Prince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince Louisare part of the Big Help Out.
On Monday,Prince WilliamandKate Middleton’s three children made a surprise appearance and joined their parents to volunteerat the 3rd Upton Scout Group in Slough — a special choice, as Princess Kate is joint President of the Scout Association.
The outing marked the first-ever official royal engagement for 5-year-oldPrince Louis. WhilePrince Williamand Kate’s youngest child has joined them for family outings — such as Trooping the Colour, the annual Christmas church outing and Easter mass — this was his first time joining his parents on royal duty, according to the palace.
Prince George, 9,Princess Charlotte, 8, andPrince Louis, 5, joined the Scouts to renovate their Scout Hut, taking part in plating, sanding and painting.
DANIEL LEAL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Prince Louiswas spotted shoveling dirt into a wheelbarrow and then moving it, andPrincess Charlottelooked busy and focused while painting.
Prince Georgeused a drill for a project, and Preeti Valand from the 1stCippenham Scout group tells PEOPLE that it wasPrince George’s first time using an electric screwdriver as she handed screws to him.Prince Williamwas a “very hands-on dad,” Valand, 14, says. “He was showingPrince Georgewhat to do, how to put the screw in and what kind of pressure needs to be used.”
Prince George.
Prince Williamclimbed into the control seat of a large digger, with his children taking turns joining him.
Prince William, Princess Kate,Prince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince Louisalso gathered around a fire to toast (and eat!) marshmallows. The scene was reminiscent of thevideo releasedin honor of Kate and William’s 10th wedding anniversary in 2021, showing the family at home enjoying outdoors activities, including sitting around a fire with the snack.
Prince Louis.DANIEL LEAL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Matt Hyde, CEO of Scouts and co-founder of the Big Help Out, tells PEOPLE that the whole family “really got stuck in” — and added, “Louis led the way!”
“With the painting and the wheelbarrow full of sand and the mural, where he was getting his hands stuck in the paint and on the wall,” Hyde says.
Anne Edwards, an adult Scout helper, tells PEOPLE thatPrince LouisandPrincess Charlottehelped paint cinder blocks that supported planters.
Princess Charlotte.DANIEL LEAL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
When it came to the archery, Hyde saysPrincess Charlotte"hit the bullseye!"
He also said the outing was “the best of scouting and volunteering. It showed that you can make a difference, you can help out, you can have fun as you do that and you can learn skills for life.”
The family’s volunteer work went towardsthe Big Help Out, a volunteering initiative uniting thousands of organizations to create community change. U.K. citizens were encouraged to use the May 8bank holidayin honor ofKing CharlesandQueen Camilla’shistoric coronationto get involved with the Big Help Out on the day off.
Hyde says that the young people in attendance weren’t told about their special guests until 30 minutes ahead of their arrival.
“I don’t think they had time to process it,” he says. “At the end of the day, what was lovely was just to see them all mucking in together and, as young people, experiencing being young people and realizing that young people themselves can make such a difference in their local community.”
“Ultimately, part of what you need to be as a young person, is have fun,” he adds. “And it was lovely after a full-on weekend for all of them that they were able to have a bit of fun at the end of it.”
Prince William, 40, and Princess Kate, 41, have long taught their kids about the importance of giving back to the community, fromdelivering homemade mealsto elderly neighbors during the coronavirus pandemic and participating"Clap for Carers" campaignfor frontline workers.
It’s been a busy weekend forPrince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince Louis.
At King Charles and Queen Camilla’s crowning ceremony,Prince Georgeserved as one of his grandfather’sPages of Honor. The moment was historic — he became the youngest future monarch to undertake an official role in a coronation.
Princess CharlotteandPrince Louisalso joined their parents at the service, holding hands as they processed into Westminster Abbey to support their grandfather.
After the crowning ceremony andcarriage processions— wherePrince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince Louisrode in a horse-drawn carriage! — the Wales family appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with the King and Queen.
Daniel Leal - WPA Pool/Getty Images
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The celebrations continued on Sunday, whenPrince GeorgeandPrincess Charlottejoined their parents and members of the royal family at the Coronation Concert. The kids sang and danced along to acts like Lionel Richie,Katy Perryand more. (Prince Louisstayed home for the nighttime event.)
Though Charles became King immediately upon the death of his motherQueen Elizabethin September, his symbolic crowning significantly continued nearly a thousand years of royal tradition.
“Charles became King Charles the moment his mother died, but the coronation is to do with the job and being the monarch in the eyes of all the people,” royal historian Robert Lacey previously told PEOPLE.
source: people.com
