The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Photographs:
Royal couple thank well-wishers for their messages by releasing images
Pictures of Prince George playing in the grounds of his family home have been released by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to mark their son’s third birthday.
The young prince has been captured looking happy and carefree in the four images taken earlier thismonthat the royal couple’s Norfolk home, and published on the day George turns three.
William and Kate have also thanked well-wishers for the messages of support theyhave received marking their eldest child’s special day.
A barefoot George plays on a swing in two of the images, in another he is crouching on a rug while holding an ice cream under the nose of family dog Lupo, and in the final picture he is shown strolling through the grounds ofAnmer Hall.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said: “The duke and duchess hope that people will enjoy seeing these new photographs. They would like to thank everyone for all the lovely messages they have received as Prince George celebrates his third birthday.”
The images were taken in mid-July by photographer Matt Porteous.
He said: “I reallyenjoyed the opportunity to take these photographs of Prince George. It was a very relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. I’m honoured that they have decided to share these images with the public.”
George is shown in three of the pictures wearing a striped blue T-shirt and dark blue shorts.
In the fourth picture, where he has been captured walking, the young prince wears a navy and cream striped cotton sweater with the image of a whale on the front, beige shorts and dark canvas shoes.
The swingGeorge is seen standing on in one picture, and seated in another, is clearly carved with the names of his parents “William & Catherine”.
It may be a lovers’ swing sometimes given as a wedding gift, with the couple’s name carved into the front and the date of their marriage on the reverse.
In the p i c ture showing George with the family dog, he can be seen holding a partially eaten ice cream close to Lupo’s mouth.
An R SPCA spokesman said: “It is lovely that Prince George is trying to help keep his family dog cool in these high temperatures.
“We would advise people to be cautious whengiving theirdogs foodmeantforhuman consumption as some items, like chocolate, can be highly toxic to dogs and dairy items can be difficult for them to digest. Instead of ice cream we would suggest making an ice lolly from pet-friendly ingredients.”