Prince William said his youngest son, Prince Louis, is a "character" who enjoys "winding" his older siblings, offering a rare, lighthearted glimpse into the private dynamics of the royal children during an engagement on Monday.
The Prince of Wales, 43, made the comments while visiting the Sunningdale branch of the Women's Institute with his wife, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, to mark the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's death. When asked whether Louis, seven, was "a handful," William smiled and said: "To be honest, he's a character, but he's a very good boy. He likes to wind his brother and sister up."
William also offered an affectionate observation about his eldest child, Prince George, saying: "When George is behind closed doors, it's a completely different ball game," and adding that the difference is that "George just knows how to behave." The prince noted the age gap between George, 12, and Louis, and remarked that "Louis hasn't learnt that yet," adding: "They're growing up fast."
The comments came amid widespread public familiarity with Louis's animated expressions at official events. Earlier this year, cameras caught Louis rolling his eyes as he sat beside George during a VE Day commemoration at Buckingham Palace and mimicking his older brother's gesture with an exaggerated flourish. At the Trooping the Colour celebrations in June, photographers again captured playful exchanges between the siblings as the children rode in an Ascot Landau and reacted to the crowds.
Catherine, 43, was not originally expected to attend the Sunningdale engagement but joined her husband to pay tribute to the late queen. The couple sat with members of the Berkshire Federation of Women's Institutes for tea and cake and spoke with staff and trustees about the group's local activities. Queen Elizabeth had been a member of the Women's Institute for eight decades, joining in 1943 and serving as president of the Sandringham branch from 2003 until her death in 2022.
William was reported to be particularly keen to hear members' recollections of the queen and the impact she had on the organisation. Catherine wore a black, grey and white tartan dress by Alessandra Rich and greeted members warmly as the couple chatted about the WI's community work.
The visit coincided with the Duke of Sussex's return to Britain for the first time in several months. Prince Harry flew to the UK without his wife, Meghan, and is understood to have paid private respects at his grandmother's grave at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, after landing at Heathrow. Reports said a Metropolitan Police officer from the Royalty and Specialist Protection squad met the duke on arrival; Buckingham Palace declined to comment on whether Harry would meet the king during the trip.
Harry's short programme of public engagements includes presenting awards at the WellChild Awards in London and visiting a community recording studio in Nottingham, where his team said he would announce a donation to Children in Need. The duke is also scheduled to attend additional charity events later in the week.
The Sunningdale engagement was one of several appearances for William and Catherine in recent days. The princess attended England's Women’s Rugby World Cup match against Australia at Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium over the weekend, a public display of support for women's sport that drew attention from fans and broadcasters. Earlier in the week the couple visited the Natural History Museum in London as they returned to duties after their summer break.
The couple also issued a joint tribute this week following the death of the Duchess of Kent at the age of 92, expressing condolences to her family and noting her long record of public service and support for musical and charitable causes.
William's remarks about his children provided an informal counterpoint to the more formal and commemorative aspects of the visit, underscoring the combination of public duty and private family life that continues to shape the royal household's engagements.