This official photo released by Kensington Palace is to mark the 3rd birthday of Prince George in 2016. Photo / Supplied
This official photo released by Kensington Palace is to mark the 3rd birthday of Prince George in 2016. Photo / Supplied
The Queen is said to have such a soft spot for her great-grandson Prince George that she reportedly leaves presents in his room every time he stays over at Buckingham Palace, according to reports.
George, who is third in line to the throne, turns 6 today and a is bit of a favourite of the Queen who, royal insiders claim, "goes out of her way to spend time with him". George, famously, even came up with a new nickname for his great-grandmother — "Gan Gan", which has allegedly helped endear him to the 93-year-old.
"The doting Queen takes time to select little presents that she leaves at the foot of George's bed every time he stays over," Fabulous magazine reports.
This official photo released by Kensington Palace is to mark the 3rd birthday of Prince George in 2016. Photo / Supplied
According to The Sun, George's birthday will reportedly be a low-key affair. Not because of any decisions his parents, William and Kate, have made — though they are clear about wanting their son to grow up in a "normal family".
The relaxed family gathering is what George himself has requested. Of course, when your great-gran is the Queen, "normality" is a relative term.
But George has already carved out a very clear sense of how he's going to tackle the extraordinary life he has been handed.
"While the outside world sees him as an infant, George is very much his own man," a source who has watched him grow up from close quarters told Fabulous.
"When he goes back to Thomas' Battersea in September, his year [Year 2] will be head of the lower school.
"With younger siblings Charlotte and Louis taking a lot of the attention at home, George is learning to be more independent.
"Yes, he has been protected from some of the realities about being third in line to the throne, but it is almost as if he is hardwired to feel a sense of responsibility."
Anyone who has seen the young prince at public occasions will know that, while George has a playful side, his natural inclination is to be more serious than Charlotte.
He is also known to be shyer than his little sister. However, his father Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, has repeatedly implied in interviews that young George can be "a handful".
The Queen is reported to have a special relationship with her great-grandson. Photo / GettyImages
But what child, shovelled into their best clothes and obliged to endure a series of formal events, would not play up every now and again?
Those lucky enough to know him well say that while he may appear shy at first, once George is comfortable in your company, he is an open, chatty and deeply inquisitive little boy.
FAMILY GATHERING
His birthday celebrations will consist of a small family gathering at Anmer Hall — the Cambridges' Norfolk estate, where George will be spending much of his school holidays.
There is also talk of a small event for his school friends in London — but collecting together his friends during the long Northern Hemisphere summer break is easier said than done.
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis for their Christmas Card 2018 picture. Photo / File
"George likes people," adds the friend. "Whether he has learned this from his father or it simply comes naturally, he first likes to be sure that he can trust them.
"Growing up surrounded by courtiers, you learn fast that not everybody has your best interests at heart.
"He hits it off best with those people who are most comfortable in their own skin. His favourite uncle is Mike Tindall because he larks about and never takes himself too seriously.
Tindall's wife Zara is also a massive favourite, which is hardly surprising given how fond William and Harry are of her.
SPENDING TIME WITH MUM
"Considering the huge wealth and privilege at his disposal, some people might be surprised to hear that George's favourite things are spending time with his mum, cooking pizzas from scratch and pottering about in the garden.
A family picnic at a Royal Charity Polo Day, at Billingbear Polo Club, in Wokingham, England. Photo / AP
"The Prince of Wales, his grandad, has been particularly delighted to see how George has taken to nature and the great outdoors."
This has brought moments of controversy, such as the uproar when George went on his first grouse shoot last summer. But he is still largely protected from criticism in the media.
Behind the scenes, George has evolved into a sweet, gentle and occasionally explosive little boy.
If William has at times sounded exhausted by his son, the arrival of Charlotte and Louis has put George's foibles into perspective.
For the most part, he is happy to play with his growing collection of toy helicopters and explore the Norfolk countryside.
A PRIVILEGED LIFE
Balancing this very normal upbringing with George's exalted status is a tough job.
William and Kate have reportedly not told their son he will become king — William in particular, who has tussled with his own destiny for many years — yet George's inquisitive nature has forced them to discuss elements of what is to come.
A commemorative photo taken on the anniversary of the Queen's 90th birthday, with Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George. Photo / Getty Images
This time last year the Royal Mint in the UK cast a series of silver and gold coins to mark George's fifth birthday.
The 750 limited-edition gold sovereigns, technically worth just £5 ($9), were priced at £500 each and sold out rapidly.
Was George aware of this? It's unlikely, but plenty of his school friends understand that their friend George Cambridge is special.
However, the prospect of George finding out from playground whispers poses a problem.
"How can you possibly raise a child to believe he has a normal life when he gets to have tennis lessons from Roger Federer?" says the source.
"Money can't buy you that sort of thing, it comes down to prestige.
"Like his dad, George is engaging and interested in everything he tackles. He gets on well at school, though he is not what you would describe as top of the class.
"Opportunities will arise no matter what George does, so the challenge is to motivate him to be the best he can when he has already been handed a deck of cards packed with aces."
For now, the little prince's world is relatively small. He enjoys spending time with his siblings but has recently shown signs of wanting some time alone, away from it all.
Unsurprisingly, given his parents' athletic endeavours, George is a natural sportsman. The issue for William and Kate, however, is channelling their son's energy.
At the moment, a talent for tennis and cricket is limited to a prodigious ability to whack the ball many a mile.
The fact that his parents have admitted to keeping George away from events due to his unpredictable temper suggests a young boy testing the boundaries as he approaches another milestone in his life. What could be more normal than that?
