Toddler Prince George’s official Christmas portraits released

A set of three official portraits of Prince George have been released by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, just in time for Christmas.

The photographs, taken by Prince Harry’s private secretary Edward Lane Fox, in late November, show the rosy-cheeked prince sitting on the steps of a courtyard in Kensington Palace. The third-in-line to the throne is now almost 17 months old.

The beaming toddler takes on an old-fashioned yet timeless appearance, dressed in a long-sleeved, white polo shirt under a blue, knitted sleeveless jumper with embroidered guardsmen in red tunics and bearskin hats. He also wears navy blue knickerbocker-style corduroy trousers with knee length navy socks and T-bar shoes.

It is no surprise that Prince George’s styling has again created a fashion frenzy; as a result his knitted guardsmen tank top, by Cath Kidston, has sold out.

BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said: “Prince William and his wife Catherine are releasing the images, in part as a thank you to the media, who have not published any of the paparazzi pictures that have been taken of the Prince.”

The family resemblance is quite apparent in the chuckling young prince; in the intervening four months since the last official photographs of him were released, the Queen’s great-grandson has lost his babyish face and appears to have grown taller.

The next milestone in Prince George’s life will be the birth of his brother or sister, due in late April.

 Rebekah Absalom