Revealed: What Louis said to William on the balcony as the Red Arrows flew over – and King Charles’ real verdict on his big day
The moment Prince Louis was thrilled by the Red Arrows, and turned to his father in amazement has been revealed by a lip reader.
The six-year-old – who has a reputation for stealing the show at royal events – put on an endearingly cheeky performance today as he thrilled the crowd with a series of unimpressed looks and adorable quips.
But he seemed stunned into rapture when the RAF‘s iconic acrobatics team roared overhead streaming red, white and blue smoke behind them.
And, as he turned his head up to look at Prince William, lipreader Juliet Sullivan claims the little Prince said: ‘Papa, papa, papa look at all that colour!’
During the procession, the cheeky royal was transported in a carriage alongside his mother and two siblings, George, 10, and Charlotte, 9. Their father followed on horseback.
Prince George, Prince William, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, the Princess of Wales, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and the Duchess of Edinburgh watch the flypast
Prince Louis and Prince George watch open mouthed as the RAF planes roar over Buckingham Palace
The Royal Family wave from the balcony as they look down on the crowds of royal fans after Trooping the Colour
Prince George, the Prince of Wales, Prince Louis, the Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, the Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke of Edinburgh and Lady Louise Windsor on the balcony of Buckingham Palace
The Princess of Wales speaks with Prince Louis as they watch Trooping the Colour today
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Kate at Trooping The Colour today
They later took refuge at a window in the Horse Guards building, so they could watch King Charles inspecting the troops outside.
There, he appeared to be told off by his big sister after he started swaying his hips to the music – as she begged him to ‘stop dancing’.
But, enjoying the jaunty army band, he was unreceptive to the command, and continued with his moves.
Meanwhile, their mother the Princess of Wales appeared to smile while watching the interaction between her children, before she regained her previous, more serious demeanor.
And it was not just Prince Louis who appeared to make the most of the birthday celebrations – as the King revealed his verdict on the big day.
Standing on the balcony, in an affectionate aside the Queen can be seen saying ‘That was wonderful’ to her husband.
With a kind look, he returns: ‘It really was… delightful.’
But the senior royals could also be seen having fun as they enjoyed the celebrations.
King Charles III salutes during Trooping the Colour on his official birthday at Buckingham Palace
Queen Camilla and King Charles III beam together during Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace
The royal family look animated as they wave from the Buckingham Palace balcony after the birthday procession
King Charles III and Queen Camilla travel in a horse-drawn carriage during Trooping the Colour
King Charles III salutes the Life Guards, a regiment of the Household Cavalry, outside Buckingham Palace
At one point Camilla appeared to laugh, saying: ‘Who am I waving at!’
And Kate and Wills ushered their children inside in a way that would be familiar to most parents, saying: ‘Right! Come now, come this way!’
The royal couple shared a romantic moment as they locked eyes on the balcony – giving a touching insight into their joy to once again be united on the world stage, a body language expert said.
The Princess of Wales dazzled today as she re-entered the public eye for the first time this year in the midst of her cancer treatment and joined the royal family to celebrate the King’s official birthday.
Beaming to crowds of royal fans lining The Mall and gently taking care of her three young children, Kate sparked through the torrential rain after a difficult series of months that she has mostly spent coming to terms with the diagnosis and receiving ongoing chemotherapy.
Communication specialist Judi James said: ‘The most touching mutual reward signal came from William and Kate though when their eyes finally met.
‘William’s eye-crinkling and the puckered muscles around his lips showed his inner pride and possible relief to have his beautiful wife standing beside him again, while Kate, who had relaxed visibly by this stage, pinged back a wide, dimpled and very loving smile.’
The Princess of Wales’ appearance had been in doubt after she missed the final Trooping rehearsal last weekend.
Last night, Kate released a statement saying she was making ‘good progress’ with her treatment, but candidly said she has ‘good days and bad days’ and although she has been working from home, said ‘I am not out of the woods yet’
Judi James says that a shared moment between Kate and her husband gave a touching insight into their joy to once again be united on the world stage
The couple looked at each other affectionately while on the balcony with their three children, Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte
The Prince and Princess of Wales with their children, Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace
Kate beams as she accompanies her children in a carriage during today’s procession (pictured L-R: Kate, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte)
But with the King also suffering from cancer the spectacle of military pomp and pageantry became a symbolic statement by the monarchy after a period of uncertainty.
Last night, Kate revealed she was making ‘good progress’ with her treatment, but candidly said she has ‘good days and bad days’ and although she has been working from home, said ‘I am not out of the woods yet’.
