Prince George celebrates his fifth birthday

BEAMING with joy, this is the official picture of Prince George, released to mark his fifth birthday today.

And the little boy it shows bears a strong resemblance not just to his father Prince William, but to his grandfather Prince Charles too.

The past 12 months have been an exciting period for George, from completing his first school year to once again joining his great grandmother the Queen on Buckingham Palace’s balcony to mark her official birthday.

The future king is likely to be spending the weekend celebrating his big day with his parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

But, according to reports, the party may take place in the Caribbean as William and Kate are rumoured to have taken their children on a summer break to the exclusive island of Mustique.

Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge was born at the private maternity wing of St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, the Lindo Wing, at 4.24pm on July 22, 2013, weighing 8lbs 6oz.

He made his public debut in front of the world’s media on the hospital steps one day later.

A great-grandchild to the Queen, he will be the 43rd monarch since William the Conqueror obtained the crown of England if, as expected, he follows the reigns of the Prince of Wales, then William.

A few months after his last birthday, George started his first day at school with William, but was without Kate. She was experiencing severe morning sickness as she was pregnant with Prince Louis.

The duke managed his parenting duties alone and said later: “It went well. There was one other parent who had more of an issue with their children – so I was quite pleased I wasn’t the one.”

The youngster has just completed his first year at school, attending Thomas’s Battersea in south London.

He even played a sheep in his school’s nativity play, and loves helicopters, flying and is obsessed with all things police-related.

When baby brother Louis was born he joined younger sister Princess Charlotte outside the Lindo Wing in April as they visited their new brother with their father.

In June George and his family joined the Queen and other royals on Buckingham Palace’s balcony as the monarch’s official birthday celebrations drew to a close.

The young prince was seen playing up with seven-year-old Savannah, the daughter of Peter and Autumn Phillips, who jokingly put her hand over his mouth.

George was last seen at the christening of his baby brother Louis at the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace on July 9, and in official photos marking the royal baptism.