 13 on July 22nd 2015

(photo kongehuset.dk and Steen Brogaard)

Felix, second son of the second son of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, is currently eighth in line to his country's throne - his highest position in the line of succession was fourth. He will probably never reign and as he grows older his royal role becomes more and more reduced. George, first son of the first son of the first son of Elizabeth II, was born to rule. From the moment he arrived - 4.24pm in case you'd forgotten - a crown, one of the most famous in history, awaited him. Two boys born eleven years and a whole destiny apart.

Prince George will have received a present from his sister, Charlotte, for the first time this year

To mark turning thirteen, Felix was the star of some new official photos released by the Royal Household where he looked very grown up and very like his daddy.

Big brothers always end up getting the best spot - Felix of Denmark grins and bears it as Nikolai takes the top branch

George also looked just like his papa in the already globally famous image of him taken by Mario Testino for the occasion. But there was plenty else going on to mark George's second birthday. More tweets from the Kensington Palace account came forth and the Grenadier Guards played Happy Birthday beneath the balcony of Buckingham Palace, the building which will one day be the centre of his reign.

Thank you to the Grenadier Guards for playing ‘Happy Birthday’ at today’s Guard Change! #HappyBirthdayPrinceGeorge https://t.co/Gkcal0kShn

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 22, 2015

The world was watching George's birthday, Denmark smiled happily for Felix's but the celebrations were contained while the party for toddler Cambridge was on a global scale. Two princes, two birthdays, two very different destinies.