A touching moment between Prince Louis and his grandfather, King Charles III, has been revealed following the royal family’s Easter Matins service at St George’s Chapel.
The seven-year-old royal was seen sharing a brief but sweet exchange with the King as the family gathered ahead of the traditional service at Windsor.
Dressed in a navy suit and blue tie, Louis matched his father, Prince William, 43, and older brother, Prince George, 12, for the occasion.
Princess Catherine, 44, looked elegant in a cream dress and matching hat, while Princess Charlotte wore a beige trench coat over a blue dress.
According to lip-reading specialist Jeremy Freeman, Louis greeted his grandfather with a simple yet heartfelt “Happy Easter” – a gesture that reportedly struck a chord with the monarch.
Witnesses said the King responded warmly, gently patting his grandson on the cheek in a rare public display of affection.
The moment carried added significance, with the Wales family attending the Easter service for the first time since Catherine’s cancer diagnosis.
Crowds of well-wishers gathered outside the chapel, with chants of “God save the King” ringing out as the 77-year-old monarch arrived alongside Queen Camilla, 78, who wore a red coat and matching wide-brimmed hat.
Freeman also revealed that William shared a light-hearted moment with his two youngest children, whispering: “You look way happy,” as they greeted the crowd.
Meanwhile, Kate said “Hi!” to fans gathered outside, as per The Mirror.Â
As the service concluded, the King was heard thanking the crowd, saying: “Oh my goodness gracious me, thank you very much … thank you and to you,” before departing with Camilla, who was presented with a posy of flowers by a young attendee.
Other senior royals in attendance included Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, as well as Prince Edward and his son James.
Peter Phillips also attended, bringing his daughters Savannah and Isla, along with fiancée Harriet Sperling and her daughter, Georgina.
Beyond the sweet exchange with the King, royal watchers were quick to comment on Louis’ resemblance to his maternal grandfather, Michael Middleton.
“Prince Louis looks so like his Granddad Kate’s Dad,” one fan wrote on Instagram, while another added: “Wow! Model of his grandpa Middleton!”
Over on X, one user said: “He’s got the same face shape as his Grandpa M,” while another penned: “Louis looks like his maternal grandfather, Charlotte looks like the late Queen, and I think George looks like Diana’s brother Charles Spencer.”
The Wales family are known to be protective of their three children, including spirited Louis, who celebrates his eighth birthday on April 23.
While Prince George is set to become heir to the throne one day, it’s understood William and Catherine may take a different approach with their younger children.
“The working assumption is that the younger two children will get on and do their own thing. They will be encouraged to not become working royals,” a source told the Daily Beast.
It’s believed the approach could be a “deliberate strategy to let Charlotte and Louis choose their own destiny” amid ongoing sensitivities surrounding the “heir and spare” dynamic.