Why Prince Louis Left the Coronation Briefly After Being Photographed Yawning
It’s not easy for a five-year-old to sit still for hours, but Prince Louis tried his very best during his grandfather King Charles’ coronation on Saturday. He attended the event with his sister Princess Charlotte and brother Prince George, and while he did a pretty good job for much of the ceremonial time, eventually he succumbed to some very adorable yawning.
The family had apparently planned for this eventuality, with a source telling Page Six that his parents Prince William and Kate Middleton had a nanny ready “if he grew tired or misbehaved” and he was taken away about an hour and a half into the event. He returned to sing “God Save the King,” perhaps after a quick nap.
He did do an excellent job entering Westminster Abbey in procession with his family. Prince George, meanwhile, served as a page of honor during the crowning ceremony which The Telegraph reports marks the first time a royal who is in line to be a future monarch has been involved in the service in modern history. George is second in line to the throne behind his father William.
Royal reporter Omid Scobie told ET that Prince Louis “was restless” at Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee last year.
“I think there are already plans in place for Louis on the day of, it’s a two-hour ceremony,” Scobie said. “So, unlike his older brother, Prince George, who plays a central role and we’ll see him in that procession, the page of honor, Louis may be there for the arrivals but then may dip out for a little while and reappear towards the end.”
He was seen leaving in a carriage, still looking sleepy.
Prince Louis was not at the funeral of his great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth in September, likely because of his playfulness at the Jubilee.
In an interview ahead of the coronation, Princess Kate was asked about her youngest behaving on the day.
“I hope so,” she said. “You never quite know with kids.”
Aimée Lutkin is the weekend editor at ELLE.com. Her writing has appeared in Jezebel, Glamour, Marie Claire and more. Her first book, The Lonely Hunter, will be released by Dial Press in February 2022.
