Prince George's birthday sparks debate on Princess Diana's legacy

Prince George's birthday has sparked discussions about Princess Diana's legacy.

Former BBC Royal Correspondent Michael Cole commended Princess Kate for a highly effective adjustment to a new portrayal of Prince George. 

The close-up portrait, released to celebrate the future King's 11th birthday, included a message: "Wishing Prince George a very happy 11th birthday today!"

Cole specifically praised Kate's choice to present the image in black and white, which he described as highly successful.

“It’s a lovely portrait taken by his mother a few days ago”, he said.

“He looks good, he looks 100 per cent Spencer. I remember saying to Princess Diana that she bred some height into the Royal Family, she told me: ‘And good looks, Michael’.

“Monochrome is terribly effective. Kate chose this and I think it worked terribly well without any other editing of any kind whatsoever.”

The image also contains one other hidden detail that some eagle-eyed fans have cottoned onto, Cole told Tom Harwood and Emily Carver.

“I think one of the other points of interest will be the fact he’s wearing a friendship bracelet”, he said.

“Perhaps that was acquired at the Taylor Swift concert. What I am very glad about is that he’s wearing a blazer, perhaps he will make the ones with four brass buttons on the sleeve fashionable again.”

The prince was seen with his father, Prince William, and nine-year-old sister, Princess Charlotte, at a Taylor Swift concert at the end of June to celebrate their father’s 42nd birthday.

George, second in line to the throne, also appeared on the balcony on Buckingham Palace with the Royal Family to celebrate the King’s official birthday.

It was Kate’s first public appearance since announcing her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

George had earlier joined Kate, Charlotte and his six-year-old brother Prince Louis in a carriage as they travelled down The Mall for the traditional Trooping the Colour ceremony.

George and his father presented the FA Cup to winners Manchester United at Wembley in May.