Proud Wills: George is a dab hand on the iPad

The Duke and Duchess leaving the St Andrews ball. Photo / AP

Previous generations of royal babies would have been playing with building blocks, riding a rocking horse or perhaps driving a custom-made pedal car at the age of 16 months.

But Prince George, like many other toddlers, prefers to play electronic games on an iPad, the Duke of Cambridge has disclosed.

William chatted about his son's play habits on a visit to the Empire State Building in New York, where he was presenting awards for innovation.

Ayah Bdeir, the chief executive of littleBits, showed him her company's electronic snap-together modules that allow children to build electronic systems and circuits.

She said the Duke told her he loved the concept. "He told me that his son George has been playing iPad games and loves them, and that this was a good way to teach him the inner workings of electronics."

William had talked about his excitement at going to the top of the Empire State Building, but the miserable weather prevented him from enjoying New York's finest view on the 86th-floor observation deck.

He visited the skyscraper to present UK Trade and Industry awards, encouraging US technology firms to expand into Britain.

Earlier, he and wife Catherine met performers, including English actor Sir Patrick Stewart, at an event to celebrate British creativity.

Image 1 of 15: Kate, left, Duchess of Cambridge and Britain's Prince William arrive at The Carlyle Hotel in New York. Photo / AP

They attended a reception at NeueHouse, a creative workspace in Gramercy where the Duchess wore a black dress by the maternity label Seraphine with a gold hooped necklace and her hair swept back in a ponytail.

Stewart, accompanied by his wife, Sunny Ozell, said afterwards: "I have met many members of the royal family before but what a personable, pleasant and, may I say, attractive couple."

He added that he had recently taken the Duke's cousin, Princess Eugenie, who is working in New York, as his guest to his latest show on Broadway, Waiting for Godot.

The royal couple concluded their trip at the St Andrews 600th Anniversary Ball, a black-tie scholarship fundraiser at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Duchess wore a favourite dark green crepe pleated Jenny Packham dress.Telegraph Group Ltd