Prince George's kingfisher drawing featured in Prince William's guest-edited Country Life

A kingfisher in the spring

Prince George, 13, drew a bright blue and orange kingfisher perched on a branch, and the picture appears in a new 300-page special edition of Country Life. His father, Prince William, guest-edited the issue, which means he chose its content and focus. A Kensington Palace spokesperson said the Prince made the drawing in the spring at Forest Lodge in Windsor, and reports say he was 12 at the time. George gave his father permission to publish the work, and one page of the edition is reserved for a contribution from him.

Prince William's guest edition

William spent six months preparing the issue, which is a gold-embossed collectors' edition. In it he writes about family walks with the dogs Orla and Otto and describes how George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis love to get outside and explore. He recalls growing up at Highgrove, where he had to avoid opening the curtains before dressing because visitors often filled the garden. In the magazine's leader column he writes:

“The places you love best are not the ones you preserve unchanged, but the ones you keep quietly improving.”

Catherine, Princess of Wales, gave the magazine a rare interview, and it is said to discuss the healing power of nature, though details have not yet been released.

A family of artists

Catherine took art at A-level and later studied the history of art at university, and reports describe her as a keen photographer. King Charles III has painted in watercolour for decades, with Balmoral among his subjects. In 2022, William and Catherine shared a watercolour of a reindeer that George had painted, using it as their Christmas card when he was 9. George based that reindeer on a greeting card designed by the artist Hannah Dale, who had said at the time that he had talent and a good eye for form and colour. In 2025 Catherine, George and his siblings drew each other in four portraits that Kensington Palace posted on social media, which the palace described as a moment of connection.

Aston Villa and the countryside

William calls Aston Villa his second family, and reports say he has become fanatical about the club. Manager Unai Emery appears in the magazine talking about leadership and the value of William's support for the club. In a video released for the publication, Emery said:

“It's fantastic for us. If we can give him good news, good results or good moments in football, we are proud of it.”

William is also a landowner through the Duchy of Cornwall estate, and he writes about his commitment to the countryside. He recalls a visit to the pub for a chat and a pint of cider with ice. Details of Catherine's interview have yet to be released.