Support from the public has made a deep impression on the princess, who said she had been ‘blown away’ by the ‘kind messages’ that had made a ‘world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times’.
And Ms James said that amid her cancer battle the Princess of Wales showed a ‘masterclass’ in royalty, and channeled the late Queen’s strength and determination.
Kate was greeted by a sea of faces as the royal party turned from The Mall into Horse Guards Parade, with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence together in a carriage, while the Duchess of Edinburgh travelled in a coach with her daughter Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and the Duke of Kent.
Meanwhile, her husband the Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, was on horseback, as were the Princess Royal, Colonel Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel Scots Guards.
The royal party were in the midst of a sovereign’s mounted escort, formed by troops from the Household Cavalry’s Life Guards and Blues and Royals.
In the rear rank was Tennyson, one of the five horses injured when they ran through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise.
In a gentle scene, the older siblings Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince George, 10, can be seen waiting nervously in the doorway as Kate quietly smooths her daughter’s locks
Charlotte can be seen anxiously moving around as she clasps her hands in front of her, and she quietly says a few words to her mother while watching the carriage approach
Then, as royals walk in synchronized steps towards their seats Charlotte seems to take a deep breath, while Kate tenderly takes her hand
The Princess of Wales was seen for the first time today just after 10am, arriving at Buckingham Palace with her family
The Princess of Wales beams as she leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today
In a change from last year, Kate did not join senior family members on a dais, but watched the spectacle from the Duke of Wellington’s former office with her children.
In a sweet moment Kate was seen stroking Charlotte’s hair and guiding her forward as she looked after her children before the display.
The gentle scene sees the older siblings Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince George, 10, waiting nervously in the doorway as Kate quietly smooths her daughter’s locks.
Charlotte can be seen anxiously moving around as she clasps her hands in front of her, and she quietly says a few words to her mother while watching the carriage approach.
Then, as the royals walk in synchronized steps towards their seats Charlotte seems to take a deep breath, while Kate tenderly takes her hand.
And steadied by her family, as she waits in the carriage to set off, she can be seen smiling happily through the window as they chat together in the coach.
Charles is Colonel in Chief of the regiments of the Household Division which include the Life Guards, Blues and Royals and all five regiments of Foot Guards – the Welsh, Scots, Irish, Coldstream and Grenadier – on parade for the official birthday, alongside the mounted Band of the Household Cavalry and the massed Foot Guards bands.
The military spectacle, also known as the Birthday Parade, is a gift from the Household Division.
In 2023, just 14 members of the Royal Family took to the historic spot to mark the King’s birthday celebrations, while this year, the balcony was not much fuller, with 15 members watching the flypast
This year marked King Charles’ second Trooping the Colour as monarch (seen with his wife Queen Camilla)
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Lady Louise Windsor and the Princess Royal, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace today
Charles first attended in 1951, aged three, riding in a carriage with his grandmother, the Queen Mother, and aunt, Princess Margaret, and first rode as Colonel of the Welsh Guards in 1975.
Trooping the Colour is a social as well as a ceremonial occasion and the stands overlooking the parade ground were filled with about 8,000 spouses, girlfriends and parents of the guardsmen and officers on parade.
It featured more than 1,250 soldiers, and hundreds of Guardsmen were lined up on the parade ground waiting to be inspected by the King from his carriage with Camilla, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and joined by the mounted royal Colonels.
The colour, or regimental flag, that will be trooped will be the King’s Colour of number 9 company, Irish Guards.
When the royal carriages finally came to a stop Louis was the first to leave, followed by his elder brother George and sister Charlotte.
Finally, Kate stepped down wearing wearing a Jenny Packham dress, hat by Philip Treacy and the Irish Guards Regimental Brooch, as she is the regiment’s Colonel.
When the inspection of the Guardsmen in their scarlet tunics and bearskins began, the King cast his eye over the servicemen who are fighting soldiers when not performing ceremonial duties.
Sat beside him in the carriage was the Queen who wore a pale green silk crepe dress and coat by Anna Valentine, Philip Tracey hat and her Grenadier Guards military brooch.
During the pageantry the colour was first trooped through the ranks of soldiers before the guardsmen marched past the King, first in slow then in quick time with the King acknowledging the command of ‘eyes right’ with a salute.
For the first time in more than 100 years, soldiers on parade were allowed to have beards.
The rule change, which applies across the Army, was approved by the King earlier this year after facial hair was only allowed for religious, medical or role specific reasons.
