Kate reveals Prince George is ‘excited’ about his Page of Honour role at grandfather King Charles’s coronation tomorrow
- The Royal Family have taken part in rehearsals for the the big day on May 6
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Kate Middleton have revealed Prince George is ‘excited’ about his role as a Page of Honour at his grandfather’s coronation.
The prince, who is second-in-line to the throne, has been taking part in rehearsals for the ceremony at Westminster Abbey tomorrow with gusto, his mother says.
The Princess of Wales said her eldest son and other people involved in preparations are ‘a bit more relaxed’ ahead of the big day on Saturday.
The mother-of-three made the remarks while on a public visit with her husband, Prince William, to Soho in the capital on Thursday, during which they pulled pints and spoke to staff at a pub.
The couple, who travelled into the centre of London on the Elizabeth Line, also interacted with cheering crowds – with the Prince of Wales joking they had a ‘very quiet weekend’ planned.
Kate Middleton, pictured here with her husband Prince William on the Elizabeth Line on Thursday, said her eldest son is ‘excited’ about the coronation of his grandfather
Prince George has been taking part in rehearsals as he prepares for his role as a Page of Honour at the Westminster Abbey service on Saturday
King Charles and Prince William led the Royal Family on Wednesday in attending rehearsals for his Coronation at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday
Queen Consort Camilla greets church officials outside Westminster Abbey on Wednesday as she arrives for Coronation rehearsals
Prince George, 9, was seen walking behind his father as he arrived at Westminster Abbey for rehearsals on Wednesday. Right: Princess Charlotte, eight
During their trip Kate admitted the family were still getting ‘all of the ducks’ in a row before the coronation weekend, which will not only see the service at Westminster, but also a huge concert at Windsor Castle.
READ MORE HERE: Monarch, Queen Camilla, William, Kate and their children all arrive at Westminster Abbey for rehearsals ahead of King Charles’s Coronation
The 41-year-old said she had noticed a ‘wonderful’ atmosphere in the area and remarked that excitement was ‘already starting to build’.
That anticipation is also rising within the Royal Family itself, with nine-year-old George and his siblings Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five, unable to miss the build up.
Kate revealed yesterday that the three children were ‘having their Coronation celebration at school today’.
She added that their eldest child, Prince George, is ‘excited’ about the event and has been taking part in rehearsals as a Page of Honour at the Westminster Abbey service.
Asked if he was looking forward to it, she replied: ‘He is actually. Having done a few rehearsals, I think everyone is a bit more relaxed.’
On Wednesday, Prince William and Kate led the Royal Family in rehearsals for the Coronation at Westminster Abbey.
With just days to go until the historic event, the King was pictured beaming outside the church in central London as he arrived with the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children.
Princess Anne and Queen Consort Camilla were there to greet the Dean of Westminster and other church officials before they went inside. The royals were also joined by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
William told some of the tourists about the family’s involvement in Coronation rehearsals. ‘We’re enjoying the practice. It’s keeping us busy,’ he said. ‘Fingers crossed for the weather.’
And he was on fine form as he left the crowds smiling when joking about what is set to be a momentous weekend for the entire Firm.
When asked by a member of the public if he had anything planned in the coming days, the Prince of Wales quipped: ‘No, a very quiet weekend, nothing happening at all.’
Prince William joked he and Kate have a ‘very quiet weekend’ planned when speaking to the public in London
The Prince and Princess of Wales travelled on the Elizabeth Line to a rendezvous at the Dog and Duck pub where they pulled pints and spoke with staff
The royal couple were met with cheering crowds as they arrived at the Dog and Duck pub in Soho
Kate revealed the royals are ‘getting their ducks in a row’ for the Coronation this weekend as she and Prince William took a surprise journey on the Tube to visit a pub in Soho
Prince William and Kate Middleton were getting into the party spirit yesterday as they visited Soho ahead of the Coronation this weekend
The couple got on the London underground at Acton Main Line station and got off at Tottenham Court Road
Once inside the pub, Prince William tried his hand at pulling a pint under the watchful eye of a member of staff
The Princess and the pup! The royal mother-of-three could be seen stroking a pet outside the pub yesterday
Selfie time! The future King appeared happy to snap pictures with royal fans who had gathered in Soho waiting for a picture
THE HISTORY OF THE DOG AND DUCK PUB
The pub was originally built in 1734 on the Duke of Monmouth’s home, but the current site was built in 1897 by the architect Francis Cannon.
