Princess Kate was seen ruffling ‘ hair as she encouraged him to meet with the public on Christmas Day in a video posted to .

Kate held her son’s hand as they walked to church on Christmas morning and stayed by his side when they met members of the public after the service.

In , Kate ran her fingers through Louis’ hair and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. In another, she pointed to someone in the crowd and beckoned him forward to speak to the well-wisher.

During the same walkabout, outside St. Mary Magdalene, a church in Sandringham, Kate spoke to a woman who had worked for the U.K. charity MacMillan Cancer Support, who said: “I just wanted to say you are an inspiration to all the patients.”

The princess replied: “The amount of people who have written this year is extraordinary, and I think cancer just really does resonate with so many families. People like you are doing all the hard work out there. I’m hugely grateful.”

All of Kate’s children—George, Charlotte and Louis—collected presents from the public, with Louis brandishing a box of Cadbury chocolates, a major British brand that recently lost its royal warrant. One cheeky fan ensured Louis did not go without the treats, a favorite in many U.K. households.

Meanwhile, spoke to some American tourists who had come to Sandringham to see the royals during a holiday trip. They had caught an from London, which he joked would have made the driver’s Christmas.

At one point, Kate had spoken for so long to fans that she joked: “I think I lost my family.”

The walk to church came hours before ‘s Christmas Day speech, which was broadcast at 3 p.m., though it was recorded some weeks earlier. The king praised Brits who rejected violence as immigration protests escalated into riots over the summer.

The disorder followed the killing of three young girls at a –themed dance event, which is the subject of an ongoing court case. Following the rioting and damage, communities came together to rebuild.

Charles said: “I felt a deep sense of pride here in the United Kingdom when, in response to anger and lawlessness in several towns this summer, communities came together not to repeat these behaviors but to repair. To repair not just buildings but relationships. And, most importantly, to repair trust by listening and, through understanding, deciding how to act for the good of all.”

He went on: “Again, listening is a recurrent theme of the Nativity Story. Mary, the mother of Jesus, listened to the angel who revealed to her a different future full of hope for all people.

“The message of the angels to the shepherds—that there should be peace on Earth—in fact echoes through all faiths and philosophies. It rings true to this day for people of goodwill across the world. And so it is with this in mind that I wish you, and all those you love, a most joyful and peaceful Christmas,” he said.

Williams Brown is chief royal correspondent for Regalrumination.com, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly ) at and read his stories on Regalrumination.com‘s

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