Prince Louis took centre stage at today’s London Platinum Jubilee celebrations, stealing the scene with his mischievous antics as he was snapped pulling faces and picking his nose during Trooping the Colour.
Four-year-old Louis, who is the youngest of the Cambridge children, was also photographed waving enthusiastically at bystanders earlier in the day, as he joined his siblings Prince George, eight, and Princess Charlotte, seven, in a carriage ride down the Mall to Horse Guards Parade for the Queen’s Birthday Parade, the first official Platinum Jubilee event of the bank holiday weekend.
However, his most attention-grabbing moments came courtesy of the obviously strong bond he shares with his great grandmother, the Queen, who was seen chatting to the youngster during the flypast in an effort to distract him from the loud noise of the aircraft.
And Louis seemed entranced, looking up inquisitively at the monarch, and seeking out her attention.
Louis (pictured, centre) appears to shared a special bond with his great-grandmother the Queen, who was seen entertaining the young royal during Trooping the Colour
At one point while watching Trooping the Colour, the young royal appeared to be overwhelmed by the noise, and was seen covering his ears while shouting
After his animated carriage ride, the four-year-old prince (pictured, centre) still had plenty of energy, and was snapped frowning as he saluted while watching Trooping the Colour with his big sister Princess Charlotte (picture, right) on a balcony at Horseguards Parade
Although the young royal seemed overwhelmed at times by the noise, a few soothing words from his ‘Gan-gan’ seemed to do the trick and calm him down
At one point, Louis even broke away from his mother Kate Middleton to barge past the Queen, much to the bemusement of the Duchess and Camilla.
And while the young royal seemed overwhelmed at times, a few soothing words from his beloved great grandmother seemed to do just trick to calm him down.
Earlier in the day, Louis had drawn attention to himself after appearing to get a ticking off from his older sister Charlotte, who looked like she was telling him to stop waving in a video clip that was filmed while they were taking a carriage ride down The Mall.
The children, who were dressed in complementary blue outfits, were accompanied by their mother Kate Middleton, 40, as well as the Duchess of Cornwall, 74.
The young Cambridge siblings (pictured, L-R) George, Louis, and Charlotte were joined by Mia Grace Tindall (far right) and Princess Beatrice (top) while they watched Trooping the Colour
Prince Louis (pictured, centre) was snapped pulling faces while he waved animatedly at the crowd while riding a horse-drawn carriage down the Mall during today’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations
The oldest Cambridge child, Prince George, eight (pictured, left) appeared to wince as Prince Louis waved at bystanders while pulling a face from his horse-drawn carriage
At one point during the carriage ride, Prince George (left) appeared to lose his cool with his younger brother Louis (right)
Despite the animated carriage ride, all three children showed respect to the great-grandmother, bowing their heads as the national anthem played
During the ride, Princess Charlotte appeared to chide her younger brother for waving too enthusiastically at the assembled crowds.
A video clip of the children shows the seven-year-old princess asking Prince Louis to ‘stop waving!’ as they made their journey through the crowds.
This prompted a minor squabble between the youngest two royals in the carriage, while their elder brother Prince George looked on.
However, despite being ticked off by his sister, Prince Louis continued to wave animatedly at bystanders, though all three children were snapped showing respect for their great grandmother, the Cambridge children dutifully bowed their heads when the national anthem was played on their arrival into Horse Guards Parade.
Her Majesty made the journey from Windsor Castle by car. Meanwhile, other members of the Firm made public appearances in horse-drawn carriages.
The Duchess of Cambridge and her three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis waved for cheering crowds at Trooping the Colour today before the Queen’s arrival, as they began the celebrations in style.
Three carriages left the forecourt of Buckingham Palace carrying members of the Royal Family down The Mall this morning, with the Duchess of Cornwall riding alongside Kate Middleton and her children in the first carriage.
They were followed in the glorious sunshine by the Earl and Countess of Wessex with their son James, Viscount Severn, and finally the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence in the third carriage.
Louis sat between his older siblings George and Charlotte in a carriage, with Kate and Camilla sat opposite. The children, who were dressed in a light blue, navy and white colour scheme, waved to the crowds – and at one point Charlotte appeared to push Louis’s hand down, while the Princess squinted in the sunshine as the carriage left.
Prince Charles, Prince William and Princess Anne rode on horses during the traditional carriage procession which left Buckingham Palace ahead of Trooping the Colour, also known as the Birthday Parade, at the start of festivities.
As Kate, Camilla and the children left in their carriage, a riding groom had an issue with her horse which refused to move. The carriage had to swerve to avoid the animal which was eventually persuaded to join the procession.
The Cambridge children bowed their heads when the national anthem was played on their arrival into Horse Guards Parade. George was dressed in a navy suit, white shirt and blue tie for the occasion, while Louis was wearing a sailor-style white and navy top echoing an outfit worn by his father at the 1985 Trooping event.
Charlotte’s hair was down, dressed up with two fine plaits fastened with a blue ribbon, and she wore a cornflower dress. She peered out of the central window at Horse Guards Parade as Louis pointed out towards the ceremony.
They arrived at Horse Guards Parade alongside their mother and grandmother in a carriage. The Duchess of Cambridge was wearing a white coat dress by Alexander McQueen and a hat by Philip Treacy. Riding horses were the Prince of Wales on George, the Duke of Cambridge on Derby and the Princess Royal on Sir John.
The Prince of Wales went ahead of the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal as they rode diagonally across the forecourt and under the arches of Horse Guards. Charles wore his scarlet Colonel of the Welsh Guards uniform and green thistle sash riding a horse named George. William rode on Derby in his Irish Guards uniform and Anne on a horse named Sir John in her Colonel of the Blues and Royals uniform as part of the colourful parade.
It comes as Prince Harry and Meghan are set to join senior royals at an official engagement for the first time in more than two years. The Sussexes are also set to bring along three-year-old Archie and Lilibet, nearly one, for the public family reunion – and the children are likely to meet their cousins George, Charlotte and Louis at last.
Lilibet has never been introduced to her royal relatives, while Archie has not been in the UK since he was six months old. But there is no invitation for shamed Prince Andrew even in a private capacity after his fall from grace.
The Queen’s Birthday Parade at Horse Guards in London is the first official Platinum Jubilee event of the bank holiday weekend, with Her Majesty set to appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the RAF flypast at 1pm.
Thousands of people draped in Union Jack flags, party hats and plastic tiaras lined The Mall in the warm sunshine today. Some of those at the front brought camping chairs, having arrived over the past few days to get the best spot, and spirits were high as members of the public chatted and joked with police maintaining the perimeter.
However, police then swooped on four intruders tried to smash through security on The Mall. Two of the protesters – who were from Animal Rebellion – were able to sit in the middle of the road as the marching band approached. Officers hauled them out of the way as the musicians walked by them, avoiding them completely.
The Irish Guards were among the first to arrive at a march at Horse Guards Parade this morning in front of the sitting crowds in the bright sunshine, led by their mascot, an Irish Wolfhound called Seamus. And as huge crowds descended on the capital to witness the historic weekend, police and park authorities said the areas were full.
The Metropolitan Police said: ‘The viewing areas in central London for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are now full. To avoid the disappointment of not being able to enter the viewing areas please avoid the area.’
And the Royal Parks added: ‘Crowds have flocked to St James’s Park for Trooping the Colour and public viewing areas are now at full capacity. Please do not head to St James’s Park but enjoy the Jubilee celebrations elsewhere.’
Meanwhile the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said in a tweet on their official account this morning: ‘We’re looking forward to celebrating and seeing how you’re joining us in marking this #PlatinumJubilee weekend.’
