Prince George official Christmas pictures an early present from royals

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge gave royal-watchers an early Christmas present Saturday.

On the heels of their visit to the U.S. this week, Prince William and his wife, Kate, released three official Christmas portraits of their 1-year-old son, Prince George.

The pictures show George, who didn't accompany his parents to New York and Washington, sitting on a small set of stairs in a courtyard at Kensington Palace in London, according to a statement from the palace. They were taken in late November.

In the pictures, George wears a blue sweater vest decorated with British beefeater soldiers over a white, long-sleeved polo shirt accompanied by dark short pants, knee-high socks and buckled shoes.

Will and Kate don't appear with George, but he won't be by himself in Christmas portraits for long. Kate is pregnant with the royal couple's second child, which is due in April.