A surprise visit by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children delighted the crowds on a soggy opening day of the Royal International Air Tattoo.

Prince William and Kate treated the youngsters to a day of jets, helicopters and historic planes as they enjoyed a family day out at RAF Fairford.

Prince George and his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, toured the RIAT site with their parents as their school holidays began in earnest.

Future king George, who celebrates his 10th birthday on July 22, sister Charlotte, aged 8, and five-year-old brother Louis have all broken up from their Lambrook School in Berkshire.

William and Kate were all smiles when they arrived with their children at the air show, staged near Swindon, and was greeted by Wing Commander Will Essex.

They were greeted by grey skies that brought heavy rain but there were a few aircraft still in the skies before they arrived.

The event was a return visit for George who was taken to the show by his parents in 2016, aged three, and was pictured wearing ear defenders at the time.

The family’s is first stop was a huge C-17 transporter aircraft, which was used to transport the late Queen’s coffin in the days ahead of her funeral last September.

The royal children were dressed for a summer day in light casual clothing and George and Charlotte looked around at the rain-soaked concrete around the huge plane when they stepped from their car.

They shook hands with senior members of the RAF before they were ushered up the huge ramp of the transport plane with their parents.

George was given the task of partially raising the ramp and could be seen pressing the button as his father watched on.