Prince George’s ‘special bond’ with Barack Obama as details of meeting revealed

Prince William and Princess Kate's former aide has recalled when Prince George made a special friend in former US President Barack Obama.

For seven years, Jason Knauf was one of Prince William's closest advisers.

In a special episode of 60 Minutes Australia - which aired on Sunday - the Prince and Princess of Wales's former communications secretary Jason Knauf spoke at length about a variety of topics from William's relationship with his brother Prince Harry, how William could one day lead as King and how William reacted to Kate’s cancer diagnosis.

The ex-aide decided to revisit a sweet moment when George, aged two at the time, was granted special permission to stay up late to meet Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama.

Dressed in pyjamas and a dressing gown, the young prince was pictured shaking hands with the former President and playing on his rocking horse when the pair met back in 2016.

The rocking horse, which has the Presidential seal on the saddle, was a gift from the Obamas and looked to be a big hit with George.

Kensington Palace released photographs of the meeting to the media, showing Mr Obama crouching down to speak with the little prince.

Jason said in the episode: "It was slightly before his bedtime. They're like, 'Well, it'd be nice to have this memory of him saying hello to this historic president.'

He continued: "Afterwards, we walked out into the courtyard at Kensington Palace and the Beast, the presidential limousine is there, and George is looking at this thing, like he has never seen anything like it."

During the sweet visit, Mr Obama described George as "adorable", but also jokingly accused him of breaching protocol during his last speech at the White House Correspondents' dinner.

He light-heartedly said the young royal's attire showed people were preparing for him to leave office.

The former president claimed that being greeted by George in his checked pyjamas and monogrammed bathrobe was slightly akin to his political opponents no longer answering his phone calls.

One person who was not in attendance was Princess Charlotte. Kensington Palace later confirmed she was fast asleep for the visit.

During the trip in April 2016, the Obamas met the Queen and Prince Philip, then-Prime Minister David Cameron, who played golf with Mr Obama, and visited Shakespeare's Globe.