Pop! First royal word in public
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IT was the day Charlotte and George stole the royal show in Canada.
as the young prince showed off his bubble-making skills at a children’s party, his baby sister upstaged him by not only uttering her first word in public but also performing her first walkabout.
Making a beeline for a balloon arch, the 16-month-old delightedly hugged it before saying: ‘Pop!’
The youngsters were guests of honour at a bash thrown in the gardens of Government House, British Columbia, to mark their first tour of Canada with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
staff pulled out all the stops to make the party a memorable one, bringing in a petting zoo – complete with miniature horses, dogs and rabbits – balloon animal modellers and even a puppet show.
The party was also attended by 24 children from the Military Family Resource Centre, a charity which supports families where one parent is deployed overseas.
George, three, seemed a little hesitant about getting involved at first but then got into the swing of things and grabbed an orange, fish-shaped bubble-maker before cheekily squirting his sister and father and enjoying a pony ride. while she wasn’t racing around, Charlotte – in a £74 blue and coral smocked dress by Pepa & Co – was carried around by her mother who was wearing a cream £300 see by Chloe dress and an old pair of Monsoon wedges.
George, as usual dressed in shorts and long socks, was also sporting a pair of ‘big boy’ blue loafers and clutching his father’s hand.
at one point Kate could be seen scooping Charlotte into her arms and dance as a guitarist played La Bamba with a giant children’s character. Charlotte had a toy musical instrument in her hand and played along happily until she dropped it as she stuffed her fingers into her mouth, clearly teething.
George meanwhile turned his attentions to a soft black and white rabbit, stroking it as his father held him in his arms. Charlotte also appeared to enjoy the animals, hugging the same black and white rabbit, stroking a goat and even bouncing up and down on Moose, a retriever-poodle cross who normally help to comfort adults going through cancer treatment.
although they were not seen eating or drinking, there were refreshments on hand for both adults and children in a tent including juice and paper cups with crowns on, as well as tea and coffee for the adults with mini quiches, scones and strawberries dipped in chocolate.
George and Charlotte have been based with their parents – and nanny Maria Borrallo, whose cost the couple are meeting privately – at Government House in Victoria, the official residence of the Queen’s representative in British Columbia.
They will all fly back to the UK together when the tour ends on sunday.