It was a long wait between now and Prince George’s christening back in October, during which hardly any photographs of the prince surfaced, but the royal family’s three-week tour of New Zealand and Australia meant that we were spoiled with snapshots of the eight-month old.
All babies are gorgeous, of course, but George’s chubby cheeks melted the hearts of all who met him as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge showed off their son on various engagements Down Under. And many of his outfits and accessories—including a romper suit with a sailboat design, and a kangaroo backpack—have already sold out online, thanks to the effect of the many adorable photographs taken of him.
Now Kate Middleton has revealed her favorite photograph of George from the trip: her son leaning into her shoulder for a cuddle, as if overcome with temporary shyness at a playdate in Government House, Wellington.
The photographer, Simon Woolf, said that the duchess had told him the picture was “lovely” and that it was “her favorite photo of the tour.”
He also said that the family were supposed to pose for a photo, but the plan was disrupted due to George’s naptime.
However, Kate clearly prefers the more candid picture of her and her son; and when she was leaving New Zealand she was delighted to be given a black-and-white version of the photograph by Woolf.
The family has now returned to England, after attending a memorial for Australia’s war dead. The night before, Kate and Prince William attended a reception for which Kate chose a white dress with lace shoulders by Texan designer Lela Rose and sported an updo, adding to the range of hairstyles she’s tried out during the tour—including a cute ponytail. It’s a welcome change from her usual brown locks!
Kate has consistently impressed with the restrained but elegant outfits she chose for the tour. While she’s had to deal with inevitable comparisons with Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ famous tour of Australia in 1983, when William was only a year old, the success of this trip has meant that memories of her would-be mother-in-law have faded to the background, with Kate shining as a royal in her own right.
With that said, no doubt she’s relieved that she and William have returned home just in time for their third-year wedding anniversary tomorrow, which they’ll celebrate quietly and away from the media spotlight.