George, the 'budding James Bond': French media gush over stylish black-and-white Christmas card photo of the young prince, calling him 'self-assured' and an 'apprentice gentleman'

French media have been gushing over Prince George's charm and good looks after he appeared in the Wales family's 2023 Christmas card photo. 

Prince William and Kate Middleton's eldest son, 10, was seen earlier this week posing up in a black-and-white family portrait on the front of their Christmas card this year. 

After attracting the attention of Royal fans across the world, the young Prince has now caught the eye of Le Figaro Madame columnist Chloe Friedmann who described him as a 'budding James Bond'. 

She added that he appeared 'self-assured', no longer appearing as a 'naughty schoolboy' but rather as an 'apprentice gentleman'. 

The image, which was shared on the family's Instagram account, shows William and Kate smiling alongside Prince George, Prince Louis, five and Princess Charlotte, eight, who is sat in a chair at the front of the group.

In the article, Friedmann described how George was no longer a 'diligent little boy, sometimes a rascal' but had now become 'a serious pre-teen, nearly as tall as his mother on the royal card'.

She went on: 'The budding James Bond has opted for a relaxed posture. He thus appears with his hand in his pocket, in an open Ralph Lauren shirt and his hair impeccably styled.

'He seems, moreover, very self-assured, wonderfully mastering the art of the sideways glance. The elder Wales son has certainly just crossed a threshold.'

Friedmann also pointed out the resemblance George has to his father William: 'Observing him like this, we say to ourselves that the little prince definitely takes after his father, quick to conquer the crowds.' 

Such a remark was echoed by royals fans earlier in the week who were quick to point out how the young royal bears a striking resemblance to his father at the same age. 

William, Kate and their children photographed at Windsor earlier this year by acclaimed photographer Josh Shinner.

This year's card, while less formal than that issued by the King, shows more restraint than some of their previously issued season's greetings.

William and Kate's first card as Prince and Princess of Wales was a relaxed affair - showed the couple with George, Charlotte and Louis, all in trainers, on a stroll in Sandringham Estate, Norfolk.

It was shot by one of their favourite, and most trusted, photographers, Matt Porteous - and showed a relaxed Kate in jeans, a broderie anglaise shirt and Superga pumps.

William and George wore shirts and polo shirts from Ralph Lauren, and while the Prince of Wales opted for Jeans both George and Louis were dressed in chino shorts. Charlotte wore a denim playsuit embossed with decorations of strawberries.

Previous cards issued during their tenure as Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were similarly relaxed and often colourful affairs, such as their 2018 card, in which they sat on a tree trunk in Anmer Hall in Norfolk. 

It also continues a tradition of relaxed festive greetings by the Prince of Wales - cards issued by Charles and Diana were similarly informal affairs. 

With its subtle backdrop, this year's card bears a remarkable similarity to that issued by Charles and Diana 1984 - complete with a cheeky Prince William and a tiny Prince Harry, who was born in September that year.