Prince Louis has spent this Christmas with his siblings, parents, grandparents, and cousins at Sandringham, just as all his Christmases prior. It’s safe to say that the six-year-old has been through a lot this year, what with his mother battling cancer. For Prince William and Kate Middleton, telling Louis about the latter’s diagnosis was most likely very difficult, with one former royal butler claiming they shared the news with him differently than they did his older siblings.
Fast forward to present and Louis’ mother is cancer-free. With King Charles’ cancer treatment also thought to be going in the right direction, Christmas this year was hopefully a time of love and promise for the royals. Most likely, Louis and his siblings got a lot of presents and played a lot with their cousins.
The Royal Family doesn’t make many public appearances at Christmas, but on Christmas morning, they walk to St Mary Magdalene Church for the yearly Christmas service. Well-wishers handed Louis and his siblings many presents —but perhaps there were too many, with one expert claiming that the boy struggled.
Prince Louis spent Christmas at Sandringham with his parents, Prince William and Kate Middleton, his siblings, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, and many other Royal Family members. The 6-year-old prince, fourth in the line of succession after his older siblings and father, has garnered quite the reputation for stealing the spotlight whenever he appears in public.
Just weeks before Christmas, he did so again when he and his family attended the yearly Christmas Carol Service, which the Princess of Wales hosts. As always, every public appearance by George, Charlotte, and Louis is regarded as special. The trio appeared together for Trooping the Colour earlier this year, and their mother’s Christmas concert has become a family tradition.
When the royal children arrived at the Abbey, George, Charlotte, and Louis had written notes to put on a so-called ‘Kindness Tree.’ Placed outside Westminster Abbey’s west door, it allowed guests to hang their messages on its branches in honor of someone who had supported them during their lives.
The theme for the Christmas service was love and empathy, and George, Charlotte, and Louis all had written their own notes. The youngest son of Prince William and Kate Middleton also wanted to give thanks, with Louis’s note captured on camera. He thanked his “Granny and Grandpa,” believed to be Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, “because they have played games with me.”
Royal Christmas at Sandringham
Christmas is always a magical time for children worldwide, and it’s no different for the youngest members of the Royal Family. Of course, this year was even more meaningful, with the entire family experienced a very challenging 2024. Both King Charles and Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnoses affected all, and in the case of the Princess of Wales, George, Charlotte, and Louis had to come to terms with the fact that their mother was fighting a very serious disease.
As the children are still very young, fully understanding what their mother had been diagnosed with was most likely very tough. One person, King Charles’ former butler Grant Harrold, argued that Prince William and Kate Middleton explained it differently to them.
Speaking with the NY Post earlier this year, Harrold, who worked for Charles for seven years when he was the Prince of Wales, said that the couple most likely “sugarcoated” her health issues when they broke the news to Prince Louis.
“I’m sure it was a very difficult and very different conversation between children,” Grant Harrold told the NY Post. “For instance, for Louis, I’m sure the conversation was more sugarcoated than it was with George and Charlotte.”
The former butler continued: “The older children can understand more, so I’d imagine it was a little more frank but undoubtedly staying positive, which is so important.
“That’s why when you now look at the picture of Kate with her three children, it brings a tear to your eye. For any mother to have that conversation is huge and you can imagine Charlotte and George are going to be good supports for her.”
Prince Louis and his siblings was ‘lavished’ with Christmas presents
Harrold concluded by saying that since Louis was only five years old at the time, it’s fair to assume that the young prince “probably” didn’t understand too much about his mother’s cancer diagnosis.
“It’s a tricky one. I’m sure the children will be handling it as any kids would be expected to handle it, but I think their parents are very good at being calm and collected, and I think that will rub off on the children,” the former royal butler said
Just as every year, the Royal Family gathers at Sandringham for peace and quiet for the holidays. This year, however, Prince William revealed that around 45 family members would be at the royal estate, which promised quite the hectic schedule.
