There’s nothing like having some quality time with your best mate – especially when Prince George and cousin Mia Tindall are concerned.
The adorable royal relatives were snapped together over the weekend attending the Burnham horse trials in Norfolk with their royal parents, Duchess Catherine and Prince William, along with Prince William’s first cousin Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall.
And while there were plenty of moments that had royal fans abuzz over the refreshingly normal family display (Kate was wearing a puffer jacket and Wills was giving piggyback rides – what a time!) there was another thing you might have missed, and it’s likely going to melt your heart.
In the images from the fun family day out, Prince George and Mia, both aged five, were seen joking around together.
And while it should come as no surprise that the two royal tykes are very chummy with each other, pictures of the pair together are few and far between, which makes these new shots all the more sweet.
Mia tells George exactly how many years she’s had to put up with his trickster ways.
“We’re totally the same height… almost!” The royal cousins compare statures while the grown-ups, including Prince William and former rugby player Mike Tindall, watch on.
In another rare revelation, we also got treated to our very first close-up look of baby Lena, whom Zara gave birth to in June 2018 – and she’s every bit as royally adorable as we imagined!
The chubby-cheeked, blonde cutie could be seen rugged up in a red jacket and mittens keeping cosy in her pram.
Little Lena is cute as a button!
We’d only had brief glimpses of Lena up until now. (Image: Getty)
The pictures from the family day out also surprised fans for a reason they couldn’t quite pin point to start with – George was wearing something other than his usual shorts and shirt combo.
Indeed the young Prince was wearing a khaki green fleece and, wait for it, trousers!
The young Prince has been seen in trousers only on sparing occasions including Princess Eugenie’s wedding, Prince Harry’s wedding and the Cambridge Christmas card photo released in December 2018.
The reason? It all comes down to royal tradition.
Etiquette expert William Hanson revealed to Harper’s Bazaar UK that it would be considered “suburban” to dress children of the upper class in anything but shorts.
“It’s a very English thing to dress a young boy in shorts,” he explained.
“Trousers are for older boys and men, whereas shorts on young boys is one of those silent class markers that we have in England.”
However now George is five, custom dictates the third in line to the throne can now start wearing long pants.
George kept his knees toasty in a pair of olive green trousers.
Lo-and-behold! Prince George sparingly wears long-legged pants. Another rare occasion was at Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s royal wedding in May 2018 (pictured). (Image: Getty)
The horse trial event was held near the Cambridges’ country residence of Anmer Hall, where they will stay during the Easter break.
More photos published by the Daily Mail showed Prince William giving Mia a piggyback ride, while Kate gave one to daughter Princess Charlotte.
The family were there to support Zara, a professional equestrian, who was taking part in the races – the two families are very close with both having similar aged children.
Speaking to Hello! in 2015, Mike Tindall said it was great to see a new generation of royals thrive.
“They’re all quite close in age and hopefully they’ll grow up as good friends,” he said.
