From marveling at his mother’s robes in Westminster Abbey to mastering a new double handed royal wave, all eyes were on little Prince Louis at King Charles’s coronation on Saturday. While Prince George had a starring role as a page of honor in his scarlett red tunic, it was little Louis who everyone was watching out for after his memorable debut appearance at the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The five-year-old’s attendance at Westminster Abbey was only confirmed by Kensington Palace aides on Saturday morning. Prince William and Princess Kate were keen for their youngest to experience the grandeur of the Coronation and see his grandfather crowned, however as with most five-year-olds, the prince has a limited attention span. Royal watchers will remember last summer’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, where he was seen fidgeting and pulling funny faces at his mother during the street pageant before being handed over to Charles, who happily bounced Louis on his knee and distracted him. During the fly past, an animated Louis was seen covering his ears pulling a series of funny faces.
While Prince George had one of the most important roles, assisting King Charles with his many robes, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis had a starring role in the procession following the King into the abbey.
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Sources close to the Prince and Princess of Wales said the plan was for the prince to retire from the Abbey after the royal procession and before the two-hour service started. However, Louis stayed longer than expected because he was enjoying the music and spectacle before him. After yawning following the first hymn however, he was discreetly whisked away but he returned for the national anthem and was excited to take part in the carriage procession back to Buckingham Palace.
According to a family friend, Charles is very close to his youngest grandson and wanted him to be at yesterday’s service so he would have been delighted that Louis got to witness some of the special day. The Prince and Princess of Wales also wanted Louis to be a part of it, according to a family friend. He was too young to attend the Queen’s funeral, which was the first state occasion attended by George and Charlotte, and he was not at the Easter Service at Windsor last month. However, the Coronation was deemed a moment too important for Louis, who started school in September, to miss.
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