Prince George throws tantrum, then steals show at Air Tattoo

Prince George, wears earmuffs against the roar of aircraft as he visits with his father Prince William. Photo / AP

Prince George stole the show overnight as he joined his parents for a fun day out at a military air show - but the normally impeccably-behaved youngster could be seen throwing something of a tantrum shortly after his arrival.

The young Prince looked adorable in navy shorts and a white T-shirt with his customary Start Rite shoes as he arrived at the Royal International Air Tattoo in Gloucestershire with his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The trip was the first time George, who turns three in two weeks, has joined his parents on an official engagement in the UK.

However, not long after the family made their way to the show the two-year-old was swept up into his mother's arms after he began crying.

But after a teary arrival, Prince George was soon back to his well-behaved self, as his father showed him around the helicopters and aircraft on display.

Kate, wearing a blue Stella McCartney dress, black jacket and nude heels, put on a gold hairband after stepping on to the blustery airfield.

She is patron of the Air Cadet Organisation, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, and met cadets who have spent the past week erecting tents for the Gloucestershire event.

Kate took over the role of patron from the Duke of Edinburgh in December last year.
George, carried by William, pointed and waved as Kate chatted to the cadets and television star Carol Vorderman, who is their ambassador.

The toddler was then handed a pair of blue ear protectors and a blue piggy bank, part of a range of memorabilia for the anniversary.

Carol Vorderman said it was "fantastic" to meet Kate, William and George along with Dawn McCafferty, commandant of the Air Cadets.

Prince George, right, with his mother Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. Photo / AP

Prince George is lifted out of the cockpit of a red arrows plane by his father Prince William. Photo / AP

Prince George, his mother Kate and father William check out a Squirrel helicopter. Photo / AP

"She is patron, Dawn runs the Air Cadets now and I am ambassador and honorary group captain so we had the three women together," she said.

"I think it is a highly important message for the RAF. The recruitment of girls to the Air Cadets had gone up rapidly over the past six years."

The media personality was introduced to George by William and spoke to the toddler as his mother talked to the cadets.

"It was lovely because obviously they are a flying family," she said.

"I think now that once you have the bug it is a shared love and everybody in the air force is the same - there's nothing like it.

"Prince William was saying to George, 'This is Carol, she flies an aeroplane as well'.

"George is obviously keen on aircraft apart from the noise.''

A statement from Kensington Palace ahead of the outing said: "The Air Tattoo is a fantastic family-orientated event. The Duke and Duchess know that George will enjoy seeing the aircraft up close."

This year's air show included special celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the RAF Air Cadets, with a group of young cadets taking to the skies with the Red Arrows.

The Duke of Cambridge showed his son the inner workings of a helicopter and the cockpit of a Red Arrow Hawk as the family enjoyed a trip to the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford.

Prince George was pictured being led by the hand across the airfield after the family were greeted by Air Marshal Sir Kevin Leeson, chairman of the RAF Charitable Trust, and Air Chief Marshal Andrew Pulford, Chief of the Air Staff, RAF.

They met members of the Red Arrows display team in front of a Red Arrow Hawk, shortly before they took part in the show.

And George got a closer look at a Squirrel helicopter - the same aircraft William trained in while he was based at RAF Shawbury in 2009.

William served with the RAF's Search and Rescue Force from 2010 to 2013, based at RAF Valley in Anglesey.