After 21 blissful months of one-on-one care, world media attention and carefree splashing in the Buckingham Palace pool, Prince George is facing a spot of upheaval in his gilded life - a sibling.

Later this month, the royal toddler's mother is expected to give birth to a brother or sister who will be fourth in line to the throne.

In his latest official photos, the son of Prince William and his wife, Kate, appears confident and curious - a blond tot with an impish smile.

Shielded from the cameras, the prince's rare public appearances are exhaustively reported in British media and "Gorgeous George" is a social media star.

The boy who has helped sustain the image of a British royal family once battered by scandal has been seen at public events just three times.

The first was in July 23, 2013, when he was shown to the world wrapped in a white blanket in the arms of his radiant parents.

"He's got a good pair of lungs on him," the young father told journalists outside the same private maternity ward in London where Kate plans to give birth this month.

Conscious of the role that he will have to play one day, William and Kate have said they want the prince to have as normal a childhood as possible.

George's first birthday was celebrated far from the cameras with a cake baked by his mother.

(China Daily 04/13/2015 page10)