Today delightful pictures of Prince George were released.
The photos show the young prince with his father, grandfather, and great-grandmother in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace. The foursome was making Christmas puddings to be used as part of a new initiative from the Royal British Legion, “Together at Christmas.” More from this Hello! story:
The mixing session was led by one of The Royal British Legion’s care home chefs and Army Catering Corps veteran, Alex Cavaliere, and attended by four veterans – Colin Hughes, Liam Young, Lisa Evans and Barbara Hurman. A new Royal British Legion recipe was created for the launch, with the Royal Family uniquely adding poppy seeds to the mixture, in a nod to the charity’s iconic symbol of Remembrance.
Here you see Chef Cavaliere and the four veterans alongside the royals.
The puddings will be used as centerpieces for Together at Christmas events next year. The parties and other functions will be held to help give extra support to the Armed Forces and veteran communities at the Legion’s outreach centers. They included ingredients like raisins, currants, citrus peel, and ground almonds. More from Stephanie Petit’s People story:
Each of the royals placed commemorative sixpences into the mixture, ready to be found by those attending the gatherings next year. A new Royal British Legion recipe was created for the launch, with the royal family uniquely adding poppy seeds to the mixture in a nod to the charity’s symbol of remembrance.
In the pictures, you can just make out some of the decorations on the Christmas tree. Among the ornaments: crowns, corgis, miniature thrones, and soldiers.
My friend Micki pointed out you can buy many of the ornaments via the Royal Collection: here are links to the Corgi in Coat Decoration (£12.95), the Imperial State Crown Decoration (£25) and the Crystal Throne Decoration (£25).
Our What Kate Wore post has more information on the Legion’s new initiative as well as some background on traditional Christmas puddings. Now for a look at what Prince George wore for the photoshoot, which took place on Wednesday, the same day he attended the Queen’s annual Christmas luncheon. He appears to be in the same shirt seen on that occasion.
In Wednesday’s post, I wrote that the shirt “is similar to the Daniel shirt by Amaia Kids we have seen him wear on multiple occasions.” Below you see the Prince wearing the Daniel at Trooping the Colour 2018.
It’s *possible* it is a one-off piece from Amaia, but George’s shirt has six clear or mother-of-pearl buttons; they are not dark like those seen on the Daniel shirt shown above, so I am not convinced this is the Daniel. I’m putting it in the not-yet-identified category.
UPDATED: With thanks to People’s Simon Perry for the ID and Mika for posting about it on FB, George *was* wearing an Amaia shirt.
This version of the Daniel shirt ($54) was added to the website. Crafted of cotton poplin, it shows the same collar, cuffs, and number of buttons as George’s style.
Pauline pointed out on Twitter George appeared to be wearing the Vaello belt we’ve seen previously, the Vaello Deep Blue Elastic Belt (€15, about $17). The prince was in a pair of tartan trousers. What Would Kate Do and Pauline suggested they are the Donald Trousers in navy tartan ($47) from Trotters in 100% cotton; Kit Fletcher pointed out there is a similar design at John Lewis, the retailer’s Heirloom Collection Boy’s Check Trouser ($20) in a poly/viscose blend. This is one of those situations where we are unlikely to know exactly what pair the prince wore unless we see additional photos at some point in the future.
In the full-length view of the Prince, George also appeared to be wearing Amaia Kids shoes, the Navy Lace-Up Style ($66) with thanks to People’s Monique Jessen for the ID.
It was a treat to see new pictures unexpectedly!
We’ll see you Wednesday with coverage (hopefully) of Prince George and Princess Charlotte joining their parents and other royals for the traditional walk to Christmas Day services at Sandringham.
