He’s such a little ruffian, according to his parents, that it’s a wonder the butterfly escaped unscathed.
In one of two new photographs issued to mark his first birthday today, Prince George can be seen pointing and gazing intently at the delicate creature which has landed on his father’s hand.
His mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, cuddles her young son proudly – keeping a firm grip around his waist, just in case the inquisitive youngster should make a grab for it.
Celebrations: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
with Prince George during a visit to the Sensational Butterflies
exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London
After all, on his first public engagement in New Zealand back in April, George unwittingly managed to make a female playmate cry by snatching her toy from her.
The second photograph released by Kensington Palace yesterday shows the clearly enchanted young family in the midst of the ‘Sensational Butterflies’ exhibition at the Natural History Museum, in London, as several dozen live butterflies hover in the distance.
Kate is wearing an appropriately summery £475 ‘Budding Hearts’ tea-dress by designer Suzannah, which she has worn previously on public occasions.
Meanwhile George, who, like his mother is becoming something of a trend setter, is wearing blue and white stripped dungarees and a navy top by French label Petit Bateau, which sold out within minutes of another picture from the same set being released at the weekend.
In one of two new photographs issued, Prince
George can be seen pointing and gazing intently at the delicate creature
which has landed on his father's hand
The Duke and Duchess also issued a statement thanking members of the public for the hundreds of presents, cards and letters of good wishes they have received since their son’s birth last July.
‘We would like to take this opportunity on George’s first birthday to thank everyone over the last year, wherever we have met them, both at home and overseas, for their warm and generous good wishes to George and our family,’ they said.
Although keen to ensure that their son is allowed to grow up away from the spotlight, William and Kate acknowledged that they needed to mark the future king’s special day with a public gesture.
Although they want their son to grow up away
from the spotlight, William and Kate knew that they needed to mark the
future king’s special day with a public gesture
The first official photo of Prince George ahead of first birthday
The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George watch
Princes William and Harry play polo at Cirencester Park Polo Club,
Gloucestershire, in June
The Duchess was, however, determined to ensure that one of their patronages would benefit from the occasion, and chose to visit the Natural History Museum’ s pop-up tropical house, full of live, free-flying butterflies and moths. She became patron of the museum in April last year.
The exhibition, which runs until September, was opened up especially for the Cambridges and their team earlier this month but, says one closely involved in the proceedings, things didn’t entirely run to plan.
As it was early morning, the butterflies, which normally swarm around visitors, needed time to warm up, and it was ‘touch and go’ as to whether the shoot would work.
The Duchess of Cambridge holds her son (left)
close while they watch Prince William play polo and (right) at the Bilby
Enclosure at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia
The Duchess of Cambridge holds Prince George
alongside Prince William while meeting a Bilby called George at Taronga
Zoo in Sydney, Australia, in April
Doting: The family visited Taronga Zoo in Sydney in April during a State visit to Australia which was deemed a huge success
Playful: Prince George plays with toys during
his visit to a nursery in New Zealand during the family's State visit in
April this year
On his first public engagement in New Zealand
back in April, George unwittingly managed to make a female playmate cry
by snatching her toy from her
Prince George attend an event for Plunket nurses
and parents with their young children at Government House, as part of
their tour of New Zealand and Australia
Eight-month-old Prince George at his first
official engagement at Government House, in Wellington, New Zealand
where he was given a teddy bear
Tender moment: Prince George plays with his
mother Catherine's hair during a visit to a New Zealand nursery during a
State visit
According to his parents he has a fine set of
lungs on him, makes bath-time ¿quite painful¿ but adores his ¿best
buddy¿, Lupo the spaniel
A special look back at the birth of Prince George
Britain's Prince George (centre) is held by his
father Prince William (right) as his mother Catherine, the Duchess of
Cambridge (left), looks on
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A year in the life of Prince George
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Watch video
Gorgeous Prince George crawls and plays happily at NZ playdate
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Watch video
The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George charm NZ families
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First look: The Royal Baby leaves hospital
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Prince William drives baby George to Kensington Palace
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'He's a rascal': Prince William talks about Prince George
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Prince George arrives for royal christening at St James's Palace
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Prince George emerges from christening in mum's arms
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Prince William and Kate release snapshots of baby George
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Prince George in New Zealand with mum and dad
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Prince George makes a friend in NZ, then makes her cry
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Watch video
Gorgeous Prince George crawls and plays happily at NZ playdate
Fortunately a blue morpho butterfly (Morpho peleides) from South America landed in front of the curious little prince and with a click, the carefree shot, so unlike normal royal portraits, was captured for posterity.
Sir Michael Dixon, Director of the Natural History Museum said of the visit: ‘It was a real pleasure to host our Patron and her family earlier this month. They seemed to enjoy their visit, wandering through the tropical plants as brightly coloured butterflies took flight around them.
'It was delightful to see Prince George’s first experience of the Natural History Museum and I look forward to welcoming them again in the future.’
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince
William, Duke of Cambridge with their son Prince George and Lupo the dog
photographed at Kensington Palace, in London
According to his parents, George is already ‘racing around and opening doors’ at their Kensington Palace apartment, in advance of many of his peers.
He has a fine set of lungs on him, makes bath-time ‘quite painful’ but adores his ‘best buddy’, Lupo the spaniel.
‘Like most new parents they are just in awe of this little man they have created,’ said one source.
Prince William and his wife Catherine arrive
with their son Prince George at Chapel Royal in St James's Palace on
October 23 last year, ahead of his christening
Proud parents: Prince William and the Duchess of
Cambridge hold Prince George after he was christened at St James's
Palace in October last year
According to his parents, George is already 'racing around and opening doors' at their Kensington Palace apartment
‘He really is the apple of their eye.’
The couple plan to celebrate George’s birthday today with a low-key tea party for family and friends at Kensington palace.
Michael and Carole Middleton – both extremely hands-on grandparents – will attend, alongside Aunty Pippa and Uncle James.
The official portrait for the christening of
Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, photographed in The Morning
Room at Clarence House in London. PICTURED: (back row, left-right) HRH
The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH The Prince of Wales, HRH The Duchess of
Cornwall, HRH Prince Harry of Wales, Pippa Middleton, James Middleton,
Carole Middleton and Michael Middleton. (front row, left-right) HM Queen
Elizabeth II, HRH Duchess of Cambridge carrying HRH Prince George and
HRH Duke of Cambridge
Photograph taken by Michael Middleton, the
Duchess's father in early August last year which shows the Duke and
Duchess of Cambridge sitting with their son Prince George in the garden
of the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire
Unfortunately his royal grandparents Prince Charles (also a doting grandpa, in his own way) and the Duchess of Cornwall are in Scotland on official duties.
But the Queen – who is now the first monarch for more than a century to have three living heirs - has no public engagements in her diary.
Staff say they cannot rule out her popping over from Buckingham Palace between meetings to wish her great-grandson a very happy day.
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine,
Duchess of Cambridge, depart The Lindo Wing with their newborn son
Prince George last July
Staff say they cannot rule out the Queen popping
over from Buckingham Palace between meetings to wish her great-grandson
a very happy day
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