Prince George honours late great-grandfather in eighth birthday photo
Prince George has honoured his late great-grandfather Prince Philip in a photograph released for his eighth birthday.
George, who turns eight on Thursday, is pictured sitting on a Land Rover Defender, a car which was synonymous with the Duke of Edinburgh.
The picture was taken by the Duchess of Cambridge in Norfolk earlier this month.
In the image, George smiles broadly, showing a small gap between his teeth, and his blonde hair is parted off-centre.
He wears a navy blue and orange striped polo shirt and blue shorts.
Sharing the image on Instagram on Wednesday evening, the duke and duchess wrote: "Turning eight(!) tomorrow."
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Charles and Camilla's Clarence House shared the picture on their social media writing: "A very Happy Birthday to Prince George!"
The Queen's Royal Family account tweeted: "Wishing Prince George a very happy 8th birthday today!"
As George's school, Thomas's Battersea, has already broken up for their summer break, the location of the photo could be an indication the Cambridges left London for Anmer Hall soon after.
Philip died in April, shortly before his 100th birthday, in Windsor Castle, where he had been living through lockdown with the Queen.
The Duke of Edinburgh regularly drove Land Rovers, and his coffin was carried by a specially adapted Defender which he helped design.
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His funeral was limited to 30 mourners because of COVID-19 restrictions but a large procession in his honour was still held through the castle grounds.
The Duchess of Cambridge regularly takes photographs of her children and releases them to mark their birthdays.
But she admitted that her children, George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, sometimes tell her to stop.
Speaking to a finalist of her Hold Still photography contest, the duchess said about the trio: "Everyone’s like, 'Mummy, please stop taking photographs'."
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She also admitted she'd been cutting her children's hair in lockdown, as barbers were closed.
She said: "I’ve become a hairdresser this lockdown, much to my children’s horror, seeing mum cutting hair."
George had two treats in recent weeks as he was taken to the Euro 2020 round of 16 match between England and Germany and then the final as England played Italy.
But he saw the highs and the lows along with other England fans as they lost on penalties.
George is a pupil at Thomas's in Battersea, alongside his sister Charlotte and they live primarily at nearby Kensington Palace.
He is third in the line of succession.
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