Louis' touching bond with Great Aunt Sophie! Fun friendship between little prince and Duchess of Edinburgh is revealed at Trooping The Colour
The sweet bond between Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince Louis - the youngest Wales - was evident at the Trooping the Colour as Sophie stepped into her role as a 'protective' yet fun-loving great-auntie.
The King's Birthday Parade featured many memorable moments Prince Louis, seven, and members of The Firm as everyone - from King Charles to Prince George - tried to keep up with the cheekiest royal's antics.
From trying to copy his grandather's wave to reducing his otherwise-composed older brother George, 11, to fits of laughter, the seven-year-old prince completely stole the show at the festivities on Saturday.
There was, however, one particularly sweet moment that royal fans noticed as they gushed over Louis's 'fun aunt', the Duchess of Edinburgh, and their close relationship after spotting them together on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Senior members of the Royal Family came together to mark the King's official birthday on June 14 amid a spectacular display of military pomp and pageantry - before gathering to watch the Royal Air Force flypast from the Palace in a time-honoured tradition.
In recent years, Louis has left royal fans in hysterics with his behaviour as the youngest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales is always sure to put on a very animated display while watching the Red Arrows with his family.
And while this year's ceremony was no exception, it appeared one royal stepped up to the task of keeping him entertained as photos showed Louis and his 'fun aunt' pulling funny faces at each other after the military parade.
While Sophie's face is obscured by Charlotte, 10, Louis can be seen with his mouth wide open during the playful moment that has since become emblematic of the Duchess' close relationship with Prince William and Kate Middleton's children.
'Just Auntie Sophie and Lou-Lou being the absolute best together,' one royal fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter. 'I loved this photo of The Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince Louis today!'
Other images of them together in the Major General's office at Buckingham Palace, before Louis and Sophie joined the rest of their family for the balcony appearancem showed them deep in conversation.
One snap showed Sophie, whose own children - Lady Louise, 21, and the Earl of Wessex, 17 - were noticeably absent from this year's Trooping the Colour, pointing something out in the distance to Louis.
Another captured Louis in the middle of making what appears to be a very important point as the young royal held up a finger, while Sophie listened in rapt attention as Charlotte, 10, looked on.
'Love Aunt Sophie with Louis and Charlotte,' another X user's post read. 'Such a wonderful family.'
Reacting to the stills, one fan commented: 'Sophie puts the GREAT in Great Auntie.'
Another said: 'It is so obvious that all the royals are very close. Lovely to see this interaction with Sophie, and her nephew and niece.'
A third comment praised Sophie for looking out for William and Kate's brood during official events while they are 'on duty', adding: 'They are so comfortable around each other.'
Some fans noticed how 'protective' Sophie is of the Wales children, with one person writing: 'She's got their back.
'We can see the kids are so natural; with her, so confident.'
'You can tell she really cares about these children,' another comment read.
Sophie later stood alongside George, 11, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, as they joined the country in observing one minute's silence for the victims of the Air India crash that left 241 passengers and crew members dead.
This year's Trooping the Colour is just another example of how the Duchess has become a source of unwavering support for Prince William and Kate - as she lives up to her reputatrion as one of The Firm's most well-loved members.
Royal fans will remember how Sophie, who married the Duke of Edinburgh 26 years ago, stood by Kate during one of the Princess' first public engagements since completing cancer treatment last September.
Standing on the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Sophie helped calm Kate's nerves during the Remembrance Sunday service after she hinted she was feeling overwhelmed.
As they walked inside after the two-minute silence, Sophie placed a supportive, 'maternal' hand on the future Queen's back in an image of solidarity that inspired widespread praise for Sophie.
Royal fans gushed over Sophie while praising her for putting the 'great' in 'great-aunt'
The easy friendship and camaraderie between Sophie and Prince WIlliam was on show as they travelled to Cornwall for a rare joint engagement earlier this month.
William and Sophie appeared comfortable and relaxed in each other's presence, as the royals shared a good-natured laugh after they arrived at Royal Cornwall Show on June 6.
As they sampled local gins at the agriculture show, William playfully teased Sophie about going back for another sip before she quipped about his own tolerance for alcohol.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, who were granted their new titles in March 2023, have become increasingly important figures within Charles' 'slimmed-down' monarchy - especially in the wake of the King's cancer diagnosis.
Together with Edward, the wife of the king's youngest sibling is also setting the 'perfect example' for Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, according to a royal expert.
Speaking to Ok! magazine, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said: 'They are also serving as excellent role models to their great nephews and niece - showing that you can be a "spare" or even a "spare to the spare" and make a real success of working as a valued member of the Royal Family.'
And while Sophie and Louis appear to be especially close, even the King couldn't resist his grandson's infectious energy as Charles excitedly pointed out the fighter jets during the flypast.
Lip reader Juliet Sullivan told FEMAIL that His Majesty had a sweet interchange with Louis at one point on the balcony, ensuring he didn't miss out on the action by telling him: 'Louis! Look! The fighter jets!'
Prince Louis trying to copy his grandfather, King Charles, and father, Prince William, as the trio waved to crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace
Meanwhile, adorable video clips and photos show the seven-year-old waving at the crowd in tandem with his beloved Grandpa Wales.
Delighted by the cheers of the crowd below, Louis kept up his exuberant waving...until his older brother, and the heir to the throne, George told him to 'Stop' while holding his arm down.
The moment proved entertaining to spectators, and royal fans have taken to X to comment on it. One wrote alongside laughing emojis, 'He's such a fabulous little character.'
A second added, 'I love this kiddo. He's clearly being raised right to have the confidence to be so openly joyful and happy in a massive crowd. Wave away, dear boy!'
Sophie, who was a favourite of the late Queen Elizabeth II, is known for her down-to-earth nature and was viewed by the Queen as The Firm's safest pair of hands.
She was welcomed into the Royal Family after tying the knot to Edward back in 1999, and the couple have since welcomed two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
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