I think George is wearing the Rachel Riley Navy Piped Pique Shirt. I believe the Rachel Riley says so as well.
https://www.rachelriley.co.uk/collections/boys-shirts/products/pique-piped-shirt-3
Hi, Julia, and thank you for commenting! I appreciate your input on the shirt. I do not believe it is a Rachel Riley piece. Prince George’s shirt and the Amaia Kids ‘Daniel’ both have six buttons, while the Rachel Riley shirt only has five. I also think there is just the tiniest difference in the collar point; the Rachel Riley point is just the littlest bit rounder than the Amaia style. 🙂
Christmas puddings are made of very rich ingredients with alcohol added . They can be kept for years as the alcohol preserves them. In fact it’s best to leave them a few months at least before earning them as it improves the flavour. They are steamed and wrapped up or sealed in a bowl so they are cooked already before they are stored. The tradition was that the whole household would gather and everybody would have a turn in mixing the ingredients and making a wish. Sometimes coins or little trinkets were wrapped in grease proof paper and added to the mixture. This added to the excitement when eating it. You could get a little gift. They contain lots of dried fruit, sultanas, cherries, mixed peel, nuts and sugar flour and eggs brandy all mixed into a dark mixture . You get a slice of it and can add cream, brandy butter, ice cream . Before serving you can pour some brandy or whiskey over the pudding and set it alight .i love Christmas pudding but it’s not everybody’s favourite.
Based on the tartan size I’d say the trousers are more like the trotter ones. The checks squares are not as long as the John Lewis ones. Also I’d hazard a guess that the shoes could be start-rite ones. It’s a subtle difference but the shape is not exactly like the amia ones.
Amaia kids have a new version of the long sleeved daniel shirt with white buttons. I’m pretty sure there are six buttons. It also has the blue around the cuffs and the more rounded collar.
The shirt really looks like one I saw on Maria bianca Website.
But… Cannot be sure …
https://www.maria-bianca.com/en/kids/759-boy-shirt-with-traditional-collar.html
Boy, that is so close, Diane, I thought you had it! But then I checked and George’s shirt has six buttons while this only has five, and I think the collar tips on George’s have more of a point on them, they’re not quite as rounded. But this is a fab repli-George & a really good find, thank you! 🙂
For a situation that looks like it could have been a shade intimidating for a small boy with all those grown-ups, I have to say George looks wonderfully at home in the family shots here, and I don’t think we’ve seen the Queen attempt anything half so informal for a Christmas photo before.
It seems they are simply adding sixpences and poppy seeds to the puddings as a final touch after the mix has been left to stand for a day or so. They can also make a final stir for the tradition of making a wish when stirring the pudding.
All of which might help explain why everyone was formally dressed for the family lunch and not even wearing aprons. The Queen hangs on to her handbag, and George manages to keep his shirt clean. It’s interesting that different buttons can be spotted on his shirt given the piping makes it look so similar to the Daniel style. I’m absolutely wowed by his tartan pants – and full-length too! He’s clearly going places is that boy ?
Probably George is wearing shorts and not trousers. What do you think?
That’s certainly a possibility, but my guess is he’s moved into full-length trousers. It will be interesting to see what he wears on Wednesday if we see him (and hopefully Charlotte) walking to church at Sandringham. 🙂
Looks like full-length trousers for George in the video just released from the event. Growing up!
You were right. There is a new video of the event and Prince George is indeed wearing trousers! He’s officially a big boy now.
This page has the recipe for the Christmas pudding. (If you are vegetarian, you can probably replace the suet with Copha, Cremelta, Cookeen, Trex, or Crisco). It’s probably too late to make the pudding for this Christmas, as they usually improve with age.
https://etcanada.com/news/562655/queen-elizabeth-prince-charles-prince-william-prince-george-stir-christmas-pudding-in-new-photos/
Is it the shirt he wore as pageboy at Eugenie’s wedding?
Just love the serious look on George’s face as he is stirring and also ‘considering’ his grandfather’s offering! Having made traditional Christmas cakes myself I know the effort needed for stirring stiff mixtures!
In the group photo George seems a bit overwhelmed (don’t think he is keen on the formal ‘stuff’!!), someone should have stood him closer to his great-gran, or Dad put a hand on his shoulder or something a bit less intimidating for a child?
When they say the puddings will be “used as centerpieces for Together at Christmas events next year” do they mean next Christmas or in the new year? I am an American and I’m not familiar with English Christmas pudding. Will it keep for a whole year?
There are others who will know far more about this than I, but I do know they can be kept for a long time. My sense was they are going to be decorative only, but perhaps I misunderstood the information.?
Fruit cakes and Christmas puddings can keep for many many years because the fruit is saturated in alcohol usually brandy the higher the alcohol the better the preservation they also taste better with age which is why they are often left for so long
Traditionally in a wedding cake the top layer is saved for the first child’s christening I do believe William and Kate did this for George