He has been crowned His Royal Cuteness — and no wonder.
In new pictures taken as Prince George prepares to celebrate his last Christmas as an only child, the one-year-old looks more adorable than ever.
Looking remarkably like his father William when he, too, was a toddler, George grins for the cameras, showing off the dimples he has inherited from his mother and more than a hint of his mischievous character.
The charming photographs, taken in a courtyard at Kensington Palace last month, have just been released by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
They are the first official pictures of George since his first birthday in July.
The images were taken by Edward Lane Fox, Prince Harry’s private secretary and a former captain in the Blues and Royals, a regiment of the Household Cavalry. He has also worked as a professional photographer. George is dressed in a white collared shirt and a navy woollen tank top featuring an appropriate guardsman design. The jumper is believed to be from Cath Kidston — and cost £20 (Dh115). The Prince’s outfit is completed by Rachel Riley blue shorts and his favourite navy Early Days shoes.
No doubt getting George to sit still would have taken some effort on the part of Lane Fox, although the Prince appears to be quite the performer in front of the lens.
William and Kate, who are expecting their second baby in April, have spoken of their son’s energetic character and how he tears around Kensington Palace like William used to do. The Duke has described his son as “a little bit of a rascal”.
The couple do not release an official Christmas card but have distributed the pictures, according to aides, to thank the media for letting George grow up “without intrusion”.
Since his birth, the couple have sheltered their son from the limelight and have appealed to the media for privacy, which has been respected.
The Duke and Duchess will be at Sandringham in Norfolk with the Queen and the rest of the Royal Family for the traditional Christmas celebrations, before a planned second Christmas with Kate’s family at Anmer Hall, a couple of miles away.
Sources say the couple are “enormously excited” about Christmas while Kate’s sister Pippa has apparently planned party games for Prince George.
A spokesman for the couple said: “They release pictures when it feels appropriate and to mark milestones in Prince George’s life.”
