Royal fans watching the VE Day commemorations noticed a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment with Prince Louis as he appeared to gently mock his older brother Prince George as they watched the military procession
Prince Louis has left royal fans in stitches after appearing to tease his older brother Prince George at VE Day commemorations. The Prince and Princess of Wales’s children made a rare public appearance as they joined the King, Queen and veterans to watch a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe at Buckingham Palace.
The royals sat among veterans watching the parade, with the children shaking their hands and listening to their stories. And in one sweet moment, Louis, aged seven, brushed lint from dad William’s RAF uniform jacket, as the Prince of Wales explained the parade to his youngest son.
But royal fans noticed another moment regarding Louis as he watched George brush his hair away from his face. And in a cheeky move, seven-year-old Louis appeared to flick his own hair out of his face in a cheeky moment, ribbing his older brother.
The moment came after the crowds applauded the royals as they took their seats. William shook the hand of one veteran as he took his seat. His children followed his example, with Kate being the last to greet the serviceman as she sat beside him. He later appeared to show her some photographs, and she took one to give it a closer look.
Shortly after the royals took their seats, light drizzle prompted many to put up umbrellas, as the King helped to wrap veteran Joy Trew up in blankets.
The royal family is scheduled to attend engagements over the next four days, less than a week after the Duke of Sussex told the BBC his father would not speak to him and he did not know how much longer the King had left.
However, the King and Queen are “looking forward” to the week’s events, and it is understood that, out of respect for the surviving veterans, Buckingham Palace hopes “nothing will detract or distract from celebrating with full cheer and proud hearts that precious victory and those brave souls, on this most special and poignant of anniversaries”.
Today, the King echoed his grandfather, King George VI, by wearing naval uniform No.1 dress, with no medals or decorations, like the monarch back on VE Day in 1945. Camilla wore a sapphire blue wool crepe dress and coat, by Fiona Clare, with the 12th Royal Lancers Brooch, Her Majesty’s late father’s regiment.
Meanwhile, in a sweet nod to the late Queen, Princess Anne wore the uniform of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal’s Volunteer Corps) with no decorations – just like her mother did on the Buckingham Palace balcony in 1945.
On VE Day back then, large crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace to catch a glimpse of King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.
The royal family is scheduled to participate in engagements over the next four days, as they hope “nothing will detract or distract” from the commemorations following Prince Harry’s bombshell interview with the BBC. He told the broadcaster his father would not speak to him, and he did not know how much longer the King had left.
The King and Queen are “looking forward” to the week’s events, and it is understood that, out of respect for the surviving veterans, Buckingham Palace hopes “nothing will detract or distract from celebrating with full cheer and proud hearts that precious victory and those brave souls, on this most special and poignant of anniversaries”.
Crowds started to gather on The Mall on Monday morning, with some arriving the day before to secure a good viewing spot. Elsewhere, street parties are set to take place in towns and cities across the UK.
Sir Keir Starmer said the week’s events are a reminder that victory was “not just for Britain” as personnel from the US, France and Germany will be among those joining the military procession in London on Monday. In an open letter to veterans, he said: “VE Day is a chance to acknowledge, again, that our debt to those who achieved it can never fully be repaid.”