For William, Kate and their children, taking it slow and having some calm days will have been crucial. According to an In Touch Magazine source, the couple have “learned to take nothing for granted” after this very challenging year. Therefore, they wanted to make this year’s Christmas “really special” for their children.
“They’re determined to appreciate every minute of this holiday season and make it really special for their kids,” the source said. “Obviously, having their mom healthy is all they ever wished for,” they continued, adding that William and Kate were “planning to lavish the kids with presents.”
“They don’t spend much money on gifts”
While William and Kate enjoy spending time with their larger family, this year’s Christmas was also about having quiet moments for them and their children. One Christmas tradition for William and Kate includes taking their dogs for a walk away from the rest of the family.
“They’ll also spend plenty of quality time together. The prince and princess and their three children are truly celebrating making it through this extremely difficult year and being together,” the In Touch Magazine source concluded.
Although the source claims that William and Kate will “lavish” their children with Christmas presents, royal expert Duncan Larcombe predicted that George, Charlotte, and Louis wouldn’t receive presents of astronomical expense.
“Money isn’t an object for William and Kate, but they’re not indulgent,” he told the Mirror. “They don’t spend much money on gifts. But they spend a lot of time thinking carefully about what to get. And the funnier and quirkier the better.”
According to Larcombe, this is just one of many things William has taken on from his mother, Princess Diana.
“Diana was very careful to ensure that they weren’t flooded with gifts,” the royal expert continued. “Gifts did appear from unknown sources, but they were often returned or given to charity because they didn’t need them.”
Prince Louis reportedly “struggled ” during Christmas morning walkabout
While Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis receive a lot of presents from their family, on Christmas morning, they also receive gifts from royal fans. During their traditional walk to Mary Magdalene Church at Sandringham, well-wishers got the chance to meet and greet the Royal Family members, including the children. Together with his siblings, 6-year-old Louis was handed all sorts of gifts, including chocolate, crackers, flowers, and even stuffed toys.
As per the Daily Mail, Louis appreciated the many gifts. When one well-wisher gave him a Father Christmas headband, he accepted it and “politely thanked the person who gifted it and returned it to his father and siblings.”
Prince William, who also greeted many well-wishers along the way to church, was amused about his youngest son’s present haul, telling him: “You’ve got that as well?”
Although Louis seemed overjoyed with all the presents given to him by members of the public, the Daily Mail reported that he appeared to “struggle to keep hold of everything he had received.” At one point, he even turned to his dad and asked, “Papa, can you carry some?”
Why Prince Louis and his siblings might not get to keep gifts given from well-wishers
It’s common for Royal Family members – young and old – to be handed gifts on engagements or walkabouts. However, be it a teddy bear, chocolate, or any other gift, it’s up to the royal children if they can keep the things they’re given. So, who decides? King Charles.
According to the Daily Record, a strict rule denies Prince Louis, his siblings, or William and Kate, for that matter, the right to “own” gifts that are presented to them. According to the news outlet, they have a seven-page handbook regarding receiving gifts, including what they can accept, what they must return, and so on.
In other words, a teddy bear given to William and Kate to be handed to Louis is not automatically theirs per the rule. Instead, it belongs to King Charles.
“Gifts are defined as official when received during an official engagement or duty or in connection with the official role or duties of a member of The Royal Family,” the rule states.
“Official gifts are not the private property of the Member of The Royal Family who receives them but are instead received in an official capacity in the course of official duties in support of, and on behalf of The King.”
Have to pass a rigorous security check.
Simply put, King Charles owns all the gifts given to Royal Family members. That said, we can assume he is a loving grandpa who makes sure that his grandchildren receive any and all gifts that are intended for them.
Naturally, before a gift can be handed over to the royal children, it must undergo a strict security test. First, it is registered on an official “gift receive form,” the Daily Record reports. Second, the security test proceeds, and if it passes inspection, it can be handed over.
At the same time, for any gift valued under £150, the Royal Family members can give it to an aide or to any charity they like.
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