As he tends to do, Prince Louis stole the show on the royal family’s Christmas walk.
Louis, 6, joined his parents Prince William and Kate Middleton, older siblings Prince George, 11, and Princess Charlotte, 9, and other members of his family on December 25, where he mingled with members of the public after a morning church service at St. Mary Magdalene. The youngest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, both 42, “looked visibly excited” about the gifts he received, which included a box of Cadbury chocolates, Christmas crackers, bouquets of flowers and an assortment of stuffed toys, according to The Daily Mail.
At one point, a well-wisher offered the royal family a Santa headband, which he happily accepted and “thanked the person who gave it politely and returned it to his father and siblings,” the media reported.
Prince Louis of Wales reacts as he carries gifts from well-wishers after attending the royal family’s traditional Christmas service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, December 25, 2024.
OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty
Prince William, who was also enthusiastically greeting members of the public, appeared amused by Louis’ booty and told him: “You’ve got that too.”
In fact, Louis’ hands were so full of gifts, The Daily Mail reported that he “seemed to be struggling to keep everything he took in” and turned to his father and sweetly asked, “Dad, can you take some?”
Elsewhere on the walk, Louis grabbed his mother’s hand and, as seen in a video posted on TikTok, Kate ruffled her youngest’s hair at one point, encouraging him to mingle with well-wishers. She also placed an encouraging hand on his shoulder, as seen in a separate clip.
Per NewsweekPrince Louis was spotted telling his mother Princess Kate at one point, “Let’s look out for each other.”
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis join the Christmas walk to church after a ‘brutal’ year
Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales at the Christmas morning service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
As his three children excitedly grabbed treats from the crowd, Prince William exclaimed: “Flowers [for Charlotte]chocolate [for George and Louis]. Very simple!”
For the second year in a row, Louis wore trousers on the Christmas walk, though Daily Express reports that royal tradition usually dictates that boys under the age of 7 must wear shorts when attending public engagements. “His parents seem to have a more relaxed approach to protocol,” the media reported. (Louis will be 7 in April.)
Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales and Prince George of Wales at the Christmas morning service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis make first public appearance in six months: ‘It’s been a tough year’
It was a difficult year for George, Charlotte and Louis, in which their mother and grandfather were both diagnosed with cancer. On September 9, Kate announced that her chemotherapy was over, while Kraljeva’s will continue in 2025.
The three children from Wales have rarely been seen in public in 2024, rarely appearing at events such as June’s Trooping the Colour, the Princess of Wales’ September video message announcing she had finished treatment and December 6 Together at Christmas concert of carols in Westminster Abbey.
“It’s been such a tough year for them,” Sophie Mirman, founder and creative director of Trotters (the brand behind the burgundy coat Princess Charlotte wore to the ceremony), told PEOPLE of George, Charlotte and Louis. “It’s wonderful to see them all together.”
Prince Louis of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George of Wales attend Christmas morning service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
After major abdominal surgery in January, Kate revealed her cancer diagnosis to the world in a video message on March 22. When she made the announcement earlier this year, her three children were on her mind, as she said in the video that she and William were “doing everything they can to process and resolve this privately for the benefit of our young family. As you can imagine, that took time.”
“Life-threatening illnesses bring a reassessment of priorities,” a source close to the royal household said of Kate. “She and William have always made it clear that family is the most important thing.”
Catherine, Princess of Wales Prince Louis of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George of Wales at the Christmas morning service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Although this has been a tough year for Louis and his siblings, Louis is learning a new hobby – “the drums,” said dad William. “That’s why I spend my whole life with my fingers in my ears.”
Louis — who has a particularly close relationship with his sister Charlotte — was “keen” to tell his older sister about the ballet dancers at their mother’s concert earlier this month. Speaking to performers at the annual event, Kate said that Louis found out there would be a ballet performance at the carol concert about two weeks before the show and she asked him not to tell Charlotte so it would be a surprise for the young princess, who loves dancing.
“So I said, ‘Louis, can you keep a secret? I want it to be a surprise for Charlotte, who loves her ballet,’ and he said, ‘I won’t say anything!’ And he kept the secret for what, maybe two weeks? Quite good for a 6 year old!” – said Princess Kate with a smile.
Prince Louis of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend the ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 6, 2024 in London, England.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
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“And then this morning he said, ‘Please, mom, can I tell her? I burst!’, ‘because I drove and he really wanted to tell her,’ she added.
“I think, I hope, he continued with it. I don’t think he said anything,” she continued. I asked her [Charlotte]right before we left, ‘Do you know what a surprise is?’ And she said no.”
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Source: HIS Education