The Princess of Wales has revealed how her sons are coping with the death of their great-grandmother the Queen.
Speaking to Australia’s Governor-General at a reception held for Commonwealth dignitaries ahead of the Queen’s funeral today, Kate explained four-year-old Louis is asking questions and struggling to understand.
David Hurley recalled his conversation with Kate, saying she revealed her eldest son Prince George, nine, is ‘sort of now realising how important his great-grandmother was and what is going on’.
But four-year-old Louis has been asking whether the family’s summertime visit to Balmoral Castle will still be as he remembers them.
‘The younger one is now asking questions like, “do you think we can still play these games when we go to Balmoral” and things like that, because she’s not going to be there?”‘ Mr Hurley said.
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Kate spoke to David Hurley at Buckingham Palace on Saturday about how her three children Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four, were handling the sudden loss of their great-grandmother
But four-year-old Louis has been asking whether the family’s summertime visit to Balmoral Castle will still be as he remembers them
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Louis during Trooping the Colour on June 2, 2022 in London, England
‘The younger one is now asking questions like, “do you think we can still play these games when we go to Balmoral and things like that, cause she’s not going to be there?”‘ Mr Hurley said
Speaking to well-wishers last week, the Princess of Wales revealed Prince George ‘understands the loss’ of his great-grandmother – while his younger siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis ‘less so’.
‘My daughter asked her how the children were doing, and Kate thanked her and said yes, they were doing well and they were being looked after at school, so that was a nice exchange,’ one well-wisher shared of her conversation.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte will make a surprise appearance at their great-grandmother’s funeral today, walking behind her coffin into Westminster Abbey.
The Daily Mail understands that the Prince and Princess of Wales thought ‘long and hard’ about whether their two eldest children, aged nine and seven, should join them.
But after George and Charlotte attended their great-grandfather’s memorial in March, William and Kate decided they could cope with the solemnity of the occasion. Louis, the couple’s youngest, is just four and will not be joining.
‘As parents they have, of course, thought long and hard about whether their children should accompany them,’ a source said. ‘Of course little Louis is too young, but they think George and Charlotte are up to it.’
It is understood the children will also be in the congregation for the committal service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor this afternoon. A decision is to be taken about whether they feel up to taking part in the procession there, too.
George and Charlotte will travel by car to the Abbey with Kate and Camilla, before joining the foot procession as it enters.
6.02am: The final members of the public pay their respects at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Hall today
5.17am: The final members of the public pay their respects at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Hall today
5.16am: The final members of the public pay their respects at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Hall today
4.51am: The final members of the public pay their respects at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Hall today
Before today’s state funeral service at 11am, a bell will toll 96 times, reflecting the years of Queen Elizabeth’s life. The service will, Buckingham Palace said last night, pay tribute to the Queen’s remarkable reign and lifetime of service as head of state, nation and Commonwealth.
It will be conducted by The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster, with hymns including The Lord’s My Shepherd and Love Divine. Lessons feature 1 Corinthians 15 20-26, 53-end and John 14 1-9a, with all aspects personally chosen by the Queen.
A specially commissioned choral piece, Like As The Hart, composed by the Master of The King’s Music, Judith Weir, will be sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey. The choir will also sing a short anthem, O Taste And See, which was composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams for the Queen’s Coronation in 1953.
The Queen’s grandchildren, including Prince William and Prince Harry, took part in a vigil in Westminster Abbey on Saturday night, pictured
The Archbishop of Canterbury will give a reading, while Prime Minister Liz Truss will read the second lesson, with prayers from leading clerics including the Bishop of London and Archbishop of York.
Tears are sure to flow at The Last Post and Reveille, as well as the first major public rendition of the National Anthem.
A rendition of Sleep, Dearie, Sleep played by the Queen’s piper will have huge significance to her family.
After the service, the bells of Westminster Abbey will be rung, fully muffled, as is the tradition following the sovereign’s funeral. The coffin will then continue its last journey through London and out to Windsor. The committal service at St George’s Chapel at 4pm will be smaller and far more personal.
And with no cameras present, the Royal Family will gather for a private interment at 7.30pm.