William and Kate bring excited royal children to panto’s first red carpet

Prince William and his wife Kate invited their three children to a special Christmas pantomime to celebrate the British heroes of the coronavirus.

Excited Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis sat with their parents in the royal box tonight to watch a special performance of Pantoland for key workers at the London Palladium, starring Julian Clary and Elaine Page.

It was the Cambridges’ first red carpet engagement as a family of five.

The children, who seemed a bit shy when they hit the red carpet, relaxed and gazed in joy as they took their seats and saw their father, Prince William, on stage giving a speech before the start of the show.

Louis sat on his mother’s lap, while George nonchalantly sat on the other end, and Charlotte in the middle chatted animatedly with Kate and leaned in to talk to her.

In his speech, the second in line to the throne paid tribute to Britain’s key workers and also marked the death of Dame Barbara Windsor, whose heartbroken husband Scott Mitchell said the 83-year-old man had died peacefully from Alzheimer’s in a home. of London elders on Thursday night. .

William said: “Before we continue, I want to pause and pay tribute to a true national treasure, Dame Barbara Windsor, who so sadly passed away last night.

“He was a giant in the entertainment world and, of course, a legend on pantomime stages across the country, including here at the London Palladium.

“And I know we will all miss her terribly.”

Tuning attention to the audience sitting in family groups with social distancing from each other: “We are here tonight for a very special performance. Special thanks to you, the key workers here at the hearing.

“They include community workers, volunteers, teachers, NHS staff, representatives of the emergency services and the military, researchers working on the vaccine, people who help the homeless, those who attend vital call centers and staff from a wide range of range of top-of-the-line charities, to name but a few.

“You’ve given your absolute all this year, and you’ve made remarkable sacrifices.

“So have your families, who I’m sure have seen a lot less of you than they would have liked.

“It’s lovely that you are all here together tonight.

“You represent the large number of people across the UK who have stepped forward to make a difference this year in so many crucial ways.

“The country owes him a huge debt of gratitude.”

For much of William’s speech, Louis focused on a large glowing ball hanging from the ceiling over the main part of the auditorium, pointing up and talking to Kate, who was wearing an Alessandra Rich dress.

When William returned to the box, there was a quick movement of seats, as William sat between his eldest son and daughter, leaving Charlotte making a joke with his palm as if her father had embarrassed her.

Pantoland, billed as a celebration of pantomime, also featured a host of other stars, including singer Beverley Knight and dancer Ashley Banjo.

The panto, organized by the National Lottery, was held to thank key workers and their families for their efforts to keep London going during the coronavirus pandemic.

During the interval, Kate also met with key workers and their families to hear more about their experiences over the past year.

The Pantomime Trip follows his three-day Royal Train tour of England, Scotland and Wales to pay tribute to the work of individuals and organizations that have gone the extra mile in response to the crisis.

His visits also showcased performances from the UK’s art and heritage industries, which have been supported during the pandemic by the Government’s £ 1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund.