Prince George is one year old today. Just think… one year ago, I was SO MAD at Duchess Kate and Prince William for the way they were making us wait all friggin’ day to announce any kind of news about the birth. They really made everybody wait for hours and hours after the birth. I still don’t know what that was about. Anyway, happy birthday Prince George. May you find something to kill, squeeze or slap today. William and Kate issued a statement ahead of his birthday:
“We would like to take this opportunity on George’s first birthday to thank everyone over the last year, wherever we have met them, both at home and overseas, for their warm and generous good wishes to George and our family.”
For his birthday, Clarence House released two more George photos from the same Butterfly Exhibit at the National Maritime Museum. We’ve already seen one photo from this bunch over the weekend. In these new photos, you can see William letting a butterfly land on his hand and George is reaching for the wings. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think that butterfly is dead now. George crushed it and then ate it. This trip – with nannies and at least one professional photographer in tow – happened back in June.
Incidentally, this is what photographer John Stillwell had to say about the photoshoot: “He’s quick on his feet. He was walking towards me – I was kneeling down to take the picture and he was on top of me as soon as he started walking. He was very quick. He looked really steady on his feet.” Ha. Subtext: George was on top of him within a matter of seconds and Stillwill got a baby fist to the eye and sharp baby-kick to his ankle. Stillwell’s camera is now broken and Stillwell is now on disability. Probably. Stillwell also said George was enchanted by the butterflies: “He was fascinated to see the them fly but a little scared when they got a bit close to him.”
George apparently will have a birthday party in Kensington Palace today. Harry, Pippa and the Queen are supposed to come by.
Watching the butterflies flutter by… As promised, two more pictures of Prince George #HappyBirthdayPrinceGeorge pic.twitter.com/1q2d7HuMeG
— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) July 21, 2014
Photos courtesy of Clarence House/PA Wire.
Baby fist to the eye and sharp baby kick to his ankle? Disability? Haaaaaaaaaa. Killing me Kaiser.
They look really sweet. He’s so adorable.
This kid is so boss. I love the first pic of him alone and stomping around-he looks like Georgezilla decimating that garden. They ought to follow this one around with a camera-helmet so we can Prince G cam.
That would be amazing! Seeing people and animals fleeing in terror!
Georgezilla is a fitting nickname for this adorable bruiser ^_^
Georgezilla… ahahaha, perfect.
Every time I see a pic of him I want to congratulate Papa Middleton on how his genes managed to make the future king of England look just like him.
i’d pay to watch the camera helmet footage. all the nannies kneeling and servants bending over backwards just to please big G. very nice pictures. a healthy happy family. happy b-day
hah, Georgezilla alright. we called our boys Chubzillas because they were massive. the middle one gained 4lbs in the first month of his life. midwife was laughing, that there’s no milk but cream in the dairy shop
Great family pics. His cheeks are to die for.
A lovely set of photos. The kid is adorable. Mom looks pretty. Dad looks engaged.
Happy Birthday George you adorable little muffin, no denying you are a boss already.
Okay. That picture with all three looking up and George looking all thoughtful is really, really lovely.
I guess the upside to being part of The Firm is that you get so many memories professionally captured. I think my baby album consists of several varieties of cake smushed all over my face and one of me upturned in a bin.
Damn good childhood 🙂
No one ever takes photos of me and the kids and the rare occasions they do I look terrible. 🙁
Yes this happens to me too! I’m convinced my son will think I was never there when he was younger! And yes the ones I do get I look just awful.
I used to take the photos rather than be in them because I hate how I photograph. Finally I just joined in so my kids knew I was actually present. Lol I love the advent of digital cameras though–so much better than trying to parcel out your 12/24/36 images per roll and then wait for developing–only to find out you’d chopped everyone’s head off or something.
same here. in the evening after the last kidlets b-day i just sat there bawling that all those 2 pictures that i’m on, i look terrible plus the kids look every possible direction but at the camera. and one is picking his nose, other is reaching for a candle and third one is rolling his eyes. cheeeese indeed
Ha! I was the second child and I always gave my parents shit about how my brother ‘s baby book was all nicely filled out and documented, and mine literally had my name and birthdate. That’s it. Seriously. I asked my mom about it and she’s all, “eh, with the first kid you get all excited and take tons of pics and document everything, but by the time you came it wasn’t a big deal anymore”, ha ha!!
I’m amused by the George drool on Kate’s shoulder in that one picture.
Cute baby, seems to really be a happy kid
Agreed! As a mom, I really appreciated that bit of realism.
Safe to say all those butterflies are dead. George folded them up into a cheese steak sandwich and ate ’em. Happy birthday, Royal Hulk.
Ha! Funny.
This family looks like something out of central casting. Cute baby doing cute baby things. Happy, smiling parents who are engaging with the child and best of all..baby drool on the expensive dress. They are all cute though. Sweet photos.
With all the Photoshop employed, they had to leave the drool to prove that “Kate is such a hands-on mom! She is just like us!” Search for some pictures of Princess Estelle and then come back to these photos and you’ll see a huge difference in the families and the photography.
Victoria and Daniel are very open about their use of nannies, and Victoria does quite a bit of work (and work travel). And yet you can see that she’s an excellent mother, and Estelle is very bonded to not only both of her parents, but her grandmother, uncle, and aunt (who lives in NYC). Clearly they are putting in a lot of quality time with her, as Estelle of all children would not fake it for the cameras.
this is her at the same age as George, in the same capacity (i.e. professionally-taken birthday photoshoot),
i honestly think that there’s no difference between the two sets:
http://www.kungahuset.se/kungafamiljen/aktuellahandelser/2013/aktuellt2013januarimars/prinsessanestelle1ar.5.4ea495e313c19c119aa2a6b.html
however, i do feel that they do let Estelle participate in more public events, and that she is seems much at ease with crowds and well-behaved in the most part.
i’ve been tumblr for longer than i should because this past week it has all sorts of cute stuff, on the occasion of Victoria’s birthday.
(wait didn’t she have her birthday earlier in the year? is it like QE with an “official” and “real” birthday?)
Estelle is also 2 1/2 and if I remember they only took her to public events after she turned 1.
but if you look at the professional pictures of her at the same milestones as george-they look the same-cute happy kids.
That pic of Estelle laughing uproariously is the cutest baby picture I’ve seen in a long time.
lcdeb- Thanks for the link. I love the white bow clinging to 5 wispy strands of hair. That is also a great set of professional photos.
It does look all stagey to me with Kate and Will doing their professional posing. George is the only one who looks natural so I kinda wish he was the only one in frame. Besides it’s his birthday. We got pictures of Kate alone on her birthday, ditto Wills. Let King George have his day.
T.C.
The photos released will always be cute and happy. Another version of the family will never be seen from a professionals lense. Still, photos are lovely and while I hate the vivid filter used that’s a skilled photographer.
I think they are lovely photos, but the only one that looks really ‘posey’ to me is Kate. George is obviously not posing… and Will is posing somewhat, but still seems to be interacting as he would be with George in that situation. Kate looks like she is smiling for the camera and glancing at the butterfly ‘stuff’. Can’t have another photo where she is caught with her mouth gaping open (which is then photo shopped so it isn’t open quite as much).
I kind of wish they would release a few photos of George that are a bit more formal. I get it, they are just like us, and like to release photos that stick with that messaging, but I’m sure they are having other photos taken, right?
Beyoncé doing a butterfly themed photoshoot with Blue in 3,2,1.
TC AGREE +200 Prince George is not a PR prop for those two workless parents.
PG is ahead from he was introduced on the steps to the world, with his wave. He is strong, wonderful character, backbone and with RF Windsor ladies strength, dedication to duty Q Victoria, Mary, QEl and now HM QE2 seen to be in his DNA, incl grannie P Di and grandpa PC hardwork; PG. can overcome the flaw from the social climbers middletrash, waity doolittle and P Willnot. PG will be a strong King like uncl P Harry iwhen dad or the powers abdicate Willnot (another K Eddie n Wally).
Its shame the young Princesses B*E P Andrew heirs not included to PG milestones. Waity doolittle exclude them as they are friends of Willnot exes.
Any thing Prince George does is cute. Adorable.
Still don’t care much for William or Kate. Cute baby though.
Georgie is cute, but his parents………..ugh.
I’m curious as to why he never breaks a smile in photos? I would love to see his pearly white baby choppers! He is very cute.
Because he’s Georgezilla, George The Destroyer he only growls and side eyes. 😉
He is so cute. And he looks a lot like William so we should enjoy his cuteness while we can.
He looks mostly Middleton IMO.
He’s much sturdier looking than William was. George looks like he can handle himself on the playground.
Such a sweetie.
Agreed. He’s a spitting image of William as a baby. Damn those windsor genes. We’ve got another 20 years of cute George shots. After that it won’t be pretty.
Winning hearts and minds.
I don’t want to sound mushy and soppy but he really is the cutest baby I’ve ever seen. His facial expression of ‘WTF are you looking at!’ is just the best and it makes me chuckle every time i see a pic of him.
