Prince Louis, seven, was seated next to his elder brother and his father, the Prince of Wales, to watch 1300 members of the Armed Forces parade to celebrate the end of World War II in Europe.
The young prince joined members of the Royal family, including the King and Queen and the Princess Royal, as well as a number of World War II veterans, to lead the nation through commemorative events on Monday (local time).
He provided a number of touching moments while watching the parade, including carefully brushing off his father’s RAF No.1 uniform and later clutching a fluffy hot-water bottle to keep warm in the unseasonably cool temperatures.
Prince Louis provided a number of touching moments while watching the parade. Photo / Getty Images
The Prince of Wales, who earned his wings at RAF Cranwell in 2008, served for three years as a search and rescue pilot at RAF Valley on Anglesey.
Prince George, who had his younger sister Princess Charlotte, 10, on his other side in the military parade’s formal seating area, was seen making sure that his younger brother was comfortably seated on a cushion so that he could see the proceedings.
Later, when the three children joined the family appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the RAF flypast, Prince Louis, wearing a double breasted suit, was seen tapping the drapes in time to the military music.
(L-R) Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales pose on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Photo / Getty Images
The Wales children joined the senior members of the Royal family to honour World War II veterans during the majority of Monday’s proceedings, including watching the parade and attending the balcony appearance, but only Prince George joined his parents later in the afternoon.
He accompanied the Prince and Princess of Wales to a tea party in Buckingham Palace, where about 50 veterans were invited by the King and Queen.
Prince Louis could be seen brushing off - and pulling - his father’s RAF No.1 uniform. Photo / Getty Images
On Sunday, a palace aide said that the Royal family “are very much looking forward to all the week’s VE Day events”.
The King, Queen, Prince and Princess of Wales, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Royal and other members of the family will continue to turn out in force throughout the week to lead the nation through celebrating the major anniversary.
It is understood that the Royal family want “nothing” to detract from the focus on veterans and their sacrifices during World War II.
Throughout the week, they will be joining commemorative events around the country to take part in nationwide tributes in the last major “living memory” opportunity to do so.
This week’s festivities will likely be the final landmark anniversary at which veterans, the youngest of whom are now in their late 90s, will be present.
