It’s been seven years since the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge introduced their baby to the world, on the steps of the Lindo Wing.
When Prince George was born on 22 July 2013, I was walking off the plane in New York and the first thing that their famously menacing passport control asked me about was the new born baby. Prince George Alexander Louis Cambridge, born in St. Mary’s hospital at 4.24pm and third in line to the throne, was the first major royal to be born in my lifetime. It was at this moment, flanked by two men with machine guns, that I realised how much his birth meant to so many. He captured hearts from the minute he was seen on the steps of the Lindo wing, his mother Kate holding him in her arms looking totally unflustered and wearing that – now famous – blue spotty dress.
The prince was christened on Wednesday 23rd October by The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby at St James’s Palace, wearing a handmade replica of the Royal Christening robe that his great-grandmother “Gan Gan” had made by her favoured dressmaker Angela Kelly. His godparents – of which he has seven, natch – are Oliver Baker, Emilia Jardine-Paterson, the Duke of Westminster, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, Julia Samuel, William van Cutsem and his first cousin, once removed, Zara Tindall.
George began work at a young age. On his first official tour, the prince accompanied his parents on a tour of New Zealand and Australia. The eight-month old stole the show. – Katya Edwards
George began work at a young age. On his first official tour, the prince accompanied his parents on a tour of New Zealand and Australia. The eight-month old stole the show. His adorable chubby cheeks and infectious smile made him seem incapable of taking a bad photograph. Not to mention the fact that he seemed to be making fashion statement after fashion statement with his brilliant array of cardigans and Peter Pan collars. His brands of choice include Spanish brand Pepa & Co, Cath Kidston and, for more formal events, Rachel Riley. The latter sold out of dungarees within two hours of George donning a pair for a picture. And that’s not the only brand to fall prey to “The George Effect”; his £40 knitted Sous Marine cardigan sold-out overnight and spawned many a-knock-off.
In 2016, George began his academic career at the West Acre Montessori School Nursery in Norfolk. Not only would he be following in his father’s footsteps by attending a Montessori school – where importance is placed on the child’s independence – but he would also be following in the footsteps of countless icons including the Queen of Pop Beyonce, Sean “P Diddy” Coombs and George Clooney, all of whom count for alumni of Montessori schools.
So, as Prince William gets older and (understandably) more serious and Harry has left us to pursue a woke life in LA, the Royal family has a gaping hole ready to fill. – Katya Edwards
For the past three years, George has attended Thomas’s Battersea, and we have been lucky to witness some adorable photographs of the prince in his navy school uniform. He attends the school with his equally delightful sister Princess Charlotte. Former pupils include Cara Delevingne and Florence Welch – need I say any more?
But it’s the George of more recent times that has really charmed us. The cheeky smiles, the huge waves to the public and he has even been dubbed “a bit of a rascal” by his father Prince William; it’s clear that George is great fun. Rumoured to be nicknamed “Curious George”, at his balcony appearance last year he waved at the Red Arrow Flypast. He has also been seen pressing his nose up against a plane window on an official outing, thus demonstrating an innate curiosity, essential for any crown monarch.
It seems that George is also the boss of the family too. When Kate was asked in 2016 why he wasn’t on the royal tour of India, Kate joked: “He’s too naughty. He would be running all over the place.”
So, as Prince William gets older and (understandably) more serious and Harry has left us to pursue a woke life in LA, the Royal family has a gaping hole ready to fill. We need a new royal to focus on. A royal that seems fun despite it all and doesn’t seem too “royal”, a royal whose clothes we can analyse and who makes good jokes. Prince George seems the perfect ticket. Funny, cheeky, not to mention well-dressed, he seems exactly what we – and the Royal family – need. So Happy Birthday George – and cheers to having a future King that seems up for some fun.
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