Prince and princess join service for great-grandfather
Prince George and Princess Charlotte have made a rare public appearance in honour of their great-grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh.
The eight-year-old future king and his six-year-old sister joined their parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, at the memorial service for Philip yesterday.
Five of the Queen and the duke's large brood of 12 greatgrandchildren gathered in Westminster Abbey, with Savannah and Isla Phillips and Mia Tindall also there.
The occasion gave the youngest generation of royals the chance to remember their much-loved great-grandfather, after they were unable to attend his funeral due to Covid restrictions.
George - who will one day be monarch - and Charlotte's appearance marks a key moment in their public lives, being the first major televised church service they have attended.
Charlotte, in a smart navy frock coat, had the sides of her hair neatly plaited and secured with a bow.
She held Kate's hand, while George, in a suit and tie, clutched William's as they entered the Abbey.
The princess gave a small smile as her mother, who was wearing a high-necked black Alessandra Rich dress with white polka dots and a widebrimmed hat, looked down at her.
At home was the youngest member of the Cambridge family, Prince Louis, who at only three years old was considered too little to attend.
George and Charlotte carried out traditional royal lineup duties, shaking hands with the clergy who bent down to speak to them, with Charlotte giving a large grin as she stuck close to Kate.
Having all walked the length of the church through the Nave and Quire in front of the packed congregation, the family took their seats, with the prince and princess placed between their parents - in the row behind their greatgrandmother or "Gan Gan" the Queen.
The pair have appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour, and joined their parents on official tours when younger, but this is the first time they have taken part in an event on this scale.
They joined in with the hymns using their service sheets, and the rendition of the national anthem, having learnt the words off by heart.