Prince George and Princess Charlotte ‘lean on each other’ because play dates with outsiders can be ‘tricky’, royal source claims

WITH less than a two-year age gap, it's no surprise that royal siblings Prince George and Princess Charlotte are incredibly close.

And now, one royal insider has claimed it could be because the pair - aged six and four - are "leaning on each other" as play dates with outsiders can be "tricky".

Speaking to magazine, a source explained: "They are close in age, and they spend so much time together.

"Play dates [with outsiders] can be tricky, so they learn to lean on each other.'

George and Charlotte are often spotted playing together and in recent months especially, the royal kids have been photographed joking around as well as chasing a football together at a charity polo match in July.

And when mum Kate Middelton, 37, unveiled her Chelsea Flower Show garden in May, George and Charlotte were pictured sitting next to each other while dipping their toes in a stream.

The insider pointed out that the kids do seem to have different personalities, with George a little "more reserved" while Princess Charlotte - who was pictured cheekily sticking her tongue out last week - is "more outgoing".

And with Prince Louis now almost 18 months old, it's thought all three of the Cambridge kids will be the best of pals once they're a little older, especially with Charlotte set to join George at his £19,000-a-year school, Thomas's Battersea in September.

“She can’t wait to be with George at big school,” says the insider.

“She is so excited about it all.”

In other royal news, we told you Kate Middleton beats Meghan Markle in YouGov royal popularity poll – while Prince Harry trumped Prince William.

We also revealed the Queen’s must-have high-street beauty products including £22 Elizabeth Arden lipstick and £8 Essie nail polish.

And we told you how Meghan Markle ‘flew to Ibiza on a private jet with Prince Harry and son Archie Harrison for a six-day birthday break’.