Prince George and Princess Charlotte attended Her Majesty’s funeral at Westminster Abbey yesterday – before joining senior royals at the Committal Service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
The two eldest children of the Prince and Princess of Wales remained dignified throughout their appearance as they kept close to their mother, Kate, 40, and were comforted by various members of the royal family – including Sophie Wessex.
Prior to the Queen’s state funeral, George, nine, Charlotte, seven, had proved they could be trusted to deal with the spotlight after successfully appearing at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June and Prince Philip’s Service of Thanksgiving in March.
William, 40, and Kate decided the brother and sister duo were ‘up to’ going to Her Majesty’s funeral but Louis was ‘too young’. The four-year-old prince dominated headlines following his cheeky displays throughout the Jubilee events.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte attended Her Majesty’s funeral at Westminster Abbey yesterday – before joining senior royals at the Committal Service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor
Prior to the Queen’s state funeral, George, nine, Charlotte, seven, had proved they could be trusted to deal with the spotlight after successfully appearing at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June and Prince Philip’s Service of Thanksgiving in March (pictured)
Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte in the carriage procession at Trooping the Colour during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee on June 02, 2022 in London
Princess Charlotte and Prince George visit Cardiff Castle on June 04, 2022 in Cardiff, Wales, for the Platinum Jubilee
Sources called the decision to include George and Charlotte, who are second and third in line to the throne, in yesterday’s event a ‘collective family decision’.
‘As parents they have, of course, thought long and hard about whether their children should accompany them,’ a source told The Daily Mail. ‘Of course little Louis is too young, but they think George and Charlotte are up to it.’
It came after they appeared at the funeral of Prince Philip, their great-grandfather last year, and their attendance at yesterday’s farewell events gave them a chance to say goodbye to Her Majesty, who they affectionately called ‘Gan Gan’.
The Daily Mail understands that William and Kate thought ‘long and hard’ about whether their two eldest children 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 did not join.
The older siblings also showed their maturity when attending the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations – with both George and Charlotte being well-behaved throughout the four-day occasion.
They even joined the Prince and Princess of Wales on a visit to Cardiff, and took part in a walkabout at Cardiff Castle.
William, 40, and Kate (pictured in Cardiff with George and Charlotte) decided the brother and sister duo were ‘up to’ going to Her Majesty’s funeral but Louis was ‘too young’. The four-year-old prince dominated headlines following his cheeky displays throughout the Jubilee events
William and Kate stand with their children Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Prince George to watch a special flypast from Buckingham Palace balcony following the Queen’s Birthday Parade, the Trooping the Colour
The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children are pictured alongside the Queen as they wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace at the end of the Platinum Pageant in London on June 5
Prince George and Princess Charlotte depart the memorial service for the Duke Of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told FEMAIL: ‘Some will have been surprised that nine- year-old Prince George, who is second in line to the throne and his sister Princess Charlotte who is seven and third in line, attended both the late Queen’s funeral and the subsequent Committal Service at Windsor.
‘However the way their parents have involved them in public events meant that they were in fact prepared for what for some would have been onerous, especially when so young.
‘This year George has been seen in public a good deal. Appearances at Prince Philip’s Memorial Service and at several events during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations and also at the Six Nations Rugby match where he chatted publicly and seemed to enjoy himself will have made him confident.
‘It can be seen that both have been well trained in public appearances and they would undoubtedly have wanted to attend events honouring their beloved “Gan-Gan”.
‘They behaved impeccably and also gave the watching world a glimpse of the future of the monarchy. This was a day which honoured one of the greatest ever Britons and in participating they were walking with history.’
Yesterday, Kate offered constant reassurance to George and Charlotte throughout the Queen’s funeral to help the young royals cope with the most difficult day of their young lives.
Sibling unity: The young royals were inseparable throughout the day and were barely seen away from each other’s sides. Pictured here at Wellington Arch following the funeral service at Westminster Abbey
A reassuring hand: The Princess of Wales puts her hand on the knee of her eldest son, Prince George, during the service at Westminster Abbey
Princess Charlotte and Prince George were sitting alongside their parents the Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex yesterday afternoon
At one stage, Prince William offered Prince George a comforting look during the Committal Service in Windsor
The Wales family were sitting alongside the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as well as Peter Philips and Zara Tindall in St George’s Chapel
Heir-to-the-throne George and his younger sister Charlotte joined senior royals at the historic event, beginning their day bypassing thousands of mourners on the streets of London as they travelled to Westminster Abbey with the Queen Consort and the Princess of Wales.
