Prince George throws a tantrum before playing at being a pilot in a Red Arrows jet at the Royal International Air Tattoo
The two-year-old prince had a toddler tantrum as he arrived at the Royal International Air Tattoo... and had to be comforted by his mum
PRINCE George had the day out many little boys would dream of today, but threw a right royal tantrum as he arrived at the Royal International Air Tattoo.
George, who was wearing navy shorts and a white T-shirt, burst into tears not long after his arrival at the first day of the military air show in Gloucestershire.
Kate picked the teary toddler up as he began crying – and managed to put a smile back on his face before long.
It seems the prince may soon be following in his dad’s footsteps, after sitting in the coveted seats of the Red Arrows.
The adorable prince played pilot as he pretended to fly one of the famous jets, proudly sitting alongside his helicopter pilot dad.
The Duke of Cambridge showed his son the inner workings of a Squirrel helicopter and Red Arrow Hawk.
Prince William is currently working as a helicopter pilot with the East Anglican Air Ambulance service.
The young price was handed a pair of blue ear protectors and a blue piggy bank, part of a range of memorabilia for the 75th anniversary of the RAF Air Cadets, which is being celebrated during the show.
Cadet Sgt Eleanor Horton was the one who gave him the piggy bank.
She said afterwards: “He said ‘thank you’. He was very sweet.
“I said I hope one day he will be an air cadet. He was so cute. He seemed more interested in the aeroplanes.”
Stunning Kate Middleton, 34, recycled a blue Stella McCartney dress – which she styled with a navy blazer from Smythe – for the occasion.
When they got into the Squirrel helicopter, Kate sat with George in the back – and not at the controls – as he appeared nervous.
“He seemed overawed with the noise and being inside a helicopter. It was a lovely family moment,” Flight Lieutenant Jim Hobkirk said.
“We shut the doors so they could have a quiet moment to themselves. The Duke was telling him, ‘I used to fly these.’
“George was very quiet. It was all a bit . . . He’s not even three yet.”
Minutes earlier, George hadn’t wanted to see the front of the training aircraft.
Flight Lt Hobkirk added: “He was interested in the tail rotor. I imagine his father’s told him about helicopters.
“So he knew what that was called and kept saying ‘tail rotor.’ It was good to see his technical knowledge! Some training going on early!”
With William in the front at the controls and George in the instructor’s seat behind ‘the Duke was trying to point out things’.
Flight Lt Hobkirk said: “Everyone was just trying to keep him happy really. There was a lot going on for him with the noise from all these aeroplanes.
“He seemed quite subdued in the end. They wanted to put him on the Duke’s lap but he was having none of it.
“The Duchess suggested shutting the door to try to persuade him. But he was happy sat with his mum.”
He added of the young family: “They seemed very relaxed.
“The Duke said he misses flying and he swishes he could fly more and said he was envious of me.”
Kate is Honorary Air Commandant for the RAF Cadets, and earlier today she met cadets who have spent the past week erecting tents for the event.
The family were also greeted by TV star Carol Vorderman, who is ambassador of the RAF Cadets.
Carol said it was ‘fantastic’ to meet Kate, William and George along with Dawn McCafferty, commandant of the Air Cadets.
Air Commodore McCafferty said of George: “They put him down but mum was looking after him.
“It’s his first air show so he was probably finding the noise quite loud.
“He was pointing out the aircraft in the sky. He’s clearly interested. The Duchess said to thank the air cadets for the work they’re doing here. She’s a great patron.”
Carol added: “She is patron, Dawn runs the Air Cadets now and I am ambassador and honorary group captain so we had the three women together.
“I think it is a highly important message for the RAF. The recruitment of girls to the Air Cadets had gone up rapidly over the past six years.”
Carol was introduced to George by William and spoke to the toddler as his mum talked to the cadets.
She added: “It was lovely because obviously they are a flying family.
“I think now that once you have the bug it is a shared love and everybody in the air force is the same – there’s nothing like it.
“Prince William was saying to George ‘This is Carol, she flies an aeroplane as well’.
“George is obviously keen on aircraft apart from the noise.”
RAF Fairford is the largest event of its kind in the world – and features action-packed displays.