Rare never-before-seen baby photos of Prince William are to be auction 40 years after they were taken

Private pictures of Princess Diana and King Charles with a then three-month-old Prince William have been shared for the first time before they go under the hammer.

The 22 pictures - which were taken on their holiday in Balmoral, Scotland, in September 1982 - offer a rare insight into family life as both parents dote on their firstborn son, with their love for William clear.

The photos, which come complete with the original negatives and folder, will be auctioned online at Willingham Auctions in Cambridgeshire on March 4, at 10am.

There are no other copies of the snaps in existence.

Several images show a cheerful Charles cradling the wide-eyed baby inside Balmoral, while others show Diana cuddling the youngster outside the Castle walls.

Stephen Drake, an auctioneer at Willingham Auctions, said the pictures offer "a really personal insight" into the beloved Princess of Wales.

The late Queen also features in the unique collection. 

Last year, a slice of Charles and Diana's 1981 wedding cake sold for an unexpected price of £1,850 at auction.