Prince George ‘played sheep in school nativity’

Prince George's birthday photos: How is the young royal celebrating?

22 July

Four official photographs of Prince George have been published to mark his third birthday.

The images, taken earlier this month by photographer Matt Porteous, show the Prince at Anmer Hall, the family's home in Norfolk.

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In them, Prince George Alexander Louis, known as HRH Prince George of Cambridge, is seen feeding pet dog Lupo an ice cream and standing on a swing inscribed with his parents' names, William and Catherine.

"The Duke and Duchess hope that people will enjoy seeing these new photographs," said a Kensington Palace spokesman.

"They would like to thank everyone for all the lovely messages they have received as Prince George celebrates his third birthday."

George is expected to celebrate his big day with a low key tea party with family and nursery friends.

"Fortunately for the mischievous toddler, who is third in line to the throne, granny and grandpa run one of the country's most successful online party goods companies - which helpfully sells a range of 3rd birthday-themed balloons, banners, sparklers and even pinatas - so the day is bound to go with a swing," says the Daily Mail.

As for gifts, Town & Country say George's parents plan to give him every toddler's dream come true – his own puppy.

He also, for a pre-birthday treat, was taken by his parents to an SAS camp in Credenhill, Herefordshire, as part of a royal visit to commemorate the elite air regiment's 75th anniversary.

It was the second time this month the young royal, who is reportedly obsessed with the helicopters flown by his father, was flying high. He joined his parents at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford at the beginning of July and, wearing ear defenders, looked fascinated as he sat in the cockpit of a Red Arrows jet.

Prince George meets Winnie-the-Pooh in 'charming' cameo

26 May

The Queen is not the only British icon turning 90 this year: AA Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh was also born in 1926 and is starring alongside Prince George and his great-grandmother in a brand new tale being released to mark the occasion.

In Winnie-the-Pooh and the Royal Birthday, the friendly bear and his friends, Piglet, Eeyore and Christopher Robin, receive a "Most Urgent" letter informing them of the Queen's big birthday.

After encountering the big-city sights of London, they are lucky enough to spot the monarch outside Buckingham Palace.

"Behind The Queen ran a little boy. He was much younger than Christopher Robin and almost as bouncy as Tigger," says the text, next to an illustration of George. Catching sight of Piglet holding a red balloon, the boy "jumped up and down in delight".

"The little boy patted Piglet fondly and tickled Winnie-the-Pooh's ears," it adds.

The story, written by Jane Riordan and illustrated by Mark Burgess in the style of EH Shepard, is available online.

"It's all perfectly charming – right down to Piglet's iconic red balloon – and somewhere we imagine Marvin the Royal Hamster is plotting a trip to the Hundred Acre Wood," says People magazine.

AA Milne dedicated his 1926 book, Teddy Bear and the Other Songs from When We Were Very Young, to Princess Elizabeth upon her birth.