William and Kate are not the only famous faces to have stepped through the pub’s historic doors.
Novelist George Orwell celebrated with a glass of absinthe when his book, Animal Farm, was selected for the American Book of the Month Club.
The pub has hosted well-known individuals throughout the ages – from historical figures such as painter John Constable, who lived nearby, and poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti to popstars of our day and age, such as Madonna, who popped in for a pint.
The pub sits on the corner of Bateman Street and Firth Street, which are both rooted in royal connections.
Bateman street was originally called Queen Street, but it was renamed after Viscount Bateman who owned the Monmouth estate.
Frith Street was one of the original residential streets to be mapped out in Soho. The area was once a hunting ground for Henry VIII.
The Prince and Princess of Wales travelled on the Elizabeth Line to a rendezvous at the Dog and Duck pub where they pulled pints and spoke with staff.
The couple boarded the train at Acton Main Line station, to the astonishment of some members of the public, who watched them through the ticket barriers and walk along the platform.
It wasn’t the first time on the tube for either of the royals. In fact the Mail understands that the princess travelled incognito on it just this year.
The prince and princess wanted to meet and thank Transport for London (TFL) workers who will be working throughout the coronation weekend.
After being handed their Oyster cards by an aide and welcomed to Acton station by Andy Lord, TFL’s commissioner, the couple met with Carinne Spinola, a train driver and Cameron Finch, a customer service assistant, and talked about their career aspirations.
Once on board the train, they sat with a group of TFL workers, including David Pearce, a fleet manager, Liam Grindley, a service and infrastructure manager and Maria Serco, a maintenance engineer.
Speaking about her conversation with Miss Spinola, Kate told the group: ‘It’s nice to meet a female train driver, obviously a profession women are keen on getting into.
‘She said the job was advertised on Mumsnet.’
It was the couple’s first trip on the Elizabeth Line, which the late Queen Elizabeth opened almost a year ago on May 17, 2022.
Royal aides said the couple do ‘occasionally’ travel by tube in a private capacity.
‘What’s the feedback you’ve been getting since it opened?’ William asked.
‘Everyone loves it,’ Mr Grindley told him, explaining how it had made many journeys across London shorter and easier.
Prince William was in high spirits as he chatted with locals in Soho ahead of the Coronation this weekend
Prince William and Kate were greeted by crowds of cheering royal fans, many of whom shouted: ‘We love you!’ to the couple
The royal fan posed with the Princess and lifted up her engagement ring into the shot (pictured)
The Princess was animated as she chatted to royal fans who had been waiting to meet her outside the pub, posing for selfies
Crowds of royal fans lifted their camera phones into the air as they tried to snap a picture of Prince William and Kate
One excited royal fan posed for a selfie with Kate before quickly uploading it to Twitter, calling the meet up the ‘best day ever’
The excited royal fan shared the selfie with Kate with their followers on Twitter after they met the Princess in Soho
Excited fans gathered in the street in large crowds in Soho to catch a glimpse of the couple ahead of the visit
There were huge cheers for the couple as they appeared in Soho, and spent some time chatting to members of the public after their visit to the pub
Kate appeared enthusiastic as she posed for a selfie with a member of the public during the royal visit
Kate was beaming as she greeted a royal fan who was joined by her adorable dog during a visit to Soho
Meanwhile Prince William reached into the crowd to offer a hand to fans who were waiting in Soho
The Princess even took a few sips of her cider during her visit to the pub in Soho on Thursday
‘And how green are we now,’ asked William, laughing. ‘You know I’ve got to ask that question!’
William heard how the line’s trains are electric, and how much of the earth that was dug up to build the line, was moved and re-used for a nature reserve. ‘It’s good, it clearly gets thought about now,’ he said.
