Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Marmaduke Mickey Percy Grylls |
| Date of Birth | 6 April 2006 |
| Birthplace | United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Parents | Edward Michael “Bear” Grylls and Shara Grylls (née Cannings Knight) |
| Siblings | Jesse Grylls (b. 2003), Huckleberry Edward Jocelyne Grylls (b. 2009) |
| Age in 2025 | 19 |
| Known For | Growing up in an outdoors-focused family; early boating competence; 2025 self-funded solo travel |
| Education | Schooled in the UK; specifics not publicly detailed |
| Public Profile | Low; mentions largely via family posts |
| Career Status | No formal career; part-time work undertaken to fund travel |
| Noted Interests/Skills | Boating, exposure to paragliding and adventure travel |
| Residence | United Kingdom (family base), with periods spent on a family island off the Welsh coast |
Early Years and Family Roots
Born on 6 April 2006, Marmaduke Mickey Percy Grylls is the middle son of adventurer and broadcaster Bear Grylls and author Shara Grylls. His childhood unfolded against a backdrop of salt spray, wet-weather gear, and the steady drumbeat of family-first values. The Grylls household blends the practical with the purposeful: adventure as a classroom, nature as a tutor, resilience as homework.
The family’s rhythm has long included time on a small island off the Welsh coast, where tides dictate tempo and boats are as essential as buses. In such a setting, Marmaduke learned responsibility in real time: ropes, engines, weather windows, and the unspoken rule that the sea always gets the last word. He is one of three brothers—Jesse (b. 2003), Marmaduke (b. 2006), and Huckleberry (b. 2009)—a trio often described as close-knit, competitive in the healthy sense, and loyal.
On his father’s side, Marmaduke’s lineage runs through British public life and service, including a grandfather who served as a Conservative MP and wider relations with military and political backgrounds. On his mother’s side, relatives likewise intersect with civic and service traditions. These threads don’t prescribe a path, but they frame a family culture that prizes duty, grit, and kindness.
Growing Up Among Tides and Thermals
By age 12 in 2018, Marmaduke was trusted to helm the family’s RIB (rigid inflatable boat), ferrying to and from the island—an apprenticeship that demands judgment well beyond the textbook. At 13 in 2019, he handled an older ex-RNLI D Class boat through choppy water to reach the mainland, a moment publicly praised by his father as evidence of capability, calm, and character.
It wasn’t all boat wakes and engine checks. Paragliding often colored the family’s skyline, and Marmaduke, while still young, was close enough to the action to offer commentary and to absorb the language of wind and lift. Skills in these settings are learned incrementally—knot by knot, squall by squall—until the ocean and the air become less mysterious and more navigable.
Work, Money, and a First Big Trip
As his teens came to a close, Marmaduke took a practical turn. In late 2024 into early 2025, he picked up part-time shifts at a butcher’s shop in London. The goal was simple and old-fashioned: earn money, buy a ticket, go see the world. The result was a four-month solo journey across Asia that began in February 2025, with a family farewell around an Australia stop on his father’s tour.
He turned 19 on the road in April 2025. Family posts marked the birthday with pride and a touch of melancholy—joy in his independence, the ache that comes when a seat at the table is briefly empty. The story is familiar to many families: one generation’s hard-won lessons becoming the next generation’s passport stamps.
Education and Privacy
Marmaduke’s schooling has been UK-based, though details are deliberately spare. The family has long balanced public roles with private boundaries—particularly regarding their children. There are no public academic disclosures, no celebratory grade sheets, and no rush toward a spotlight he hasn’t chosen.
The Grylls Household: Who’s Who
| Family Member | Born | Role and Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Grylls (Edward Michael Grylls) | 7 June 1974 | Adventurer, TV host, author; Chief Scout in the UK; known for survival programming and global expeditions |
| Shara Grylls (née Cannings Knight) | — | Author of relationship-focused books; active in charitable support; keeps a low public profile |
| Jesse Grylls | 2003 | Eldest brother; creative interests noted in art and music |
| Marmaduke Mickey Percy Grylls | 2006 | Middle brother; boating competence; self-funded travel at 18–19 |
| Huckleberry Edward Jocelyne Grylls | 2009 | Youngest brother; shares the family’s love of the outdoors |
| Lara Fawcett | — | Paternal aunt; appears at family events with limited public detail |
Extended relatives include figures tied to British political and military life. These connections paint a picture of service and public engagement across generations.
Skills, Interests, and Family Ethos
- Seamanship: handling small craft from early teens; experience with an ex-RNLI D Class and family RIB.
- Adventure exposure: familiarity with paragliding environments and the practicalities of weather, risk, and preparation.
- Work ethic: part-time employment to finance independent travel.
- Family values: support, self-reliance, and learning by doing; disagreements resolved within a strong sibling bond.
The family ethos can be summed up simply: get your hands dirty, look out for each other, and let the outdoors do some of the teaching.
Public Profile and Media Mentions
Marmaduke maintains a modest public footprint. Mentions of his milestones tend to come through family updates: a father’s pride in a well-executed boat run, the announcement of a long-planned journey, a birthday celebrated from afar. There are no public controversies, no headline-grabbing dramas—just the quieter arcs of growth, work, and travel.
Timeline Highlights
| Year | Age | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 0 | Born in the United Kingdom on 6 April |
| 2009 | 3 | Becomes the middle brother with Huckleberry’s birth |
| 2018 | 12 | Trusted to run the family RIB to and from the island |
| 2019 | 13 | Navigates an ex-RNLI D Class boat through waves to the mainland |
| 2020 | 14 | Noted publicly as especially close with brothers during the early teen years |
| 2024–2025 | 18–19 | Works part-time at a London butcher’s to save for travel |
| Feb 2025 | 18 | Departs on a four-month solo journey across Asia |
| Apr 2025 | 19 | Celebrates his 19th birthday while traveling |
Name and Heritage
His distinctive name—Marmaduke Mickey Percy—carries an antique lilt and maritime resonance. “Marmaduke” has deep English roots and is often associated with the sea, a fitting moniker for a young man comfortable around tides and slipways. “Mickey” and “Percy” reflect family taste and tradition, adding to a name that stands out in a crowd like a bright buoy on a gray day.
The Road Ahead
As of mid-2025, there is no declared career track. That’s hardly unusual at 19, and it’s arguably consistent with a family culture that values practical experience. Whether future chapters point toward university, vocational training, entrepreneurship, guiding, creative work, or something unexpected, the early pages show a pattern: learn a skill, take responsibility, and pay your own way when you can.
FAQ
Who is Marmaduke Mickey Percy Grylls?
He is the second son of adventurer Bear Grylls and author Shara Grylls, born on 6 April 2006 in the UK.
How old is he in 2025?
He turns 19 in April 2025.
What is he known for?
A low-key public profile, early competence handling small boats, and a self-funded solo trip across Asia in 2025.
Does he have a formal career yet?
No; he has worked part-time jobs and focused on travel and personal development.
Where did he grow up?
In the UK, with significant time spent on a family island off the Welsh coast.
Who are his siblings?
An older brother, Jesse (b. 2003), and a younger brother, Huckleberry (b. 2009).
What are his parents’ backgrounds?
Bear Grylls is an adventurer and broadcaster; Shara Grylls is an author who keeps a low public profile.
Is he active on social media?
He keeps a minimal public presence; most updates appear via his father’s accounts.
Has he been involved in any controversies?
No public controversies are associated with him.
What did he do to fund his 2025 travels?
He worked part-time at a butcher’s shop in London to save for a four-month solo trip across Asia.
