Saturday's Trooping the Colour parade proved a hit with royal fans due to one extra special attendee. Prince George made his debut at the annual ceremony along with his parents Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, née Kate Middleton.
Fans were delighted to catch a glimpse at the 22-month-old, who looked adorable as he joined his family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the very first time. George's appearance was highly anticipated and marks only the third time he has been seen in the country officially – the most recent being when he went to meet his baby sister Princess Charlotte at St Mary's Hospital on 2 May.
Prince George has made his first appearance at Trooping the Colour
At just six weeks old, Princess Charlotte was too young to attend Saturday's ceremony. Royal watchers will no doubt be hoping for Charlotte's debut at the next parade in honour of the Queen's 90th birthday, but her parents may well choose to wait until 2017 when she will be two.
The excitement surrounding Prince George's appearance echoes that of several special Trooping the Colour ceremonies in the past, including Prince William's debut at the celebrations in 1984.
© Photo: RexPrince Harry was one when he first joined Trooping the Colour
At the age of 22 months, Prince George is slightly younger than his father was when he first joined his parents Prince Charles and Princess Diana on the palace balcony. William was two when he first joined in the festivities, while his younger brother Prince Harry was one when he sat in his mother's arms for his first Trooping the Colour.
Meanwhile the Queen was 21 when she first attended the ceremony in 1947. Her Majesty made her first Trooping the Colour salute in 1951, and has not missed a ceremony in 63 years except for when the entire parade was cancelled due to a national rail strike in 1955.
© Photo: RexThe Queen made her first Trooping the Colour salute in 1951
It was in 1953 that Prince Charles first stepped out alongside his mother the Queen, father Prince Philip and younger sister Princess Anne. At the ages of four and two, Charles and Anne were older than their siblings upon their initiation to the parade.
Prince Edward was still only two months old when the Queen greeted royal fans from the palace balcony with him in her arms, while his older brother Prince Andrew first joined the family celebrations when he was one.
