Happy birthday, George. Smiling Prince is 4 today
HELICOPTER fan Prince George was all smiles and waves yesterday as he enjoyed a birthday eve treat that could hardly have been bettered.
The thrilled and awestruck future king, who is four today, was given a tour of two helicopters, including one just like the air ambulance his father flies.
He was even allowed to clamber into a cockpit and try on a pilot’s helmet.
The impending birthday saw an official birthday portrait of George released yesterday.
The picture was taken at Kensington Palace at the end of June by Chris Jackson, royal photographer at Getty Images.
George, who starts school in September, is expected to celebrate at a party with family and friends today.
And William told a group of young fans in Hamburg yesterday: “George has got a big tummy. He’ll probably end up eating all of his cake by himself.”
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Meanwhile his son, who is keen on planes but even keener on helicopters, finally beamed in public at the end of a five-day tour of Poland and Germany with his parents during which he has looked at times as if he wanted to be somewhere else.
He held his hands over his ears in excitement when he and Princess Charlotte joined the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the tarmac at the end of a visit to the Airbus factory on the outskirts of the city.
The two helicopters, worth a combined £12million, had been put there as a special treat for the boy Prince.
It was Charlotte who had a tantrum this time, stamping her feet and throwing herself to the ground in a huff at one point.
The two-year-old Princess in a summer frock looked on the brink of tears but was quickly distracted by her parents pointing out the helicopters.
William, who flies the H145 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance service, proudly gave demonstrations to his family.
The four looked at the white H145 before heading to a black H135 which George, in a check shirt and shorts, eagerly clambered on board. William was seen showing his son how to open and close the door.
George and Charlotte, who excitedly pushed buttons in the cockpit, had the time of their lives.
Antoine van Gent, head of flight testing at Airbus, said: “The Duke was very relaxed showing his children the professional aircraft he uses.
“George was excited. With the first helicopter he wanted to sit in the cockpit and then he wanted to sit in the next one. He already knew there was a difference between them. Charlotte was also excited. After her brother had sat in the cockpit she wanted to as well. Charlotte asked her mother if she could push a button and the Duchess glanced at us and asked if it was OK and we said yes.”
They then headed to their chartered 13-seater jet with Charlotte now happily skipping towards the steps and dignitaries bidding them farewell, including British ambassador Sir Sebastian Wood and the mayor of Hamburg Olaf Schulz.
Charlotte, who curtsied to a lineup of VIPs earlier in the week, shook hands with both and she and her brother were handed a book each with a red ribbon wrapped around. George then bounded aboard ready to start his birthday celebrations.