THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE
HIT A SWEET NOTE WITH CARDIFF LOCALS ON FUN FAMILY DAY OUT
Before thousands converged outside Buckingham Palace for a star-studded concert on Saturday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge helped get the Platinum Jubilee party started at Cardiff Castle.
Joining them were surprise guests Prince George and Princess Charlotte, making their first official visit to Wales as well as taking part in their first walkabout.
They even came bearing gifts, having helped their mum make cupcakes for revellers holding a street party.
As soon as they arrived at Cardiff Castle the young royals stole the show, displaying both technical and musical talent as they tried their hand at stage sound and lighting, and conducting an orchestra, while charming the public.
Looking the double of his father, the future Prince of Wales, George, eight, wore a smart suit and brown shoes while his younger sister Charlotte, seven, wore a navy wool coat and blue Mary Jane shoes.
Their mother looked as striking as ever in a red coat by Eponine London, worn with a pair of earrings from Welsh brand Spells of Love and with her hair in a ponytail.
Prince Louis, who had delighted the crowds with his antics during his balcony appearance on Thursday, had been left at home. During a walkabout, Prince William hinted that the trip may have been too much for the four- year- old, pointing to the floor where, he joked, the young Prince may have tried to prostrate himself.
As they met dignitaries and members of the public, George and Charlotte appeared a little shy at first but, with encouragement from their parents, soon got into the spirit of their trip to the castle, meeting technical crew and stars as the final preparations were put in place for a concert in the grounds that night honouring their greatgrandmother the Queen.
ROYALS IN THE MIX
At one point, the family were invited into a small tech tent, where the royal siblings became engrossed by the mixing desks. George had a go at sliding the sound buttons up and down, listening through headphones as he was shown how to isolate a microphone.
“He was doing a bigger gig than I was at his age,” said Chris Hewitt, the front of house sound engineer. Meanwhile, Charlotte joined in, asking questions as she switched the stage lights on and off.
Next was a meet-and-greet with performers from the
The young royals stole the show as they tried their hand at stage sound and lighting, and conducting an orchestra
Wales Youth Choir for Good and the Welsh Pops Orchestra.
Kate revealed to one of the cellists that the children were learning music with the electric guitar and piano. Initially nervous when asked if she’d like to conduct the orchestra, Charlotte bravely rallied as soon as they struck up with a medley from Disney film Encanto, excitedly waving her baton.
The Duchess also had a go conducting Tom Jones’s Delilah. “I see you do requests, which is great,” said William by way of thanks. He also praised his children, saying: “Well done! Good conducting.”
The family then met some of the stars of the evening’s performance, including weatherman Owain Wyn Evans, who impressed George with his gold jacket, trousers and sparkly shoes. “You need some in your hair, too,” the young Prince told him.
They were also introduced to singer
‘ Well done! Good conducting’ Prince William
Bonnie Tyler – who had just received an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list and was due to sing at the concert – and Aled Jones.
EYE-CATCHING ART
Artist Nathan Wyburn presented two portraits, one of the Queen and the other of the Duke and Duchess, each composed of tiny pictures of the royal family, which Charlotte studied intently.
As the engagement came to a close, William and Kate stayed 15 minutes longer than planned for a small walkabout to meet people in the crowd as the Prince and Princess collected bouquets of flowers, coping well with the cameras and shouts from onlookers.
They met groups of air cadets, a girls’ rugby team, local Scouts and young dancers, stopping to say hello to the Royal Welsh Regiment mascot, Shenkin IV the goat, before a final chat with some well- wishers. One told
Princess Charlotte that they had spotted her stopping Louis from waving too much during their Trooping carriage ride. “Is she bossy, George?” they asked her older brother, laughing.
“At least you didn’t say it was Mummy who was bossy,” Kate told him.
SHOWSTOPPING TREATS
A firm fan of The Great British Bake Off, it’s not surprising that the Duchess should pass her passion on to her children and encourage them to bake. Ahead of their whistle-stop trip to Wales, George, Charlotte and Louis all rose to the occasion by baking cakes for people in Cardiff ahead of their Jubilee street party.
“We hope you like them!” read a caption on the family’s Instagram account.
Displaying their flour power, the young royals busily whisked, mixed and stirred in a kitchen decorated with Union flag bunting as mum Kate joined in the fun.
Casually dressed in a red gingham blouse from Brora and jeans, the Duchess and her daughter exchanged laughs and smiles as Louis busied himself with the Magimix food processor and sieved flour while George helped his sister stir the ingredients.
William and Kate stayed 15 minutes longer than planned for a walkabout
The delicious-looking cupcakes were then decorated with icing.
Aside from all the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Kate had a busy weekend behind the scenes. On Friday night, she visited the Evelina Children’s Hospital in South London, of which she is a patron, to meet patients, families and staff who were unable to join in the celebrations. “Luckily, the hospital was already decked with Platinum Jubilee decorations made by some of the children and young people we are caring for,” the hospital posted on its Twitter account. “Thank you YRH for thinking of us.”
The young royals busily whisked, mixed and stirred in a kitchen decorated with Union flflag bunting