William says Louis tries to steal Charlotte’s friendship bracelets

Prince William has revealed that Prince Louis tries to steal Princess Charlotte‘s friendship bracelets as he visited a primary school in Llanelli, west Wales, today. 

The Prince of Wales, 42, was meeting with pupils who took part in Welsh language festival Urdd Eisteddfod at Swiss Valley Community Primary School. 

Among them was ten-year-old winner Ruby Davies, who sweetly gifted William some friendship bracelets in a pink envelope to give to his children. 

The Prince was delighted by the gift – and even gave an insight into daily life between Princess Charlotte, nine, and her cheeky younger brother Prince Louis, six. 

‘That’s so sweet,’ William said, after carefully unwrapping them. ‘Did you build them at home? Did you put them together yourself? 

‘Thank you so much Ruby. They’re going to love those, you’ll see them out and about.’

He added: ‘I’ll keep them away from Louis because he’ll try and steal all his sister’s bits.’

The news that Prince Louis has been trying to irritate his older sister will come as no surprise to royal fans, who have long been amused by the youngest Wales sibling’s antics. 

Princess Charlotte has been spotted wearing friendship bracelets ever since she attended the first night of Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour in June with her father William and brother Prince George. 

Weeks later at Wimbledon, Charlotte was spotted wearing two threaded bracelets, one featuring various shades of pink and another boasting green, blue and pink fabric. 

In a cancer update video posted yesterday by the Princess of Wales, Charlotte was again spotted wearing the bracelets, with around five pastel-coloured pieces on her wrist. 

Meanwhile eagle-eyed royal fans noticed a playful addition to Prince George’s otherwise formal ensemble in his 11th birthday portrait. 

It means that Prince Louis is the only Wales sibling yet to have been spotted with a friendship bracelet of his own – and clearly he has his sights set on taking one of Charlotte’s. 

Louis has been beloved for his cheeky antics ever since his appearance at Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, where he pulled a series of hilarious facial expressions during the fly past at Buckingham Palace. 

In yesterday’s video, he showed his personality once again, climbing a tree as his mother watched on, and going right up to the camera.  

In his visit today, the Prince told Ruby he had watched her video ‘several times’, adding: ‘Charlotte loves her performing and dancing as well so I am going to show her your video when I get home.’

The visit was the first of three engagements the Prince is undertaking in South Wales on Tuesday to celebrate Welsh sport and culture.

Still sporting his summer beard, he received a warm welcome on arrival in the school hall, where the children cheered loudly and waved Welsh flags.

‘Good morning,’ he said, waving to everyone, before spotting Ruby at the front. ‘There’s Ruby!’ he exclaimed, before watching her perform.

Urdd Eisteddfod is an annual event that was held this year in Meifod, Powys, at the end of May. 

Organised by the National Voluntary Youth Organisation, it involves activities including art, music composition, drama, sport, dancing, singing and reciting for children and young people aged between eight and 25.

Ruby won the individual reciting competition for Welsh learners in Years 5 and 6 and her excitement afterwards was plain to see.

Crowds had waited patiently for hours to greet the future king, following the announcement that Kate has completed her preventative chemotherapy treatment.

The visit was less than 24 hours after the Princess of Wales, 42, revealed in an intimate family video message that she had completed her course of chemotherapy after an ‘incredibly tough’ nine months.

She said she planned to make a gradual return to royal duties but that her focus was on remaining ‘cancer free’.

Kate, 42, joined her family in a deeply personal clip, filmed in Norfolk last month, to confirm she will return to public duties following the completion of her chemotherapy course. 

Her heartfelt message about her cancer journey is spoken over images showing the Waleses and their children enjoying the outdoors, walking through woods and the couple shown cuddling as they hold hands.

During one emotional moment, as the Princess is heard saying: ‘To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand’, the royal is seen walking through a field.

She holds out one of her hands to run her fingers through the tall grass, and showcases her wedding ring and her new ‘eternity band’, which she appeared to swap out for her engagement ring, that once belonged to her mother-in-law, the late Princess Diana.

After spotting the change in the royal’s chosen jewels, royal fans suggested the ring (which Kate also wore in her last appearance) is likely a gift from Prince William – and could be the sign of a ‘fresh start’ now her chemotherapy has ended. 

It isn’t the first time Kate has showcased the jewellery – she wore the ring in a star-studded congratulatory message to Team GB following their success at the Paris Olympics.

Appearing alongside the Prince of Wales, the Princess was seen with a new band on her wedding ring finger, leading royal fans to speculate it is an eternity ring. 

The thick gold ring appeared to be set with diamonds and sapphires, which would match the royal’s engagement ring that once belonged to Princess Diana.

In her heartfelt message yesterday, Kate describes the past nine months since her serious health issues began as ‘incredibly tough for us as a family’ and how the ‘cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone’, with the experience giving her a ‘new perspective on everything‘.

In the video, she says: ‘Doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.

‘I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.

‘Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life.’

Kate, who is continuing to work from home, is hoping to return to a light programme of public duties for the remainder of the year, reflecting her need to make a full recovery, and aims for a handful of engagements in the coming months. 

She is also working towards appearing with the royal family at the annual Remembrance Sunday service staged at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

The princess’s Christmas Carol concert at Westminster Abbey has become a firm fixture in the royal calendar in recent years and she has begun working with her team on the project.

Kate has received messages of support from the public and said she and her husband had ‘drawn strength’ from all those helping them and ‘Everyone’s kindness, empathy and compassion has been truly humbling’.

The video, shot in August in Norfolk where the Waleses have a family home, sounded a positive note reflected in the images of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis playing in fields and enjoying a game of cards with their parents under a tree.

It ended with the princess’s words of reassurance for others who are still being treated for cancer: ‘To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright.’ 

Kensington Palace has not confirmed whether the princess expects to return to a full programme of duties next year. It is understood that decisions about 2025 will be taken in line with medical advice.

However sources told the Mail tonight that the Princess hopes to do a small number of engagements shining a light on some of the causes, issues and charities that are closest to her heart over the coming months.

They are only likely to be announced at the last minute as they will depend on as and when Her Royal Highness feels able to carry them out, with sources stressing repeatedly that every ‘cancer journey is different’.

Kate announced publicly five months ago that she had been diagnosed with cancer and has been undergoing ‘preventative’ chemotherapy.

‘I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits,’ she said at the time, in a highly emotional and unprecedented video message.

The message followed the major abdominal surgery Kate had in January, where she spent two weeks at the London Clinic in Marylebone.

She made her first public appearance since the bombshell announcement in June when she joined the Royal Family to celebrate the King’s official birthday.

Her appearance at Trooping the Colour had been in doubt after she missed the final rehearsal the weekend prior to the celebration, with confirmation that she would attend only given at 6pm the evening before.

In her second public appearance, the mother-of-three attended Wimbledon alongside her daughter, Princess Charlotte and her sister, Pippa Middleton.

She was greeted with a standing ovation as she headed into the Royal Box during the tennis tournament in July.

Kate – who enjoys taking part in sporting events and showing her support for athletes – also made a surprise appearance alongside Prince William with a star-studded message to Team GB earlier this month.