- The Queen was among the guests at Kensington Palace for Prince George's first birthday party
- She was joined by Prince Harry, Zara and Mike Tindall, the Middleton clan and Kate's childhood friend Emilia d'Erlanger
- The latter joined the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George on a trip to Buckingham Palace this morning
- George's first birthday party has been organised by Carole Middleton and has a Peter Rabbit theme
- During the party, guests will tuck into a special cake made by George's Spanish nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo
- Grandparents Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were notable absentees but did get George a present
The cake
was iced, the sandwiches made and the balloons blown up and hanging from
the ceiling. All that was needed was the guests and with Prince George
the birthday boy, they were never going to be ordinary.
The
most important guest was his great-grandmother, the Queen, who could be
seen perched in the back seat of her car as she was driven through the
gates of Kensington Palace in London, and spent 50 minutes with her
great-grandson.
Looking
summery in a floral patterned dress and her trademark pearls with bright
red lipsick, the Queen looked delighted to be attending - and even got
her car to slow down as it drove past the cheering crowds that lined the
route to the palace.
Guest of honour: The Queen, resplendent in a summery floral patterned dress, is driven into Kensington Palace for George's party
Earlier in
the day Kate, accompanied by her nanny, Maria Borallo, and a police
protection officer, drove George to Buckingham Palace so the little
prince could see his great-grandfather, Prince Philip, who was unable to
attend the party due to work commitments.
Arriving
at around 11am, they spent an hour at the Queen’s official residence
and as they were inside the band of the Irish Guards played a tuneful
rendition of Happy Birthday in honour of George’s big day.
The
little prince’s doting grandfather Prince Charles, who also missed
Prince William’s first birthday as he and his then wife, Princess Diana,
were on tour in Canada, was also away, this time in Scotland on
official duties.
But
he looked delighted after being given a large cuddly toy red squirrel
to take home to his grandson as he visited a Perthshire estate.
The
first guests to arrive were Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael
Middleton, who drove in through the palace gates shortly after 3pm in
matching Range Rovers.
Doting: The Queen might have been left with a
nanny on her first birthday but she made sure she saw her great-grandson
not once but twice on his big day
Favourite
cousin: The Middletons were followed by Zara Phillips, reportedly
William and Harry's favourite cousin, who arrived with her husband Mike
and daughter Mia
Family:
Zara was driven through the gates of Kensington Palace by her husband
Mike Tindall and represented a rare day off from her stellar eventing
career
Party time: As well as his uncle Prince Harry,
George's first birthday guest list also included his maternal uncle,
James Middleton, who arrived wearing a pair of Ray Bans
It's Aunty Pippa! Pippa Middleton, herself a fan
of a themed birthday bash, also arrived at Kensington Palace for Prince
George's first birthday party
Despite
being thought to have organised the party, there was no hint as to
whether Carole had brought along a few bits and bobs from
Party Pieces, her online partyware store, to make the afternoon go with a
swing.
Shortly
afterwards another of the godparents, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, arrived
on foot clutching a large rectangular-shaped present, wrapped in
brightly coloured paper.
Jamie
LP, as he is known in royal circles, is one of William’s most trusted
and long-serving aides. Although he recently retired from his role as
Principal Private Secretary to William, Kate and Harry, the former army
officer was immediately re-appointed as William’s ‘Extra Equerry’, so
trusted is his counsel.
Other
godparents to arrive included Emilia d’Erlanger, one of Kate’s closest
friends from her days at Marlborough College, and William van Cutsem, a
childhood friend of the prince.
Julia
Samuel, a confidante of William’s late mother, Diana, Princess of
Wales, and another of George’s god-parents, was also driven in by car.
The
brains of the operation: Carole Middleton, wearing a typically elegant
polka dot tea dress, drives into the palace for the party she organised
Grandpa's
here: Michael Middleton arrived in a separate car from his wife. Prince
George spent his first few months at the Middleton home in Bucklebury
Heads
turned as Kate’s heavily-bearded brother, James Middleton, zipped in
driving a £60,000 convertible F-type Jaguar, while Aunty Pippa was
dropped off in a black taxi.
The
Queen’s grand-daughter and William’s cousin, Zara Philips, fresh from
competing in an equestrian event on the continent, was among the last to
arrive and drove in with her husband, Mike Tindall.
Godmother
Zara laughed and smiled at the waiting crowds as they roared past.
Although she could not be seen, it is believed the couple’s own baby
daughter, Mia, was in the back of their car.
According
to palace sources, Uncle Prince Harry – sure to be the life and soul of
even a children’s tea party – strolled over from his cottage in the
palace grounds to join in the fun.
Birthday visit: The Duchess of Cambridge was
photographed driving Prince George to Buckingham Palace to visit the
Queen this morning
Birthday: Prince George has spent his first
birthday with his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and his
great-grandmother, the Queen
Well-wishers left flags and balloons at the
gates to Kensington Palace. Inside Prince George, his parents, aunt and
uncles were celebrating along with his Middleton grandparents and his
great-grandmother, the Queen.
In one of two new photographs issued, Prince
George can be seen pointing and gazing intently at the delicate
creature which has landed on his father's hand
Present for George: Although George's
grandparents Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were in
Scotland, Charles did pick up a toy squirrel for his grandson
The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George
watch Princes William and Harry play polo at Cirencester Park Polo Club,
Gloucestershire, in June
The Duchess of Cambridge holds her son (left)
close while they watch Prince William play polo and (right) at the Bilby
Enclosure at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia
The Duchess of Cambridge holds Prince George
alongside Prince William while meeting a Bilby called George at Taronga
Zoo in Sydney, Australia, in April
Doting: The family visited Taronga Zoo in Sydney in April during a State visit to Australia which was deemed a huge success
Playful: Prince George plays with toys during
his visit to a nursery in New Zealand during the family's State visit in
April this year
On his first public engagement in New Zealand
back in April, George unwittingly managed to make a female playmate cry
by snatching her toy from her
Prince George attend an event for Plunket nurses
and parents with their young children at Government House, as part of
their tour of New Zealand and Australia
Eight-month-old Prince George at his first
official engagement at Government House, in Wellington, New Zealand
where he was given a teddy bear
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