Prince George Celebrates Eighth Birthday

A new photo of Prince George to mark his eighth birthday shows him sitting on an off-road vehicle synonymous with his great-grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh.

The snap was taken by proud mother Kate Middleton, 39, at their Norfolk home of Amner Hall and shows the future king perched on the bonnet of a Land Rover Defender.

Philip, who died in April a few months short of his 100th birthday, regularly drove Land Rovers and during his funeral the duke's coffin was carried by a specially adapted defender which he helped to design.

Including the famous vehicle in the image will be seen as a poignant tribute to the Duke, George's great-grandfather, who had a passion for engineering.

George, who celebrates his birthday today, is pictured beaming in the photograph, and is casually dressed in a £10 John Lewis polo-style striped top and shorts.

The duchess is a keen photographer and regularly produces images of George, Princess Charlotte, six, and Prince Louis, three, to mark milestones in her children's lives.

The 100 per cent cotton shirt worn by George in the snap costs £8- £12, depending on the size, and is £10 in aged eight.

It's framed by a classic collar and short sleeves and features a half button placket through the front

Prince Philip used Land Rovers throughout his adult life and granted his Royal Warrant to Land Rover more than 40 years ago.

He visited Jaguar Land Rover's manufacturing facilities on numerous occasions over the decades and accompanied the Queen when she opened Jaguar Land Rover's new Engine Manufacturing Centre in Wolverhampton in 2014.

Earlier this year, Kate revealed her children sometimes wish she would put her camera down.

Speaking to a finalist of her Hold Still photography contest, the duchess said about George, Charlotte, and Louis: 'Everyone's like, "Mummy, please stop taking photographs".'

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