Adorable new pictures of Prince George released for his 3rd birthday

The Cambridge family have released four new portraits of Prince George to mark his 3rd birthday on 22nd July.

In the adorable images, the young prince is pictured in his trademark shorts and an array of stripey tops, playing outside at the family home in Norfolk.

In a change from the tradition which saw the Duchess of Cambridge take many of the official pictures of her children, professional Matt Porteous took the photographs of Prince George in the grounds of Anmer Hall recently.

The family dog, English Cocker spaniel Lupo, even makes an appearance in the snaps, with the young prince, who is third in line to the throne, cheekily offering the pup a lick of his ice cream.

Sister Princess Charlotte, one, however, was notably absent from the shoot, giving her big brother the undivided attention of the photographer on his special day.

'I really enjoyed the opportunity to take these photographs of Prince George. It was a very relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. I'm honoured that they have decided to share these images with the public to mark his third birthday,' Matt commented.

If you look closely at the pics of little George on a swing, you'll notice that the wooden base he is standing upon is engraved with the names of his proud parents, William and Catherine. The sentimental item is said to have been a gift to a couple in honour of their marriage in April 2011.

'The Duke and Duchess thank everyone for all the lovely birthday messages they have received for Prince George,' the Kensington Palace Twitter account captioned one of the images. 'Can't believe it's been three years already!'

Fans of the Royal Family were quick to comment on the social media posts, with one saying 'What fantastic photos such a handsome young man. A very Happy 3rd Birthday Prince George . Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos with us', and another adding 'Such lovely photos of a handsome little boy.'