Prince George appears to be growing into his role as a young royal, according to a body language expert, who claimed the future King wasn't reliant on his father's guidance during the Christmas Day walkabout.

Judi James told the Mirror that the 11-year-old was acting on his own instinct during today's meet-and-greet with the public in Sandringham.

She said: "George is still mirroring his dad but also increasingly taking the lead without looking to William for approval signals, suggesting he is acting on his own initiative.

"The shyness signals have gone, and he now has a tendency to walk ahead when it comes to meeting and greeting."

The Wales family has endured a tumultuous year after Kate's shock cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment.

In her highly personal video released in September, where she revealed her treatment had been completed, she said that she was doing all she could to remain "cancer-free".

Dressed in green, with green and blue tartan, the future Queen today smiled as she met crowds of fans, who had been waiting to catch a glimpse of the Firm members for hours.