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Prince Louis eats marshmallows with mum Princess Kate© WPA Pool

All the photos and footage from Prince Louis's first royal engagement!

Following the triumph of Sunday's Coronation Concert, the Big Help Out is getting underway

Gemma Strong
Online Digital News Director
Updated: May 8, 2023
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The final coronation festivities are underway in the shape of the Big Help Out, rounding off a jubilant weekend for the nation which started with Saturday's momentous ceremony in Westminster Abbey and was proceeded by Sunday's star-studded coronation concert.

The public have been encouraged to take up hundreds of thousands of volunteering roles on the extra bank holiday with more than 1,500 charities involved.

The King and Queen will not be appearing publicly today but other members of the royal family have been out on their behalf.  The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children have been volunteering at a local scout hut in Slough. And Princess Kate has even revealed a special nickname for her expressive youngest, Prince Louis.

Keep reading for the latest updates...

Surprise appearance from George, Charlotte and Louis!

The Prince and Princess of Wales made a highly-anticipated appearance together on Monday as they volunteered at a local scout hut in Slough as part of the Big Help Out.

TOP STORY:  Concern for Princess Anne as she misses Coronation Concert

And they brought along some very special helpers – children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and little Prince Louis.

Prince Louis took control of a wheelbarrow as he helped his mother  take part in the Big Help Out  during a visit to the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough© DANIEL LEAL
Prince Louis took control of a wheelbarrow as he helped his mother take part in the Big Help Out during a visit to the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough

The family braved the inclement weather to make a final appearance together as part of the coronation celebrations.

Prince Louis was keen to fill up his own wheelbarrow© WPA Pool
Prince Louis was keen to fill up his own wheelbarrow

They joined excited volunteers in renovating the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, with works including resetting a path, digging a new soakaway, sanding and revarnishing the front door, adding planters to the front of the building and adding a mural to create a lasting legacy of the Big Help Out’s work.

DISCOVER:  Why Prince Louis didn't attend the coronation concert 

Prince George of Wales helped out with some woodwork© DANIEL LEAL
Prince George of Wales helped out with some woodwork

It was a big day for little Louis, marking his very first royal engagement. One of his first jobs was helping Charlotte to paint a planter. The two youngest children knelt down, grabbing brushes dripping with white masonry paint, obvious to the fact that they were getting it on their hair and bare legs.

Prince Louis even had a chance to sit on his dad Prince William's lap as the royal drove an excavator© WPA Pool
Prince Louis had a chance to sit on his dad Prince William's lap as the royal drove an excavator

One fellow volunteer asked Louis: ‘You might want to be a painter when you grow up?’‘ "No a fighter pilot," he responded. "Just like your father and grandfather!" the lady replied.  

The five-year-old even got to operate a digger with his father, the Prince of Wales, after seeing big brother, Prince George, nine, have a go and telling his mother: "I want to go in with him!"

Princess Kate with Louis and Charlotte at the Big Help Out© DANIEL LEAL
Princess Kate with Louis and Charlotte at the Big Help Out

The royal tot was visibly awestruck as he sat on his dad's knee and dug a huge hole in the ground. See him in action...

WATCH: Prince Louis digs a hole with his dad

READ:  The Prince and Princess of Wales host secret coronation party: Details

DON'T MISS:  Meghan Markle sends 'hidden message' with necklace choice after missing coronation

At the point that Louis took it upon himself to load a wheelbarrow with builder's sand, his mum Kate watched on proudly. "A bit more," she encouraged before asking: "Do you want a hand, are you sure you can manage?" But Louis was so engrossed he didn't even respond!

Prince George tried his hand at archery during their visit© DANIEL LEAL
Prince George tried his hand at archery during their visit

His brother and sister were just as involved in the day's activities. Princess Charlotte, dressed in denim shorts and a pink jumper, helped stain a fence.

Princess Charlotte helps stain some wood at the scout hut© WPA Pool
Princess Charlotte helped stain some wood at the scout hut

And future king George was even seen using a drill - under the watchful eye of a scout leader.  The nine-year-old, dressed in chinos, trainers and a puffer coat, was the picture of concentration as he placed a screw carefully into a hole and drilled it in. 

Princess Kate also had a go during the Big Help Out© DANIEL LEAL
Princess Kate also had a go at archery during the Big Help Out

The three young royals got a reward for their hard work, toasting marshmallows over a camp fire.  Louis was very particular about his sweet treat, announcing loudly twice: "I like mine just like this."

