Prince William and Prince George – the story behind their special bond

As he clung to his daddy, arms wrapped around his neck in a tight hug, it was clear for the world to see that Prince George and his father, Prince William, share a very special bond.

The 34-year-old royal, who will one day be King, has made it clear from the moment he became a father, that finding time to devote to his family was vital to him.

"I'm concentrating very much on my role as a father," said William of his priorities shortly earlier this year. "I'm a new father and I take my duties and my responsibilities to my family very seriously and I want to bring my children up as good people with the idea of service and duty to others as very important," he added. "If I can't give my time to my children as well, I worry about their future."

"I'm concentrating very much on my role as a father," said William

And as he toured Canada with his wife, Kate, and his two children less than a week ago, it was clear his dedication to his children had paid off.

Hearts melted when, during their busy children's party at Victoria's Government House, 3-year-old George jumped up into his father's arms and hugged his daddy tight.

"William's always said he wanted to be a hands-on parent and he and George are clearly incredibly close and affectionate with one another," said HELLO!'s royal correspondent Emily Nash, who joined William, Kate and their children on the tour.

"From day one, William joked about how he had changed the first nappy and he clearly spends a lot of time with both of his children."

Royal watchers will never forget how he expertly fastened Prince George into the back seat of the car when the tot was just one day old and leaving the hospital. William was a first-time dad, but he could have fooled onlookers with his swift and practiced movements. And while George is clearly also mummy's boy and often calls for Kate at public appearances too, the royal tot's tight bond with his father, with whom he shares a lot of interests (including a love of helicopters!) is a delight to observe. The besotted royal dad who affectionately calls George "a little monkey" couldn't help mentioning his son as he was shown around Vancouver Fire and Rescue and North Shore Rescue's new state-of-the-art fire truck. "My son George would be obsessed with that," he told rescue workers.

And when George boarded his sea plane in Victoria with his mum and dad he proved he was firmly following in his father's piloting footsteps by walking right into the cockpit and declaring he was going to "fly us to England"! "I'm a lot more emotional than I used to be," Prince William admitted at the start of this year, of his life since his son George was born, in 13.

"I never used to get too wound up or worried about things. But now the smallest little things, you well up a little more, you get affected by the sort of things that happen around the world or whatever a lot more, I think, as a father, just because you realize how precious life is and it puts it all in perspective, the idea of not being around to see your children grow up."