Prince Louis knew exactly how to get his father Prince William’s attention during the VE Day celebrations.
As Prince William and Kate Middleton’s children — Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — made a surprise appearance at the royal family’s first event of the week, marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the youngest of the trio seized the moment. The royal family gathered at the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace for a military procession down The Mall, where Louis decided to make his move.
In a charming moment captured by cameras, Louis playfully tugged on the aiguillette (braid) of Prince William’s RAF No.1 uniform as they sat together. He also gave his father’s shoulder a few casual brushes. Despite his son’s antics, the Prince of Wales, 42, carried on with his conversation, unfazed by the distraction. The royals were joined by veterans from the Royal British Legion and Prime Minister Keir Starmer to watch the procession, which featured 1,300 members of the Armed Forces.
The playful exchange between father and son wasn’t the only memorable moment they shared that day. According to The Sun‘s lip reader, Nicola Hickling, Prince Louis cheekily commented on the proceedings.
“Wasn’t this supposed to be fun?” Prince Louis reportedly said, prompting a calm response from William: “It is son.”
Hickling also observed that the Prince of Wales leaned in to explain the parade to his young son. “You’ll never forget this,” William told Louis before describing the route. “They will come along here, then head towards there, and we’ll make our way back,” he said, emphasizing the importance of staying focused on the event.
“It’s not going to be long and I want you to be taking an interest,” William reportedly said.
Prince Louis and his elder siblings made their first public appearance of the year for the military procession honoring those who served during World War II and stepped out soon after on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a tricolor flypast. George, Charlotte and Louis got a special day off from school to participate in the celebrations, where they joined their grandfather King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince Edward, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent and their parents.
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May 8 will be the 80th anniversary of VE Day, signaling the end of World War II in Europe. The working royals are expected to attend several events through the week to commemorate the occasion, with Prince George stepping out in an important way.
Immediately after the procession and flypast on Monday, the royal family retreated back inside the palace for the next event. King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, are hosting a tea party for some of the last surviving members of the World War II generation and their families, with George joining William and Kate to tag along for the duty.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are introducing their children to royal responsibilities in a gradual way and George’s appearance at the tea party is the most formal royal duty he has taken on to date. Prince George is second in line of succession to the throne, following his father William.
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