Prince George's detailed drawing of a kingfisher takes centre stage in a special edition of Country Life magazine guest-edited by his father, Prince William. The 300-page bumper issue, which William spent the past six months preparing, is now on sale.
The drawing, created by George at home in the spring when he was 12, shows the bird perched on a branch. The young prince is said to enjoy drawing, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, the King, a keen artist. The Princess of Wales studied art at A-level and history of art at university.
Royal family's artistic streak
In 2025, the Princess of Wales and her children released portrait sketches they drew of each other after spending time together being creative. The four images were drawn in a variety of mediums, from charcoal to ink, but no details were released about who drew each one.
The future Queen has also given a rare interview to the magazine, in which she is said to have discussed the healing power of nature.
William's personal reflections
William talks about family walks with the Waleses' dogs Orla and Otto, and how George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis love to get out and explore. He recalls growing up at Highgrove, the King's Gloucestershire retreat, and having to remember not to open the curtains before getting dressed, as the garden was often filled with visitors.
He also tells of his fondness for a visit to the pub for a chat and a pint of cider with ice, and admits his support for his 'second family', Aston Villa, has become 'fanatical'. Villa manager Unai Emery features in the magazine talking about leadership and discusses the importance of William's support for the club.
'It's fantastic for us. If we can give him good news, good results or good moments in football, we are proud of it,' Emery says in a video released to mark the publication.
Commitment to the countryside
William, a major landowner through his Duchy of Cornwall estate, also opened up about his commitment to the countryside. 'One day, George, Charlotte and Louis may ask me what I did to help communities thrive… we didn't simply imagine a better future, we helped build it, so that someone else could build further still,' he wrote.
Mark Hedges, Country Life's editor-in-chief, described the prince as a 'formidable, hands-on guest editor.' William is the latest member of the royal family to edit the publication, after the King, Queen Camilla and the Princess Royal.
