It had already been a challenging week for the royal children. Sensitive little Prince Louis was comforting his mother as she grieved the loss of Queen Elizabeth, while his older siblings attended their first-ever funeral with their parents. It's natural for children to feel curious about such a massive event, and it was somewhat comforting to know the Royal children were given the space to ask questions.
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, did not travel to Balmoral, but she was there for her children. Before the official announcement of the Queen's passing, she gently told Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis about the tragic news at Windsor. She wanted them to hear it directly from her to soften the blow. The Princess chose her words carefully, telling them that Queen Elizabeth is now in heaven with Prince Philip. There were lots of tears, hugs, and understandably, the children were upset.
Just one day earlier, the children looked adorable in their school uniforms as they attended an introductory day, before they officially started their lessons. Their father, Prince William, had met their teacher, Eleni, when he was speaking with the public after the Queen’s death on September 8, 2022. He mentioned how they were trying to keep things as normal as possible for the kids, maintaining some sense of continuity during such a turbulent time.
Later, when the Prince and Princess of Wales greeted the staff members who worked on Queen Elizabeth's committal service at Windsor Guildhall, thanking them in person, their three children were notably curious. Prince George, Charlotte, and Louis were fascinated by the security drones flying around the grounds. Kate recalled, “When we’ve been doing the school run, we’ve been able to see the preparations going up. We’ve seen it growing.” She praised the team for the well-organized effort, mentioning how everything seemed to fall into place so smoothly as the week progressed.
During a visit to LAR, a South London community supporting people with learning disabilities, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, was asked about the poignant moment when her two children, Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex, stood vigil beside their late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin. Sophie became visibly emotional recounting the moment, pausing to collect herself before answering. "It was incredibly moving," she said, clearly proud of her children and their cousins, including Prince William, Zara Tindall, Peter Phillips, and Prince Harry. Sophie added that she initially wondered if it would be appropriate for James, who was younger than the others, to take part. However, he was keen to join, and Sophie felt it was important for him to do so, just as it was for Louise. “They did it so well,” she said, holding her breath, hoping the children felt they had done their part for their grandmother.
Sophie paused, placing her hand over her heart, trying to stop her tears from falling. “I don’t think I can talk about it anymore,” she said, visibly moved by the moment.
Queen Elizabeth had always shown great affection for her great-grandchildren, including Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. At the time, the Princess of Wales shared a touching memory: "She always leaves a little gift or something in their room when we go and stay, and that just shows, I think, her love for her family.” Another sweet moment was caught on camera a few years back when Princess Charlotte was seen imitating the late Queen’s wave from the balcony. Young Charlotte, watching her great-grandmother greet the public, copied the gesture, which caused her mother to giggle.
A particularly charming moment occurred during the 2022 Platinum Jubilee celebrations when Prince Louis was seen chatting with the late Queen on the balcony. Known for his cheeky antics, young Louis was caught making faces at the planes flying by before covering his ears as the jets roared overhead, a moment of pure childhood joy amid the formalities of the occasion.
