Everything we know about Prince George

As Prince George approaches his third birthday, here's everything we know about the adorable royal...

1. He is a mischievous "cheeky monkey".

Already showing a strong personality, George is a mischievous little boy who can be a handful. When William spoke about Princess Charlotte to reporters as he started his new post as a helicopter pilot with East Anglian Air Ambulance he described his daughter as "a little joy of heaven" and added – with a fond chuckle: "At the same time, it is more responsibility, looking after two little ones, especially when George is around. He's a little monkey."

2. He calls the Queen "Gan-Gan"

This is super cute! George has an adorable name for his great-grandmother the Queen – and we love it! Kate revealed: "George is only two-and-a-half and he calls her 'Gan-Gan'. She always leaves a little gift or something in their room when we go and stay and that shows her love for her family."

3. He is already a proud big brother

Prince William and Kate gave fans a glimpse into their beautiful family life when they released photos to celebrate Princess Charlotte's arrival. While the newborn played a starring role, Charlotte also shared the spotlight with her older sibling George. The little Prince is already showing his best big brother qualities, and was pictured wrapping a protective arm around his baby sister and planting a kiss on her forehead.

4. He's already proving a pro at public appearances

George manages to melt the hearts of royal fans from around the world when he makes official appearances. When the two-year-old arrived at the hospital to meet his newborn sister Princess Charlotte, George had crowds cooing with excitement as he turned and waved back to the well-wishers.

"There's a real feel-good factor whenever George attends events," royal photographer Chris Jackson of Getty Images told HELLO! magazine. "He seems to handle the situation with a mixture of cheekiness, confusion, playfulness, fascination and grumpiness, which always makes for incredibly cute pictures."

5. He looks set to inherit the royal family's love of animals

Growing up with the family's pet dog Lupo, George seems to be an animal lover and during his official tour to Australia last year, the rosy-cheeked charmer looked particularly excited to meet a bilby – a rabbit-like marsupial – who was also named George, in his honour. The outing to Sydney's Taragona zoo was a highlight of the trip for George, and his mum Kate regularly takes him to petting zoos near the family's country residence Anmer Hall in Norfolk.

6. He seems fascinated by anything with an engine

Like many youngsters his age, George likes to marvel at anything with an engine. At this year's Trooping the Colour, which was George's first attendance at the Queen's birthday celebration, the little boy looked absolutely fascinated by an RAF flypast and was pictured laughing and pointing at the sky while his dad William held on to him. He's also known to be fond of tractors, after being pictured pushing a children's ride-on tractor and carrying a toy black and red tractor model.

7. He seems to be developing a love of polo, just like his dad

A passion for polo runs in the royal family, with both Princes William and Harry learning the sport from a young age. George may only be little, but when he was 11 months old, he stepped out to watch his dad compete in a charity match in Cirencester. The royal darling looked eager to get involved in the action too, and was pictured picking up a polo mallet and playing with it.

8. He's already appearing on best-dressed lists

Following in the footsteps of his father William and his great-grandfather Prince Philip, George has been named as one of the best-dressed men in Britain by GQ magazine, ranking 49th this year.

9. He is fast becoming a trendsetter

Similar to his mother Kate, the youngster is becoming a trendsetter and the "Prince George effect" has seen clothing worn by the royal sell out nearly instantly. Notable brands who have benefited from George's public appearances include Trotters, Rachel Riley and Amaia Kids.

10. He has a particularly strong bond with Prince Charles.

The heir to the throne is proving a real softie when it comes to his grandson. Framed photos of George and Charles regularly pop up in the background during videos filmed in Clarence House, and as HELLO! recently revealed, green-fingered Charles even enlisted the toddler Prince's help to plant two new trees at Highgrove.

11. He loves pigeons

Prince George is already an animal lover. During a charity visit to Islington Town Hall in October, Kate revealed her son's fascination with a certain breed of bird. Carl Goddard, 10, revealed Kate said: "She was telling me that she took George to the Natural History Museum. She was telling me that George was more interested in a pigeon they found there rather than all the amazing exhibits."

12. He settled into school quickly

In January George started nursery, attending the Westacre Montesorri School in Norfolk. A source at the time told HELLO! Online: "He's going to be attending part time for a handful of hours per day. Both the Duke and Duchess dropped him off today and it seems all went well."

George carried a change of clothes, a healthy snack and perhaps a favourite toy in his sky blue backpack. 

13. He's a "very clever and articulate little boy"

Actress Sophie Winkleman and her daughter Maud were invited to meet Prince George when he was around 20 months. She later opened up to HELLO! Magazine about her meeting with the future king, praising his well-developed speech.

She said: "He is a very clever, articulate little boy and was speaking long before other toddlers his age."

14. He loves his scooter

Just like many other little boys, George has a mischievous side. In March, Kate revealed how she was struggling to keep up with her son as he discovered his new favourite toy. She said: "He's got a scooter. He's going super fast on it. It's hard to keep up with him!"

15. He met President Obama in his pyjamas

Not many people could get away with it, but Prince George wore his pyjamas and an adorable monogrammed dressing gown for his official meeting with President Obama. Kate and William allowed him to stay up 15 minutes past his bedtime to meet the US political leader – and he was snapped shaking his hand in a pair of gingham pyjamas and the white gown.  

16. He was a bad sleeper

Prince William revealed how his son had trouble sleeping as a baby, admitting that he "never slept" and wished that he'd had an app called Baby Buddy, which offers parents advice and support they might otherwise not seek help for.

17. He has a favourite book

In May, Prince William told of George's favourite book. After he visited Pegasus Primary School, schoolgirl Xiomara, eight, said: "[George's] favourite book is The Gruffalo."

18. He has a pet George and sister Princess Charlotte have a pet hamster called Marvin! Although we've never actually met their furry friend, Christine Frazier set up a Twitter account for him, showing off her illustrations of the pet in Kate's famous outfits!