The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have released a family photograph with their eight month old son Prince George, ahead of their upcoming tour of New Zealand and Australia.
The photo shows William, Catherine, baby Prince George and the couple’s dog Lupo in their Kensington Palace home, and was taken by royal photographer Jason Bell in mid-March.
The royal couple are currently preparing for George’s first official trip and first public tour to Australia and New Zealand in April.
The Duke and Duchess revealed in early March that they would be taking their son with them on the trip because they simply could not be away from their first born “for so long”.
“It’s a tremendously exciting visit and I can tell you Their Royal Highnesses are looking forward to it immensely,” Prince William’s private secretary, Miguel Head said at a media briefing at Kensington Palace.
The three-week trip will see William and Catherine visit 13 major cities with Prince George’s new Spanish nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo joinging them.
The royal couple will arrive in Australia on April 16.
Check out the travel itinerary below:
New Zealand
April 7 – Wellington – arrival at Government House in Wellington, New Zealand.
April 8 – day to recover from 25-hour flight at a private residence.
April 9 – Wellington – mother and babies meeting with the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society.
April 10 – Blenheim – war memorial service; exhibition of World War One aircraft.
April 11 – Auckland – meet base personnel at Whenuapai air force base; yacht races with the Duke and Duchess on separate yachts.
April 12 – Waikato – Duke to visit Pacific Aerospace while the Duchess visits a children’s hospice; visit to a war memorial; visit to the national velodrome.
April 13 – Dunedin and Queenstown – two-day trip including Palm Sunday service; watch Rippa Rugby festival; wine tasting; experience white water ride through canyons.
April 14 – Christchurch – visit city and see plans for future rebuilding.
April 15 – The family will have a day off together.
April 16 – Wellington – visit to the Royal New Zealand Police College.
Australia
April 16 – Sydney – reception at Sydney Opera House.
April 17– Blue Mountains – visit to fire-damaged areas and meeting with community leaders.
April 18 – Sydney – Royal Easter Show; children’s hospice and surf life-saving display.
April 19 – Brisbane – Duke to visit RAAF Amberley; Brisbane Reception.
April 20 – Sydney – Easter Sunday church service; visit to Taronga Zoo.
April 21 – The family will have a day off together.
April 22 – Uluru (Ayer’s Rock) – visit to National Indigenous Training Academy and Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, afternoon tea and tour.
April 23 – Adelaide – tour of Northern Sound System and Adelaide reception.
April 24 – Canberra – National Portrait Gallery; Prime Minister’s reception at Government House; tree-planting at the National Arboretum and Governor General’s reception.
April 25– Canberra – ANZAC Day March and Commemorative Service at the Australian War Memorial.
Related video: Prince George accompanying parents on royal tour