Prince William and Kate Middleton Thankful for "Good Wishes" on Prince George's First Birthday

Royal couple welcomed the heir to the British throne on July 22, 2013

By Zach Johnson Jul 22, 2014 1:25 PMTags
Prince George, Kate Middleton, Prince WilliamJohn Stillwell/PA Wire

What a year it's been! To celebrate Prince George's first birthday Tuesday, Prince William and Kate Middleton issued a statement to express their gratitude. "We would like to take this opportunity on George's first birthday to thank everyone over the last year, wherever we have met them, both at home and overseas, for their warm and generous good wishes to George and our family," the royal duo said.

In the days leading up to the mini-milestone, a trio of photographs were released showing Prince George visiting the "Sensational Butterflies" exhibition at the Natural History Museum with the 32-year-old Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Middleton, as it happens, is Patron of the Natural History Museum.

One year ago today, Prince George was born at 4:24 p.m. at St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London. He is third in line to the throne, behind his father, Prince William, and his grandfather, Prince Charles.

John Stillwell/Press Association

Three months after his birth, Prince George was christened at The Chapel Royal in St. James' Palace by The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby. In keeping with royal tradition, Prince George wore a hand-made replica of the royal christening robe, made by Angela Kelly, dressmaker to Queen Elizabeth II. The Lily Font and water from the River Jordan were also used during the baptism.

Prince George accompanied his parents on their three-week tour of New Zealand and Australia in April.

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Though he's the most famous baby in the world, the Cambridges hope to give Prince George a "normal upbringing." According to royal watcher Katie Nicholl, "They take George to playdates at the homes of friends, among them Kate's old Marlborough friend Alice St. John Webster, who has a baby several months older than George," she wrote in Vanity Fair. "His parents have deliberately chosen to keep him out of the limelight," she added. "William especially wants to protect his son from the media, which he has had to deal with from an early age. There will be occasional official photographs to mark milestones...but the rest of the time George will be left to enjoy a happy childhood away from the media glare."