Speaking to Miss Serco about the opening of the line last year, William said: ‘I can’t quite believe it has been nearly a year. It’s quite nice to get the chance to see it all, after my grandmother opened it.’
Asking the group which of them would be working this weekend, Kate asked: ‘Do you think there’s going to be extra pressure on the service during the coronation weekend? How do you manage that?’
One of the group then asked how the royal family’s preparations were going, and Kate replied: ‘Yes, it’s going to be a very busy time. We’re getting there. I still feel like we’re trying to get ducks in a row.’
After the short journey from Acton, via Paddington to Tottenham Court Road, the couple were presented with gifts by Mr Lord – a plaque tile of a TFL Roundel, or ‘Crowndle’ as Mr Lord described it, inscribed with ‘King Charles III,’ and a TFL roundel lightbox for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Dozens of stunned onlookers then rushed towards the escalator with their phones, to film the couple as they made their way up the escalator.
Speaking after the couple had left the station, Mr Lord said: ‘It was amazing to welcome them on their first visit on the Elizabeth Line. It’s coming up to the anniversary of the Queen opening it, and they were very impressed with it.’
Miss Serco said of William: ‘He was very interested in the technology, how we put the concrete in, the apprenticeships and training we offer. And I told him how much interest we’ve had from other countries around the world. It was really nice to thank them for all the royal family’s endorsement of the Elizabeth Line. We always knew we had their support. We feel the link to the royal family.’
Kensington Palace also invited tube and train enthusiast, Francis Bourgeois, whose real name is Luke, to ride on the train with William and Kate as an observer.
He has more than a million followers on Instagram, and royal aides said it was hoped he might bring the experience to a ‘younger audience’.
William and Kate then walked through the streets of London to the Dog & Duck Pub to hear how it’s preparing for the coronation weekend from members of staff and to meet representatives from other hospitality and recreation businesses in the area.
He and Kate talked to managers from local businesses expecting a boom in trade this weekend with extended opening hours for pubs and bars, music and other events. Among them were representatives from nearby Ronnie Scott’s jazz club, the Prince Edward Theatre, Bar Italia, and the Randall and Aubin restaurant.
‘I find you get the best conversations in pubs,’ William said. ‘People are more relaxed. Restaurants you don’t get it. You get it with the food but not the conversation.’
At one point he appeared to be talking about going out for a night out with former England footballer Wayne Rooney but he soon realised he was in danger of relaxing too much with the media in tow and said he would have to remember to keep his work head on. ‘A couple of vodkas and we’ll be all right,’ he joked.
The couple were served pints of cider – and Kate took a sip.
The couple were served pints of cider while they were chatting with members of staff working at the pub – and Kate took a sip
Meanwhile Prince William also appeared to enjoy a sip of the cider during a visit to the pub on Thursday
The Prince and Princess were keen to show their appreciation to hospitality workers in the city working the Bank Holiday
It was the first pint of Kingmaker, a pale ale brewed to celebrate the coronation, ever poured (pictured)
William also pulled a pint of special coronation beer behind the bar brewed by Nicholson’s – appropriately called Kingmaker Pale Ale
The Princess shared a laugh with a member of staff as her husband Prince William tried his hand at pulling a pint
The Prince of Wales was given the honour of pulling the first pint of the special Coronation beer (pictured)
They were then accompanied by pub managers Chris Watts and Maria Sojkova behind the bar, where William poured a ‘perfect pint’, according to waitress Bernie Kidson.
It was the first pint of Kingmaker, a pale ale brewed to celebrate the coronation, ever poured.
‘Expertly done,’ Mr Watts said, flatteringly. ‘Not really,’ William replied, pulling the pump repeatedly. ‘I’ve not got too much experience or pulling pints. I’m not too bad at drinking pints but pulling pints…’
Bernie Kidson, the shift supervisor behind the bar, professed to be impressed. ‘Perfect,’ she said.
Chris Watts, area manager for Nicholson’s, the pub chain that owns the Dog and Duck, said: ‘We are going to be making use of the extended hours, some of our pubs will have special music events on.’
Nicholson’s is also marking its 150th anniversary. ‘It’s going to be a weekend of celebrations,’ Mr Watts said.
