The Queen beams alongside cheeky Prince George, Charles & William as they mark the start of a new decade in new photo
A SWEET royal portrait has been released to mark the start of a new decade, featuring the Queen beaming next to future heirs Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George.
While Her Majesty, 93, stands in the centre of the family shot, it’s little George, six, who steals the show with a cheeky smile, standing on the steps next to her.
While we have been used to seeing Prince George dressed in shorts during his childhood, in the new heartwarming photo the young prince is wearing Black Watch tartan trousers.
He’s also wearing a long-sleeved white shirt with blue piping by British designer Rachel Riley, which looks a similar style to other shirts we’ve seen him wear in the past.
Meanwhile, the Queen looks resplendent in light blue dress by Angela Kelly, and has accessorised with a sapphire and diamond brooch and a black handbag from her favourite brand Launer.
A smartly-dressed Prince Charles, 71, has a protective hand on his grandson’s shoulder in the photo, while Prince William, 37, stands behind the Queen.
The new portrait of the Queen and three future kings was taken by photographer Ranald Mackechnie in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday December 18.
The Sun’s Royal Correspondent Emily Andrews said: “This is a charming photo of the Queen and three future Kings.
“It’s a lovely family portrait but, as ever with royal iconography, it’s much more than that.
“After a difficult year for the Royal Family, the Queen is showing that the next decade, and the future, is in safe hands with Princes Charles, William and George.
“It’s no coincidence this picture was taken in the throne room.
“This is the future of the family and the monarchy.
“I love George’s tartan trousers - with the presence of the Prince of Wales, George’s nod to Scotland and the Duke of Cambridge’s English title, the Queen is also saying the royals fully support a hugely important United Kingdom.”
This is the second time a four-generation portrait has been released of the Queen and her family in line to the throne.
The first, also taken by Mackenchnie, was unveiled in April 2016 for the Queen’s 90th birthday.
It showed an adorable two-year-old Prince George balancing on some foam blocks and steadying himself with his dad Prince William’s hand.
The sweet image was used on special commemorative stamps released by the Royal Mail.
Ranald said at the time: “Prince George was in good form, very happy and fascinated by the lights and my kit.
“I wanted a warm family portrait and hopefully we got what we wanted. It was an amazingly relaxing and light-hearted sitting.”
The young prince’s first stamp was part of a set of ten celebrating the Queen’s milestone birthday, which also included six images of Her Majesty.
The new image, released on Friday evening, appears to have been taken the same day as when Prince George mixed Christmas puddings with the Queen, his dad and grandad in December.
These pictures were taken two days before 98-year-old Prince Philip was rushed to hospital for treatment in relation to “a pre-existing condition”.
The get-together in the magnificent Music Room at Buckingham Palace saw the four generations prepare special Christmas puddings for the Royal British Legion, who then later released the images.
The photo follows the Queen describing 2019 as being a ";bumpy year" in her annual Christmas Day speech.
Last year has been labelled her second “annus horribilis” — the Latin phrase she used to describe 1992 after the marriages of three of her children collapsed.
This time, son Prince Andrew, 59 — missing from family photos seen during the broadcast — has become embroiled in scandal over his links with paedo Jeffrey Epstein.
Husband Prince Philip, was back in hospital and was involved in a car accident in January.
And the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have controversially spoken out about their struggles living in the public eye.
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