Say cheese! Prince George shows off his toothy grin as he’s held by his proud father in new photo released by Buckingham Palace to celebrate his second birthday
- Image shows a very smiley Prince George leaning towards the camera
- Photographer Mario Testino captured image at Charlotte's christening
- Last year he had party at Kensington Palace with Queen as guest of honour
- This time he will celebrate his birthday at Anmer Hall in Norfolk
Grinning cheekily in his father’s arms, Prince George can’t resist monkeying around in this previously unseen photograph issued to mark his second birthday tomorrow.
The picture was taken by celebrated fashion photographer Mario Testino at his little sister Princess Charlotte’s christening earlier this month.
The snap shows doting father Prince William and his son in the gardens at Sandringham House, the Queen’s private residence in Norfolk.
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On the eve of his second birthday, Buckingham Palace has treated royal fans to a previously unseen picture of Prince George, posing with his doting father William
A more formal shot taken on the same day: Prince George, wearing his red shorts and blouse with detail, is seen walking alongside the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at his sister Charlotte's christening on July 5th
William, who recently described his lively son as a ‘little monkey’, looks on with pride as George, who is third in line to the throne and was born at the private Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital on July 22 2013, gazes adorably into the camera.
The little prince is wearing the £85 Rachel Riley shorts and blouse that his mother, Kate, had made especially for the occasion. The outfit, which sold out in many sizes within hours of George first appearing in it, was a replica on one worn by Prince William when he went to visit his younger brother, Prince Harry, after he was born.
A spokesman for Kensington Palace said: ‘This photograph captures a very happy moment on what was a special day for The Duke and Duchess and their family. They are very pleased to share this picture as they celebrate Prince George's second birthday.
‘The photograph shows The Duke of Cambridge holding Prince George in the gardens at Sandringham House.
‘It was part of the series of official photographs taken by Mario Testino following Princess Charlotte's baptism on Sunday 5th July.’
Hasn't he grown! George on the steps of the Lindo Wing with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on July 23rd 2013, when he was just one day old
When he was one! George certainly has more hair these days...the young royal was pictured as he celebrated his first birthday at the Natural History Museum in July 2014
Unlike his first birthday, which was marked with a party at Kensington Palace with his great-grandmother, the Queen, as guest of honour, and a tuneful rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ by the band of the Irish Guards, this year’s celebrations will be significantly more low key.
The mischievous toddler, who is third in line to the throne, will still enjoy all the trimmings – a cake and a visit from his doting grandparents, Michael and Carole Middleton, as well as a host of little friends and godparents - at his parents’ country retreat, Anmer Hall.
But the event is intended to be very much a ‘private’ family celebration as his parents, William and Kate, embark on a new life together at their grand new Norfolk home.
Sadly the little prince’s grandfather, Prince Charles, won’t be able to attend as he and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, are currently on a three-day official trip to the West Country.
The heir to the throne also missed George’s birthday last year as he was in Scotland on official duties.
But he and Camilla plan to travel up to Sandringham at the end of the week with gifts for their lively grandson, the Mail understands.
He's a cheeky monkey! Prince George enjoys the spectacle of Trooping the Colour while being safely restrained by nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo on June 13th
Plenty of fun: He will still be treated to all the usual trimmings – a cake and a visit from doting grandparents Michael and Carole Middleton, as well as a host of little friends and god-parents
Basing themselves at Sandringham House, the Queen’s private residence just a few miles away, Charles will remain in Norfolk for almost a week and is keen to spend some ‘quality time’ with George and his little sister, Prince Charlotte, who is almost three months old.
Although she has the help of a housekeeper and a nanny as well as her family, including doting aunty Pippa (who wrote an entire book on the subject of celebrations), Kate has apparently been determined to do much of the organising herself.
And with her mother, Carole, running one of the country’s most successful online party goods companies – which helpfully sells a range of 2nd birthday-themed balloons, banners, sparklers and even piñatas – the day is bound to go with a swing.
William started work last week as a pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance, so it is not clear whether he will be on shift – but at least his Cambridgeshire base it is only a short drive away.
The couple plan to spend as much of the next few years as possible based in Norfolk as they believe it will allow their young family to grow up away from public scrutiny.
George is already a regular visiting to the local farm park and petting zoo with both his mother and nanny, dressed down in shorts and trainers as he blends in with the other young visitors.
Anmer, a ten bedroom Georgian mansion which was a gift from the Queen, recently underwent a multi-million refit as well as its own swimming pool and tennis court in set in acres of glorious parkland.
As part of the Queen’s Sandringham Estate it also provides the Cambridge’s – who also have a 20 room apartment at Kensington Palace, recently refurbished with £4.5 million of taxpayers’ money - with the privacy and seclusion they crave.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3169399/He-s-two-George-prepares-low-key-party-tea-granny-Buckingham-Palace-releases-gorgeous-new-photo-Prince-eve-second-birthday.html#ixzz3gbUQ1XNO
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