The Prince and Princess of Wales have treated their three children to a fun day out at a military air show today.
Looking typically chic, Kate, 41, opted for a statement beige Blaze Milano blazer with a white blouse and tailored blue trousers as she explored a plane with her youngest son, Prince Louis, five.
She also joined Prince George, nine, who was dressed in a Ralph Lauren polo T-shirt, and Princess Charlotte, eight, at the Royal International Air Tattoo in Gloucestershire.
The three young royals have all broken up from their Lambrook School in Berkshire, and they looked delighted to start their summer holidays with the outing – even if the weather didn’t quite play ball with grey skies providing an overcast backdrop to the action.
The family’s first stop was a huge C-17 transporter aircraft, which was used to transport the late Queen’s coffin in the days ahead of her funeral last September.
The family’s first stop at the Royal International Air Tattoo was a huge C-17 transporter aircraft, which was used to transport the late Queen’s coffin in the days ahead of her funeral last September. Pictured, Prince William, Prince George, Prince Louis, Kate and Princess Charlotte
A little wave from Louis! The five-year-old prince offered a greeting to the camera when at the show, pictured left. Pictured right: Princess Charlotte, sporting a Rachel Riley dress, joins her mother, the Princess of Wales, at today’s occasion
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II at Edinburgh Airport from where it was flown by the RAF on its journey from Edinburgh to Buckingham Palace on September 13, 2022, ahead of the late monarch’s funeral
Queen Elizabeth II – who was affectionately called ‘Gan Gan’ by some of her great-grandchildren – died peacefully at Balmoral on 8 September 2022.
For her final journey from her beloved Scotland, the late Queen’s coffin was flown from Edinburgh to London then carried by hearse to Buckingham Palace, her home of 70 years.
At Edinburgh Airport on September 13, 2022, the Queen was received by the Royal Regiment of Scotland with a royal salute, before a bearer party from the Royal Air Force carried the coffin onto the aircraft – an RAF Globemaster C-17.
The Prince and Princess of Wales treated their children to a day of jets, helicopters and historic planes as they enjoyed the family day.
William, 41, and Kate were all smiles when they arrived with their children at the air show, and was greeted by Wing Commander Will Essex.
They were greeted by grey skies that brought heavy rain but there were a few aircraft still in the skies before they arrived.
The event was a return visit for George, who celebrates his 10th birthday on July 22. He was taken to the show by his parents in 2016, aged three, and was pictured wearing ear defenders at the time.
The royal children were dressed for a summer day in light casual clothing and George and Charlotte, who sported a Rachel Riley dress, looked around at the rain-soaked concrete around the huge plane when they stepped from their car.
The family board a plane during their visit to the event today as the three young royals kick off their summer holidays in style
The three young royals looked delighted to start their summer holidays with the outing – even if the weather didn’t quite play ball with grey skies providing an overcast backdrop to the action
Future king George, who celebrates his 10th birthday on July 22, sister Charlotte and brother Louis have all broken up from their Lambrook School in Berkshire. Pictured, Kate and William on a plane with their children
Prince Louis keeps in step with his father, while Princess Charlotte is led by her mother, as the family make their way out of the C-17 aircraft
The Princess of Wales with Prince Louis during a visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo
Kate joined Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, at the Royal International Air Tattoo in Gloucestershire
The Princess of Wales chats with Prince Louis during a surprise visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire
George was given the task of partially raising the ramp and could be seen pressing the button as his father (pictured left with his family) watched on
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Hello! William waved at the crowds at the event as he left the aircraft alongside Prince Louis, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Kate
The royal children were dressed for a summer day in light casual clothing and George and Charlotte, who sported a Rachel Riley dress, looked around at the rain-soaked concrete around the huge plane when they stepped from their car
They shook hands with senior members of the RAF before they were ushered up the huge ramp of the transport plane with their parents.
George was given the task of partially raising the ramp and could be seen pressing the button as his father watched on.
The event is one of the world’s biggest air shows in the world, with all proceeds made from the weekend going to The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust – supporting initiatives including engineering and flying scholarships.
Kate took over the role of patron for the Air Cadet organisation from Prince Philip in December 2015. Meanwhile, William served with the RAF’s Search and Rescue Force from 2010 to 2013, based at RAF Valley in Anglesey.
The family’s out comes after a royal expert claimed William is a ‘hands-on, caring dad’ and ‘not a workaholic like his father King Charles’.
The Prince of Wales, 40, carried out just 190 engagements last year, compared to his father’s 497 – but former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond has praised William’s different approach to royal life.
She said the father-of-three is prioritising his family because he knows how much it means to his children [Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five] ‘to be around at weekends and holidays and whenever he can’.
William previously commented on the King’s workaholic nature, telling a BBC documentary in 2018 that he would like to have more ‘family time’ with his hard-working father.
The Princess of Wales with Princess Charlotte during a visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo, pictured left. Pictured right: Prince Louis of Wales sits inside a vehicle on a C17 plane during a visit to the Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford
The family (pictured) were greeted by grey skies that brought heavy rain but there were a few aircraft still in the skies before they arrived
The event was a return visit for George, who celebrates his 10th birthday on July 22. He was taken to the show by his parents in 2016, aged three, and was pictured wearing ear defenders at the time. Pictured, The Prince and Princess of Wales with Prince George and Princess Charlotte
The Prince and Princess of Wales have treated their three children to a fun day out at a military air show today – with Kate stunning in a a beige striped blazer
They were greeted by grey skies that brought heavy rain but there were a few aircraft still in the skies before they arrived
Speaking to OK! magazine, Jennie said: ‘With the late Queen’s ailing health, William probably had to step up to his full time royal job quicker than he might have hoped, but you can see now how committed he is.
‘However, I also very much admire the fact that he’s not a workaholic like his father, he knows how important family life is… He seems to be a full on, hands-on, caring dad,’ she added.
Asked in the Prince, Son and Heir – Charles at 70 BBC documentary in 2018, whether his father has ‘time to be a grandfather on top of everything else’, William answered carefully.
In previous years, Charles is said to have privately expressed his frustration that he doesn’t get to see as much of his grandchildren as the Middleton family, a claim his aides have always furiously dismissed.
But his elder son made clear that he would like to have more ‘family time’ with his hard-working father.
William said: ‘It’s something I’m working more heavily on, put it that way. I think he does have time for it, but I would like him to have more time with the children.
‘Now he’s reached his 70th year it’s a perfect time to consolidate a little bit because, as most families would do, you are worried about having them around and making sure their health’s OK – and he’s the fittest man I know but equally I want him to be fit until he’s 95.
‘So having more time with him at home would be lovely, and being able to play around with the grandchildren. Because when he’s there, he’s brilliant. But we need him there as much as possible.’
William added: ‘He has amazing personal discipline. So, he has – and it’s frustrated me in the past a lot – he has a routine. The only way to fit all this stuff in is things have to be compartmentalised. The man never stops.
‘I mean when we were kids there was bags and bags and bags of work that the office just sent to him. We could barely even get to his desk to say goodnight to him.’
