A detailed drawing by Prince George of a kingfisher has been unveiled for the first time in a special edition of Country Life magazine guest-edited by his father, Prince William. The artwork, created by the 13-year-old prince, takes pride of place in the publication, which is out this week.
The picture, showing the bird perched on a branch, was drawn at home in the spring when Prince George was 12. The young prince, who recently started at Eton College, is said to enjoy drawing, and the work suggests he shares an artistic flair with his grandfather, the King, an accomplished painter, and his mother, the Princess of Wales, who studied the history of art at university.
William's Six-Month Project
William spent six months working behind the scenes on the bumper 300-page issue of Country Life. His wife, Kate, has also given a rare interview to the magazine, in which she is said to have discussed the healing power of nature, though details from the gold-embossed collectors' edition, which goes on sale today, have yet to be released.
Elsewhere in the publication, 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 the King's Gloucestershire retreat, Highgrove, 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.
Football and the Countryside
William admits his support for his "second family" Aston Villa has become "fanatical". Villa manager Unai Emery features in the magazine, talking about leadership and discussing 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.
William, a major landowner through his Duchy of Cornwall estate, also opens up about his commitment to the countryside. In the magazine's leader column, he writes: "The places you love best are not the ones you preserve unchanged, but the ones you keep quietly improving."
Champions and Military Focus
He sets out his countryside champions, choosing wildlife rangers and curlew conservationists, as well as Groove Armada star Andy Cato, now a regenerative farmer, and next generation farming students who studied at Duchy College in Cornwall. The prince also shares his weakness for chocolate biscuit cake, first served to him by his grandmother the Queen, which he chose as his wedding cake when he and Kate married in 2011.
It was also revealed that the future head of the armed forces uses the magazine to set out his drive to make sure women in the military feel safe, respected and valued. Over the past year, the heir to the throne has been on a fact-finding mission, carrying out private and public meetings with servicewomen of all ranks from the Royal Navy, the RAF and the Army as a priority, to learn first-hand about their experiences.
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.
