Prince William Shares Details About Both of His Sons, Prince George and Prince Louis, While at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party
From Louis’ bedtime routine to George’s future career aspirations, William is clearly a doting dad.
![Prince William](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KUUHCi9tjPLw8iaU2dcjVP-415-80.jpg)
Prince William may be the heir to the throne, sure, but he’s made it very clear over the years—especially this year—that, to him, family comes first. A proud dad he most certainly is, and he couldn’t help chatting with guests at yesterday’s Buckingham Palace garden party about his sons in particular—10-year-old Prince George and six-year-old Prince Louis. (William is also dad to daughter Princess Charlotte, who turned nine years old earlier this month.)
Here is the book, "Homewards," that William read to Louis last night at bedtime. So sweet.
If we’re lucky, royals will let slip details about their personal and home lives at engagements like this, and William—in an upbeat mood despite the downcast skies raining over London—delivered at the garden party yesterday. During a chat with Rowan Aderyn, a member of William’s Homewards foundation (which works to fight homelessness), the author gave William one of only 10 copies of the children’s book Homewards, after which William let slip a detail about Louis’ bedtime routine, Us Weekly reports.
“The gift was one that William greatly appreciated,” the outlet reports, and he told Aderyn he couldn’t wait to share it with Louis. “This is great, so inspirational,” William said. “I’ll read this to Louis tonight at bedtime.”
William seemed touched by the gesture.
Per The Daily Mail, this isn’t the first time William has mentioned a children’s book by name that he reads to his kids before bed; after spotting the book Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson during a visit to a South Wales ice cream parlor in February 2020, he said, “I read this to our children all the time,” Hello reports. He recalled that the book had saved many bedtimes, and said when he met Donaldson upon her receiving her CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for services to literature, “I said, ‘Do you realize how many parents you have saved at bedtime?’” William said.
William also called out author David Williams, who the Prince of Wales said “also does good books for children—for a little bit older children, I think. I’ve read one, and it was really, really good.”
Aderyn’s Homewards is named after William’s initiative to eradicate homelessness and features a boy named Jack who finds himself without a home. (Aderyn—word to the wise—print more than 10 copies! The world needs to read this book.)
Louis, seen here in his sixth birthday portrait last month, wasn't far from his dad's mind.
Per The Daily Express, George was also on William’s mind while he conversed with another garden party guest. While holding an umbrella for RAF Squadron Leader Chrissie Lacey, William touched on George’s future career aspirations, telling her George would love to visit her base as he is a “potential pilot in the making,” William said. This isn’t the first time one of George’s parents has spoken of his love of planes—as far back as 2016, Princess Kate revealed that George, then just three years old, was “obsessed with planes and wants to become an air cadet,” Hello reports. George comes about it honestly, as William was once a search and rescue helicopter pilot.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
George, seen here visiting the Royal International Air Tattoo in July 2023, has long been fascinated by aviation.
Back to the garden party—William also told the Squadron Leader during their conversation that he “loves cookies” after Lacey told him about her “cookie ministry.”
Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of Podcast Royal, a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts I’d Rather Be Reading, which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more.
-
Our Complete Quiet Luxury Shopping Guide
30 quality closet classics that always have—and always will—endure.
By Emma Childs Published
-
Kaia Gerber and Cindy Crawford Medal in Mother-Daughter Olympic Matching
The pair touched down in Paris wearing coordinating navy looks.
By Julia Marzovilla Published
-
Prince Harry Reveals Royal Family Rift Was Worsened by Tabloids
"Yeah, that’s certainly a central piece to it."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince Harry Reveals Royal Family Rift Was Worsened by Tabloids
"Yeah, that’s certainly a central piece to it."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Why Did Prince William Remove Queen Camilla's Sister From His Payroll?
She was hired by King Charles in 2005.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and King Charles Have the Cutest Matching Friendship Bracelets
And fans think Charlotte was responsible.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince George Is Intentionally Being Raised Much Differently Than His Father Prince William Was, Even Though Both Are Heir to the Throne
“William still has painful memories of his own childhood and how he hated the persistent attention.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
In Naming Princess Charlotte, Prince William Poignantly Fulfilled a Long Ago Promise to His Late Mother, Princess Diana
Diana would be “over the moon” about it, her friend says.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince William and Princess Kate Attending Sporting Events with Their Kids Is a “Much Needed Distraction” from Kate’s Ongoing Cancer Battle, Royal Biographer Says
“To say sports play a huge part in the lives of the royals is a massive understatement.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
After Meeting a Teenage Prince William for the First Time, Then Camilla Parker-Bowles Quipped “I Need a Gin and Tonic,” Royal Author Writes
Still largely known as “the other woman,” Camilla was “decidedly anxious” about meeting the future king.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince William Was Reportedly Advised to Sign a Prenup When He Married Kate Middleton 13 Years Ago—But He Refused
Thirteen years later, the Prince and Princess of Wales’ marriage seems stronger than ever.
By Rachel Burchfield Published