The Princess of Wales has given an insight into how her children are coping following the death of their beloved great-grandmother, the Queen. Kate had been speaking at an event held for Commonwealth dignitaries at Buckingham Palace on Sunday (September 18) ahead of the Queen's funeral today.
Australia's Governor-General David Hurley recalled his conversation with Kate and told how the mum-of-three said her eldest son Prince George, nine, is 'sort of now realising how important his great-grandmother was and what is going on'.
Her comments came before it was announced that Prince George and his younger sister Princess Charlotte, 7, will gather with 2,000 people in Westminster Abbey to remember their late great-grandmother on Monday, as millions watch the televised service across the globe.
The young royals will walk through the gothic church with the royal family, in procession behind the Queen’s coffin as it is carried by the military bearer party. Their grandfather, the King with the Queen Consort will process immediately behind the coffin, followed by the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, then the Duke of York, followed by the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and then the Prince and Princess of Wales.
George and Charlotte, who called the late Queen 'Gan Gan', will be together, behind their parents, walking side-by-side in formation, followed by their uncle and aunt the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and other members of the royal family.
The prince and princess’ four-year-old brother Prince Louis is not set to be there. Recalling what Kate said about her youngest son, Mr Hurley told Channel 9 news : "The younger one is now asking questions like, 'Do you think we can still play these games when we go to Balmoral" and things like that, because she's not going to be there?'"
Prince Louis' playful antics on the balcony for the Platinum Jubilee delighted royal fans but it is likely he was considered to be too young to attend his great-grandmother's funeral.
Last week, when Kate and her husband, Prince William, viewers flowers outside the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, she said how Prince George has a greater understanding of the Queen dying than his younger siblings as the Wales children settle into their new school.
One crowd member said she had been told George was said to understand the loss of his great-grandmother the others understood less. One well-wisher said: “ She said they were keeping this as normal as possible for the children.
"She says the children were settling in well to their new school and Kate was grateful for the support. I joked I had to be quick because I had to do the school run and she said she was heading back to London to do it as well."
Previously, a 'tearful' Princess of Wales revealed Prince Louis ’s sweet comment about the Queen after he learned of her death. Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, aged 96, at Balmoral.
Days after her death was confirmed as being 'peaceful' in a brief statement from Buckingham Palace, Prince William and his brother, Prince Harry, along with their wives Kate and Meghan Markle , went on a 40-minute walkabout at Windsor Castle inspecting the sea of floral tributes this evening.
Among the crowd on the Long Walk, Banita Ranow, 28, said she heard Kate tell children next to her about what her youngest son Louis had said about the Queen's death. She said Kate told the children: "Louis said at least Grannie is with great grandpa now."
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