LONDON (AP) — This little prince already knows how to mug for the camera. 
 
 In this photo provided by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and taken in late Nov. 2014, Britain's Prince George poses for a photograph in a courtyard at Kensington Palace, London. Great-grandchild to... (Associated Press) 
 
 In this photo provided by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and taken in late Nov. 2014, Britain's Prince George poses for a photograph in a courtyard at Kensington Palace, London. Great-grandchild to... (Associated Press) 
 
 RETRANSMISSION FOR ALTERNATIVE CROP - In this photo provided by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and taken in late Nov. 2014, Britain's Prince George poses for a photograph in a courtyard at Kensington... (Associated Press) 
 
 In this photo provided by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and taken in late Nov. 2014, Britain's Prince George poses for a photograph in a courtyard at Kensington Palace, London. Great-grandchild to... (Associated Press) 
 
 With a sly grin and robust rosy cheeks, Prince George looks cheerful and self-assured — for a toddler — in pictures released Sunday. 
 
 His sleeveless sweater features Coldstream Guardsmen in bearskin hats and red tunics. The outfit was completed by black knee socks and shoes. 
 
 His fashion choice prompted the Sunday Times to call him, "Mummy's Little Soldier Prince." The Sunday Express chimed in with "Little Prince Charming." 
 
 The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have released the images of the third in line to the throne ahead of Christmas. The release is being seen as a 'thank you' note of sorts to Britain's vivacious media, which have so far allowed George to grow up largely free from intrusions. ||||| As if aware that his parents just received a whole lot of attention, and yearning to remind us all who the most adorable royal of all is, Prince George made his grand return to the global stage today, as the palace released three new photos of the almost-17-month-old. 
 
 These are the first photos we have seen of George since the ones released on his birthday in July, and, it can not be overstated, these were well worth the wait. The youngster was shot in a blue knit sweater vest—featuring royal guards—and nearly-knee-high dark socks. (Worldwide tonight, men are cutting off the sleeves of their sweaters and chopping their dress pants off at the knee, as George has instantaneously made the mere notion of sweaters with sleeves and full-length pants totally passé.) 
 
 These shots of George—who clearly has his mother’s penchant for mugging and his father’s air of stateliness—were taken by Prince Harry’s private secretary, Ed Lane Fox, in late November. According to a statement released by the palace, Kate and William released the photos in “grateful acknowledgment of the fact that their request for Prince George to grow up without intrusion from photography has been, and continues to be, honored.” 
 
 Meanwhile, we like to think of these three shots, from left to right, as a progression in which George tells a hilarious joke, then takes a pause after delivering the punchline to assess your reaction, and then gets distracted by his mother’s glistening hair. 
 
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– Prince William and wife Kate have released new photos of Prince George, in a sweater vest no less, and the AP notes that the pics are inspiring swooning headlines the likes of "Mummy's Little Soldier Prince" and "Little Prince Charming." The third in line to the throne is pictured on the steps of Kensington Palace, and his parents say in a statement that the release is in " grateful acknowledgment of the fact that their request for Prince George to grow up without intrusion from photography has been, and continues to be, honored." (That hasn't always been the case.) Vanity Fair likens the little prince's facial expressions as a progression in which " George tells a hilarious joke, then takes a pause after delivering the punchline to assess your reaction, and then gets distracted by his mother’s glistening hair."