Kate, clearly aware that her two elder children would find the day emotionally difficult, provided a constant source of comfort to George and his younger sister, who wore a smart black hat with a bow and a horseshoe brooch given to her by the late Queen, as they prepared to bid a final farewell to their beloved ‘Gan-Gan’.
It was clear from the first sighting of the siblings, who travelled in a royal car with their parents before later transferring to a procession car with Kate and Camilla that both children appeared to grasp the enormity of the day in spite of their tender years.
The Queen’s great grandchildren cut solemn figures as they were driven to Westminster Abbey ahead of the Queen’s state funeral, which saw 2,000 dignitaries, foreign royals and politicians pour into the historic London abbey.
Her Majesty made her final and saddest journey from Westminster Hall as Britain mourned its longest-serving monarch and the royals bade goodbye to a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
A long and memorable day: Kate Middleton accompanied her children into the second service of the day held at Windsor Castle
The pair were seen walking side by side into Windsor Castle, the final resting place of their precious great-grandmother
The Princess of Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive at the Committal Service for the Queen held at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, Berkshire
For George and Charlotte, the Princess of Wales, 40, provided a reassuring presence throughout, tightly holding onto her daughter’s hand as the family arrived at Westminster Abbey – and offering a pat on the knee to her eldest son as the family were seated ahead of the service.
Princess Charlotte wore a black mourning coat with velour collar and matching wide-brimmed hat, while George was dressed in a navy blue suit with a black tie.
George appeared mature beyond his years, appreciating the history of the moment, and waiting patiently as his father Prince William arrived into the Abbey after walking behind the Queen’s coffin.
The Princess of Wales continued with a series of supportive gestures to her daughter, including guiding her into the Abbey with a gentle hand as the family walked through the oak doors.
Kate and William are believed to have brought the second-in-line to the throne to the historic event after senior palace advisers them to consider letting him attend the state funeral because of the powerful symbolic message it sends.
Princess Charlotte was often seen holding her mother’s hand, with Princess George watching on at his beloved ‘Gan-Gan’s’ funeral
Charlotte of Wales – her new title – stands next to Prince George of Wales at Wellington Arch after the State Funeral of the Queen – their beloved great-grandmother
The Queen’s great grandchildren, clearly aware of the enormity of the day, stand quietly by their mother’s side as they await the arrival of their father. To their right, the Duchess of Sussex stands next to them
Responsibility: Heads bowed, Prince Charlotte and Prince George walk in-between the Prince and Princess of Wales as they follow the Queen’s coffin into the church
Sombre: George and Charlotte sing hymns during the funeral service, each seated beside their mother, the Princess of Wales
A family in grief: From left: The Duchess of Sussex, Queen Consort, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex stand outside Westminster Abbey after the state funeral
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II with the Imperial State Crown resting on top is carried by the Bearer Party into Westminster Abbey past the grave of the Unknown Soldier
The death of their great-grandmother the Queen will be a heavy blow to Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, as they and their parents begin a new life at Adelaide Cottage in the grounds of Windsor Castle – where Her Majesty spent most of the year.
During royal walkabouts and engagements this week, the Princess of Wales has offered a glimpse into the grief of her children, saying that Prince George has a greater understanding of their Gan-Gan’s passing.
Days ago, Prince William said the couple are ‘trying to keep everything constant’ for their three children since the death of their beloved Grannie.
While speaking with well-wishers outside the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, the Queen’s grandson Prince William told royal fans the children are ‘settling in’ after their great grandmother passed away during ‘the first week of school’. But he added they were ‘doing ok’.
He told well-wisher Karen Anvil: ‘We’re trying to keep everything constant and settled for them.’
As royal fans chatted with the Prince of Wales, he admitted there was lots of talk of the Queen’s death among the pupils – and agreed it was the ‘only talking point’.
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