Prince George’s appearance at the recent royal wedding of his uncle Prince Harry and auntie Meghan Markle was a little disappointing: despite it being our first glimpse of the 4-year-old in trousers (not shorts!) it also emphasised just how shy the youngster has become, hiding behind his father Prince William’s legs during the royal wave, allowing little sister Princess Charlotte to steal the show with her enthusiastic wave.
We were pleasantly surprised, then, when the official royal wedding photographs showed George beaming with a large toothy grin – like the George of yesteryear, before school and annoying younger siblings got to him.
Now, photographer Alexi Lubomirski (also a Prince, naturally) has revealed just how he wangled the beaming smile out of our favourite heir-to-the-throne, and it’s quite simple really.
‘[The page boys and bridesmaids] were being bribed with one Smartie here, one Smartie there,’ explained Lubomirski to Reuters. ‘So as soon as the kids came onto the set, I immediately just shouted out 'Who likes Smarties?’ and then everybody, hands up, smiles, even some adults put their hands up. Parents were trying to wrangle their children, other uncles and aunts were talking to their nephews and nieces. It was a family, that was essentially what it is.’
Meanwhile an eagle-eyed guest also spotted sweeties being doled out by royal nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo to bribe a fidgety flower girl, while Princess Charlotte reportedly also tried to keep her in line, saying: ‘No you can’t go yet. We have to wait until we are asked.’ Those royal kids are so articulate, aren’t they?