William and Kate forced to reason with disappointed Louis during Palace flypast

17 June 2023 , 23:38

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Louis’ mood picked up as he started imitating the planes (Image: Getty Images)

William and Kate were forced to reason with a less-than-impressed Prince Louis during the Buckingham Palace flypast today.

Around 70 aircraft were involved in the six-minute flypast to celebrate the King’s 74th birthday as part of the century-old Trooping the Colour ceremony.

But Louis, 5, was disappointed with what he saw from the Buckingham Palace balcony, according to a lip reader.

In a video William says to Louis: “They work in twos.”

Louis’ body language is unimpressed as he responds with a let-down “Oh”.

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“Hey, it’s alright, listen,” says Kate, before Will explains that the aircraft “may need to manoeuvre”.

Louis, 5, was disappointed with what he saw from the Buckingham Palace balcony (UK Press via Getty Images)

Louis delighted the crowd with a salute of his own (Getty Images)

But Louis’ mood picked up as he started imitating the planes and delighted the crowd with a salute of his own.

According to body language expert Judi James, Louis was excited for the Red Arrows, impatiently punching his fists together as he waited for them to arrive.

King Charles was also on the balcony for the flypast which traditionally concludes the Trooping the Colour ceremony.

It had been an eventful day for the royals, with James saying Queen Camilla gave King Charles a “stern pep talk” during his birthday parade.

The family stood on the balcony of Buckingham Palace (UK Press via Getty Images)

Today was the first time a reigning monarch has ridden a horse at Trooping the Colour since 1986, when the late Queen Elizabeth rode her horse Burmese.

But King Charles “struggled” with his horse Noble, who was “rather frisky” said James.

The annual ceremony involves a procession down the Mall - traditionally involving the monarch on horseback - before a royal salute and an inspection of Household Division troops by the monarch.

The annual ceremony involves a procession down the Mall (PA)

A gun parade by the Household Division precedes a 41-gun salute in Green Park by the King’s Troop, before the flypast rounds off proceedings.

Trooping the Colour is believed to date back to the 17th century, and has been an official celebration of the monarch’s birthday since 1748.

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It may date back even earlier, with some claiming the first Trooping the Colour ceremony took place while the previous Charles was on the throne - King Charles II, who reigned from 1660-1685.

Alex Croft