A guest list fit for a prince! The Queen joins Harry, Zara and Kate at Kensington Palace for George's first birthday party (and Granny Middleton is there too)

• The Queen was among the guests at Kensington Palace in London for Prince George's first birthday party
• She was joined by Prince Harry, Zara and Mike Tindall, the Middleton clan and Kate's childhood friend Emilia d'Erlanger
• The latter joined the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George on a trip to Buckingham Palace this morning
• George's first birthday party was organised by Carole Middleton and had a Peter Rabbit theme
• During the party, guests tucked into a special cake made by George's Spanish nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo
• Grandparents Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were notable absentees but did get George a present
  

By Rebecca English for the Daily Mail

Published: 12:46 EDT, 22 July 2014 | Updated: 06:30 EDT, 23 July 2014

The cake was iced, the sandwiches made and the balloons blown up and hanging from the ceiling. All that was needed was the guests and with Prince George the birthday boy, they were never going to be ordinary.

The most important guest was his great-grandmother, the Queen, who could be seen perched in the back seat of her car as she was driven through the gates of Kensington Palace in London, and spent 50 minutes with her great-grandson.

Looking summery in a floral patterned dress and her trademark pearls with bright red lipsick, the Queen looked delighted to be attending - and even got her car to slow down as it drove past the cheering crowds that lined the route to the palace. 

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Guest of honour: The Queen, resplendent in a summery floral patterned dress, is driven into Kensington Palace for George's party

Royal Ranger Rover: Kate was pictured at the wheel of her Ranger Rover as she took Prince George to see the Queen at Buckingham Palace yesterday

Earlier in the day Kate, accompanied by her nanny, Maria Borallo, and a police protection officer, drove George to Buckingham Palace so the little prince could see his great-grandfather, Prince Philip, who was unable to attend the party due to work commitments.

Arriving at around 11am, they spent an hour at the Queen’s official residence and as they were inside the band of the Irish Guards played a tuneful rendition of Happy Birthday in honour of George’s big day.

The little prince’s doting grandfather Prince Charles, who also missed Prince William’s first birthday as he and his then wife, Princess Diana, were on tour in Canada, was also away, this time in Scotland on official duties.

But he looked delighted after being given a large cuddly toy red squirrel to take home to his grandson as he visited a Perthshire estate.

The first guests to arrive were Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, who drove in through the palace gates shortly after 3pm in matching Range Rovers.

Doting: The Queen might have been left with a nanny on her first birthday but she made sure she saw her great-grandson not once but twice on his big day

Favourite cousin: The Middletons were followed by Zara Phillips, reportedly William and Harry's favourite cousin, who arrived with her husband Mike and daughter Mia

Family: Zara was driven through the gates of Kensington Palace by her husband Mike Tindall and represented a rare day off from her stellar eventing career

Party time: As well as his uncle Prince Harry, George's first birthday guest list also included his maternal uncle, James Middleton, who arrived wearing a pair of Ray Bans

It's Aunty Pippa! Pippa Middleton, herself a fan of a themed birthday bash, also arrived at Kensington Palace for Prince George's first birthday party

Despite being thought to have organised the party, there was no hint as to whether Carole had brought along a few bits and bobs from Party Pieces, her online partyware store, to make the afternoon go with a swing.

Shortly afterwards another of the godparents, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, arrived on foot clutching a large rectangular-shaped present, wrapped in brightly coloured paper.

Jamie LP, as he is known in royal circles, is one of William’s most trusted and long-serving aides. Although he recently retired from his role as Principal Private Secretary to William, Kate and Harry, the former army officer was immediately re-appointed as William’s ‘Extra Equerry’, so trusted is his counsel.

Other godparents to arrive included Emilia d’Erlanger, one of Kate’s closest friends from her days at Marlborough College, and William van Cutsem, a childhood friend of the prince.

Julia Samuel, a confidante of William’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, and another of George’s god-parents, was also driven in by car.

The brains of the operation: Carole Middleton, wearing a typically elegant polka dot tea dress, drives into the palace for the party she organised

Grandpa's here: Michael Middleton arrived in a separate car from his wife. Prince George spent his first few months at the Middleton home in Bucklebury

Heads turned as Kate’s heavily-bearded brother, James Middleton, zipped in driving a £60,000 convertible F-type Jaguar, while Aunty Pippa was dropped off in a black taxi.

The Queen’s grand-daughter and William’s cousin, Zara Philips, fresh from competing in an equestrian event on the continent, was among the last to arrive and drove in with her husband, Mike Tindall.

Godmother Zara laughed and smiled at the waiting crowds as they roared past. Although she could not be seen, it is believed the couple’s own baby daughter, Mia, was in the back of their car.

According to palace sources, Uncle Prince Harry – sure to be the life and soul of even a children’s tea party – strolled over from his cottage in the palace grounds to join in the fun.

Birthday visit: The Duchess of Cambridge was photographed driving Prince George to Buckingham Palace to visit the Queen this morning

Birthday: Prince George has spent his first birthday with his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and his great-grandmother, the Queen

Well-wishers left flags and balloons at the gates to Kensington Palace. Inside Prince George, his parents, aunt and uncles were celebrating along with his Middleton grandparents and his great-grandmother, the Queen.

In one of two new photographs issued, Prince George can be seen pointing and gazing intently at the delicate creature which has landed on his father's hand

Present for George: Although George's grandparents Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were in Scotland, Charles did pick up a toy squirrel for his grandson

The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George watch Princes William and Harry play polo at Cirencester Park Polo Club, Gloucestershire, in June

The Duchess of Cambridge holds her son (left) close while they watch Prince William play polo and (right) at the Bilby Enclosure at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia

The Duchess of Cambridge holds Prince George alongside Prince William while meeting a Bilby called George at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, in April

Doting: The family visited Taronga Zoo in Sydney in April during a State visit to Australia which was deemed a huge success

Playful: Prince George plays with toys during his visit to a nursery in New Zealand during the family's State visit in April this year

On his first public engagement in New Zealand back in April, George unwittingly managed to make a female playmate cry by snatching her toy from her

Prince George attend an event for Plunket nurses and parents with their young children at Government House, as part of their tour of New Zealand and Australia

Eight-month-old Prince George at his first official engagement at Government House, in Wellington, New Zealand where he was given a teddy bear