Anyone else notice the resemblance to Pippa in the second picture?
I was thinking the same thing. He looks more Middleton than Windsor to me.
The first few hours after a baby is born is such a blur. It goes by so fast since you’re getting cleaned up, baby is being checked by a pediatrician, trying to nurse. I’m sure they wanted a few precious hours to just relax and be a family.
Yeah, presumably she was exhausted, sore and likely torn and adjusting to getting up and down from a bed. She didn’t owe anyone an immediate announcement.
ITA. But isn’t he just the sweetest thing! To see him so engaged with the butterflies is so cute.
Happy Birthday Prince George!
His looks is all dad, grannie Di, Ggrandpa Spencer and Ggran QE2. Even his hair is grannie Di n sisters who were private spending time, vacations with the princes, like the other in laws.
And definately not social climbers PR hungry Middlekardtrash.
Prince Chubby Cheeks.
George is really cute. I’ll babysit him next Saturday night if they need a sitter.
Personally I’d have liked three photos of just George instead of one. We see William and Kate all the time. George, not so much.
Whereas I prefer getting more photos of the whole family than just George. One on his own was fine, but I think it’s more fun to see him interacting with his parents.
I have children that are notoriously difficult to get photos of, and the fact that these are all ‘action’ shots, with none of them looking at the camera and smiling or even fully facing thw camera, it makes me think this was the best they could get of the little bruiser.
Agree Bluhare, just said the same thing up field. We get so many solo pics of his parents but rarely him. They could have cut the pic with George in the frame and cut off Wills and Kate’s heads. But of course they have to always be included so the goodwill for George can rub off on them.
You really think it would have looked better and more appropriate to cut Will and Kate’s heads off midway so that they were only half in the frame? Craziness.
yes, more George and less staged family.
I have to say the first photo is a perfect family photo, but the second one with the butterfly would have been a better father-son-only-photo without Kate. She looks a little bit frozen maniac again and i think colourwise father and son would have looked very golden together.
“They really made everybody wait for hours and hours after the birth. I still don’t know what that was about.”
I think it was this: As soon as it was announced the public, they had to share their son, their first born – he was now public property. Those few hours when it was just them and their son – who can begrudge them that? A few hours of new life without the weight of expectation, of duty.
Just my opinion, he is such a little cutie 😀 xx
Two pics at least should have been Prince George only. Different attire, one formal wear in diff setting, as a future King.
He looks too commoner like the middletrashes..
The palace and grandpa Prince Charles need to step in more with some of these decisions. As PWillnot is doing a lousy job and too influence with Middletrash.
Your comments are pretty damn offensive, in my opinion. William is doing a “lousy” job because he’s trying to raise his son with a little normalcy, less formality, like Princess Diana did for him?? Two parents tried to let their one year old baby have a fun, laid-back birthday and your brilliant idea is for the royal family to charge in and take over things. That’s really messed up. Plus I love how you seem to think commoners are such “trash”. Amusing, considering 99.99% of the planet are commoners. But we’re all just trash I guess.
Pippa Middle, you do realized that Princess Anne and Prince Harry are ‘commoners’ don’t you…. indeed George himself is also in legal terms a ‘commoner’ and will be until the Queen decides to give him a dukedom.
Last time I check those of us not born to or married into HRH RF are referred to as ‘commoners’. The RF P Will can’t have it both ways, wealth power from HRH future King! And pretend to be regular. Except expensive vacations, renovations of places and mansions and the likes from taxpayers.
Princess Di did not pretend with her boys, they were treated as HRH RF Princes, BUT she made them aware, respect and appreciate us commoners way of life, simpler life with hardship by some, and regular ‘reality’ to most of their subjects.
By the way, the Firm is managed run fantastically by no less than ‘commoners’ some may have earn. Titles, but started as regular hardworkers, Not social climbers re connections hangers on and workless lifestyle.
I was in London in late Jun/early July and that butterfly exhibit and the Natural History museum was mobbed! There were lines out the door and down the block to get in. They apparently did this around 7 am (when the butterflies are most active and it’s normally closed) but it still took awhile. I read Kate is a patron of the NHM as well.
There’s a place on Vancouver Island called Butterfly World. Huge enclosures with every type of butterfly you could think of. They had areas set up where you could watch them emerging from their cocoons as you walk through. The butterflies land on you as you walk through, and the colours are astounding. My 4-year-old giggled all the way through the exhibit. I saw a black moth the size of a dinner plate in a tree.
