The youngest member of the royal family of Sweden, Prince Oscar, takes central stage in a series of newly released pictures.
The four-year-old son of Crown Princess Victoria looked thrilled as he befriended and pet some sheep during a visit at the Haga Palace in Stockholm on Monday 18 May.
The same day, the young royal had been photographed with his elder sister Estelle, eight, and his mother Victoria, 42, in beekeepers outfits to celebrated World Bee Day.
The photographer who immortalised the event has now shared new snaps of the young prince playing with the sheep, his watchful mother `not far behind.
Prince Oscar of Sweden, four, had the time of his life befriending sheep at Haga Palace, near Stockholm, on Monday
The young royal could not hide his glee as he ran after a black sheep, his mother Princess Victoria keeping watch
In the pictures, four-year-old Oscar gets close and personal with the sheep, hugging their black wool and cuddling their head while Princess Victoria smiles.
Oscar did not seem to be phased by the large animals, who were twice his size.
Instead, he casually rested his arms, and on occasion, his whole body, on their black wool.
The Crown Princess, still wearing her beekeeper suit, and a pair of pink gloves, was keeping watch, minding her son’s steps as he jumps into the enclosure, ready to mingle with the animals.
The little prince enjoyed some time with one of his new friends, casually restring against its wool
Still wearing her beekeeping suit, Princess Victoria, 42, seemed delighted to see her son enjoy himself
Little Oscar was photographed with a big grin on his face while running after a black sheep and clapping his hands in excitement.
Later on, Victoria’s hand was carefully holding the animal’s head still as her son rested his cheek close to the animal’s foregead, a happy smile lighting up his face.
Victoria, Estelle and Oscar had headed to Haga Palace in order to observe beehives ahead of World Bee Day.
Victoria had to keep a watchful eye on her young son as he jumped into the sheep’s enclosure, ready to play
The young royal, wearing a pair of jeans and rubber boots, shared a tender cuddle with one of the sheep
Princess Estelle even picked up one of the slots to showcase the many bees as her and her younger brother eagerly looked on.
The lovely pictures were shared on the royal court’s official Instagram account.
‘Before #worldbeeday, the Crown Princess took Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar to the hives at Haga Palace,’ the social media post read.
Ready to go! Oscar barely hid his excitement as he climbed the fence to the sheep enclosure with his mother
Oscar pondered his wide choice of playmate has he gently petted one of the sheeps’ black wool
The sheep remained calmed and gentle as the young prince cuddled them, at some point resting his upper body on one of them
‘There they learned more about bees and why they are important for our biodiversity. ‘Humans rely on pollinators, such as bees, to eventually be able to get food on the table.
‘The beehives at Haga Palace were a much appreciated gift to the Crown Princess from the Swedish beekeeper’s national association, @biodlarna, 10 years ago.’
The princess has been an honorary member of the Swedish Beekeepers’ Association since 2002 and the beehives were a wedding gift to her and her husband Prince Daniel, 46, from the organisation.
Princess Estelle, seven, and Oscar, four, looked bewildered as they observed some bees on the grounds of Haga Palace