PRINCE George of Cambridge's first birthday is being marked with a commemorative £5 coin.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's son is the first member of the Royal Family to have his first ­birthday honoured with a new UK coin.

William and Kate, along with George's great-grandmother, the Queen, and Chancellor George Osborne approved the design of the sterling silver piece, which bears the heraldic royal arms and the year 2014.

Shane Bissett, director of commemorative coin and bullion at the Royal Mint, said: "As Prince George of Cambridge reaches the significant milestone, we felt there could be no more fitting design to mark the first birthday of our future king than the royal arms -the arms of the monarch -minted in honour of the future heir to the throne."