Yeah. But there is also the Carlo Colodi Butterfly Garden in his castle’s gardens. Worth visiting, to say the least. Not only because it’s so beautiful and after all, it’s Florence, but because of Collodi’s heritage. Its quietness, the solitude, the fountains, the peeking under the leaves in search of a butterfly hiding… It’s lovely. The Pinocchio park is just a street away too.
I don’t like how they look like paparazzi pictures, not royal portraits. I had expected more from them.
For this event. they had an entourage of nannies-, Maria is the lead nanny; and other staff. The other EU royals C/Princess Victoria n Estelle; Princess Mary and her kids and even Princess Madeline n Lenora are much more real.
Waity doolittle n P Willnot don’t seem natural he she is always in a pose even for Butterfly museum like they can’t get loose and real., and still Royal like his cousin Zara.
Interesting story on the DM (sorry don’t know how to link), about William. He’s going to announce a new job with the East Anglian Air Ambulance soon. He’ll get £40K/yr, work four days on/three off, and live at Anmer. DM says he and Kate are looking forward to it as they are feeling “trapped” at KP. Kate will live at Anmer “most of the time”. This job will allow Will to be a hands on Dad. The DMcomments are priceless my fav is “I want this job, no now I want this one, now I’m bored, now I want this – DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM??!?”
I’m grumpy, so I’ll say these pictures are unremarkable. Yes, George is cute. Most kids are. But the pictures are photoshopped to death and look like a magazine advert. I’m unimpressed.
I think this visit was the same day as the Tour de France launch. Maybe she had her coat on at the launch because there was a lot of drool on her dress.
It was a different day. There are twitter pics and comments from the day these were taken. The twitter pics are of entire group emerging from the museum.
Beautiful family, adorable baby and the photos are gorgeous. Happy Birthday little one!! 🙂
At first George looked very William but now after some time he transforms into a Middleton. He has grampa Middleton´s friendly face. I think George will become a roundfaced brown haired boy in a few years.
He´s so cute with that Windsor-comb over 😀
Beautiful family!
I checked out pix of Estelle for comparison’s sake. I find these photos staged and without charm. I don’t understand why Cambridge family photos are consistently underwhelming. I sense no warmth, either.
Hmmm
Shots of Estelle are not a fair comparison. That family is beyond genuine in those shots and has always approached the balance of Estelle’s privacy and the public’s desire to see the cutie extremely well.
I do feel the same for the most part. People only love these family shots because they either want to love them or they think it’s as good as it gets (imo). To see another young royal family doing the same thing holds stark comparison the Cambridges aren’t candid and natural though they do try.
Overall these shots are great, but when compared they seem fake and staged.
P.S.
Those behind the scenes shots in the other royal thread showing the large group of assistants, nannies, and others seem more real imo.
I completely disagree with your comment. I don’t want to love them. I geniunely feel they are lovely photos. I don’t see anything fake or staged.
Love that second photo. That’s a beautiful family shot.
Does she ever look at her baby? It’s very rarely and when she does it feels forced or like she’s glazed over.
Forget the photos. I want some of George’s birthday cake. I know it will be good because Kate, in so many words, mentioned that George loved cake. And parents normally go all out for first b-day parties. Yeah, so cake please.
George is so cute. I love these photos.
I’m not even a baby person nor do I have children but that baby is so freaking cute.
I want to squeeze his chubby cheeks.
These pics are adorable. I am curious why do they need to bring the nanny(s) when they go out on a family outing? Can’t they actually handle parenting or is it because the nanny is like family? Or was this a work event and they had to do some meet and greet while the nanny had the child? Regardless I do think they are bonded with George.
There was no public engagement that day. It seems they can’t manage without nanny. That always makes me side eye the ability of the parents if nanny can’t be given the day or hour off especially when both parents are present.
Thanks @Lak – Yeah it is weird how celebs and royals can’t go anywhere without their nanny.
And like the birth, the build up for these photos has been exhausting, I’m glad its over.
Since there is a child involved, I won’t say anything bad about the photos or the parents, but, oh, I wish I could.
‘ Commoner’ in the sense of not a Royal. Royals can’t have it both ways, they don’t struggle with life choices and decisions… They have live in many palaces, worth billiions and PG will be a monarch.
Princess Dii did not pretend with P Wiil and Harry.she raise princes, but also show them the common man their subjexts, and their way of life, so they respect appreciate all people.
You can’t tell PG he is a regular child to grow up to be a King or a member of the RF. That’s confusing with the previledges wealth and grand lifestyle. And Oh King one day; so he need to know his rightful place. 0. P Willnot knows his place worth but pretend with the midds, except when he is on expensive vacations, renovations, and lifestyle.