The royal couple then left the Grade II listed building where they were met by hundreds of fans who lined the streets with calls of ‘we love you’.
People in the crowd travelled from as far as Australia, China, Canada and Texas to meet the royals ahead of the coronation on Saturday.
The princess was handed bunches of flowers, as was William, with one woman from Philadelphia saying: ‘I brought these for Kate but you can have them.’
They spent around 20 minutes on a walkabout meeting well-wishers and posing for selfies with them, many of them foreign tourists over here for the Coronation.
They met the occasional Brit but most introduced themselves with the country they were from. ‘We’ve got a very international crowd here,’ William said. ‘Enjoy the weekend.’
Crowds of royal fans cheered for the couple as they arrived at the pub in Soho on Thursday afternoon (pictured)
The Princess offered a wave to royal fans who had gathered in Soho for the couple’s visit to the area
Excited royal fans gathered in the street in huge fans to catch a glimpse of the couple ahead of the visit on Thursday
Kate was elegant in her bespoke Eponine coat for the outing, which she paired with white heels and a smart white midi skirt
The late Queen officially opened the Elizabeth Line last May in one of her final public royal engagements
Fellow commuters and travellers appeared bemused as they spotted the couple on the Elizabeth Line on Thursday
Surprise! The royals appeared utterly at home on the public transport as they chatted with members of staff
The Prince and Princess of Wales were beaming as they travelled on the new underground line yesterday, which was opened in honour of the late Queen
The couple travelled to the engagement on The Elizabeth Line, where they chatted to members of TFL staff
The Prince was animated as he chatted with members of staff on his way into Soho on Thursday (pictured)
Prince William and Kate chatted to TFL staff as they rode on the Elizabeth Line to their engagement on Thursday
Travelling in style! One bemused commuter received an unexpected surprise when the Prince and Princess strolled past him
Prince William and Kate appeared to get into the party spirit as they took the Elizabeth Line to the engagement on Thursday
It comes after thousands of personnel from the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force marched from Buckingham Palace to the Abbey in the early hours of Thursday morning as they practiced for the big day on Saturday, May 6.
The Diamond Jubilee State Coach and Gold State Coach were also used in the full-scale rehearsal shortly after midnight.
Royal fans waited for more than three hours for the parade to make a return journey down the Mall.
And commuters heading home from London Waterloo were treated to extraordinary scenes as they saw some 6,000 soldiers march through the station on their way to the rehearsals.
After the rehearsals, King Charles gave a wave to throngs of fans as he travelled back to Buckingham Palace.
Around 25 tents have been set up along the Mall by fans who are camping out for the Coronation.
Among the first to take up position was careworker Lucy Edwards, 51, from Bristol, who will be joined by her 74-year-old mother Linda and teenage son Jacob tomorrow.
She said: ‘It has been very, very cold and the ground here is very hard to sleep on.
‘I have witnessed most of Charles’s life, his marriage, his divorce, and when he got married again. Now I’m here for the Coronation.
‘All of these events that made him the man that he is and he appears happy in his life. He is going to be a great King and bring the country together.’
Mother of five Sharon McEwan, 62, from Kilburn, said: ‘Hail King Charles. He is going to make the nation wonderful throughout his reign.
‘I am a regular at royal events and enjoy meeting the same people who love the royal family and meeting new people from all over the world. This will be a fantastic day.’
Faith Nicholson, 61, from Althorne, Essex, was draped in Union Jack colours and carried a Paddington Bear in honour of the Queen’s sketch with the character at her Platinum Jubilee last year.
She said: ‘There is so much to celebrate about our Royal Family. They are loved the world over, and we will see that over the next few days.
‘They are the best advert for our country. You cannot fail to love them. And Charles will make a magnificent King with his sense of fair play, and he has been a pioneer in so many ways over things like environmental concerns.
‘I have been to all the major Royal occasions and they have provided such positive memories for me as Saturday will do too.
‘It is such an incredible thing to be among many thousands of people who have the same love for the Royal family. I can’t wait for Saturday. But I’ll be here until then. ‘
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