Prince George's kingfisher drawing appears in British magazine Country Life

A kingfisher drawing by Prince George, the eldest son of Prince William and Princess Catherine, has been published in a special issue of the British magazine Country Life. The issue is guest-edited by William, the Prince of Wales and heir to the British throne, which has brought a family member's work to a wider audience.

The drawing was made at home in spring, when George was 12. It shows a kingfisher, a bird with an orange breast, blue-green wing feathers and a long beak. The work stands out for its detailed rendering and sense of colour.

William's project

The special Country Life issue came out on 11 November and runs to almost 300 pages. William spent about six months on his guest-editor duties, choosing topics, interviewees and stories that reflect his interests and personal world. Including George's drawing also offers a glimpse into the everyday life of the Prince of Wales's family.

A family connection to art

Catherine studied art history at the University of St Andrews. Her father-in-law, King Charles III, has for years been known for his watercolour paintings. William, for his part, has repeatedly shared his children's creative work.

George has shown an interest in drawing before. At Christmas 2022, William and Catherine made public a reindeer he had painted, which drew wide attention.

Similarity to an online tutorial

After the drawing was published, attention turned to artist Matt Fussell, who offers drawing lessons online. He pointed to a similarity between George's kingfisher and an image in his online tutorial. It is not known whether the prince used that tutorial.