And it was while they were gathered around the fire that Kate revealed her sweet nickname for Louis - 'Lou-Bugs.' 

The family also all had a go at archery - and Princess Charlotte knocked both her two brothers out of the park with an instant 10, a bullseye!

WATCH: Prince Louis toasts marshmallows

Louis, whose bow was a big as him, also showed he has inherited his parents’ sportiness, hitting the target as well. He loved it so much that he kept on running back to pick up his arrows and and having another go, hitting the target several times. "Come on, Louis, you can do it," Kate encouraged.

Scout leader Simon Carter later told HELLO! that the family had driven themselves to Slough and noted: "Generally they had a really, really relaxed time, which was probably what was needed after the last few days."

Asked how Louis had seemed on his first engagement, he added: "He was really excited. They all got presented with a Big Help Out badge at the end, so they all got a Scouts scarf."

Prince Louis, five, also had a go!© WPA Pool
Prince Louis, five, also had a go!

The 3rd Upton Scouts Hut was built in 1982 and is used by a variety of community groups in the area, including the local mosque, a senior citizens contact group for members of the Asian community and the Scout group themselves.

Princess Kate gave Louis a helping hand© DANIEL LEAL
Princess Kate gave Louis a helping hand

The building is also used by ‘Slough All Nations,’ a group with heritage spanning across St. Kitts & Nevis, and which provides recreation and leisure activities to improve health and wellbeing and promote community cohesion. The Princess of Wales has been Joint President of the Scouts since 2020.

Prince Louis added his handprint to a mural© WPA Pool
Prince Louis added his handprint to a mural
Kate and Louis' handprints are together on the Scout  hut wall© royal rota
Kate and Louis' handprints are together on the Scout hut wall
Prince William and Prince George's handprints at the Big Help Out
Princess Charlotte's handprint from the Big Help Out event © Royal rota
Princess Kate toasts her marshmallow alongside Louis© DANIEL LEAL
Princess Kate toasts her marshmallow alongside Louis
Prince Louis enjoyed his sweet treat© DANIEL LEAL
The family were presented with Scouts scarves after their efforts© DANIEL LEAL
The family were presented with Scouts scarves after their efforts

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh give their opinions on the coronation at puppy guide dog training

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attended a Guide Dogs puppy training class in Reading for the Big Help Out initiative on Monday. Sophie told onlookers that the coronation had been “extraordinary”, while the Duke said that he thought the ceremony went “very well” and that despite being shorter than 1953, nothing was “missing” from it. 

The King’s youngest brother also joked that everyone in the Royal Box at the Coronation Concert last night was “very nervous” that Miss Piggy would show up unannounced after the Muppets character made a cameo during the star-studded event.

The Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh took part in a puppy class at the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Training Centre at a pop-up Coronation Cafe.© Chris Jackson
The Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh took part in a puppy class at the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Training Centre at a pop-up Coronation Cafe.

The Royal couple joined volunteers and staff for an interactive training class that focused on teaching the puppies skills to help on their journey to becoming guide dogs. Sophie looked elegant in red trousers teamed with a smart beige jacket.

Sophie gets a kiss from a new friend while she takes part in The Big Help Out© Chris Jackson
Sophie gets a kiss from a new friend while she takes part in The Big Help Out

While talking to the volunteers after the class, the Duke was asked about how he thought his brother’s historic crowning ceremony went. He added: “I couldn’t actually see what happened in the procession because the trouble of being part of it is that you don’t see it - we need to catch up and watch it.” 

The couple spent the afternoon training and playing with cute puppies and dogs at the charity’s centre in Reading, Berkshire. © Chris Jackson
The couple spent the afternoon training and playing with cute puppies and dogs at the charity’s centre in Reading, Berkshire.

Edward added that it was the fourth Coronation to be rained on, saying it was therefore “quite appropriate that we managed to continue that tradition”. 

The couple spent the afternoon training and playing with the selection of puppies and dogs at the charity’s centre in Reading, Berkshire. Sophie has been the patron of Guide Dogs since July 2021, succeeding Princess Alexandra, who held the position for over 60 years.

Sophie looked chic in red trousers and a smart beige jacket combo© Chris Jackson
Sophie looked chic in red trousers and a smart beige jacket combo

Sunday's celebrations

 It comes after the royals stepped out in force on Sunday evening to celebrate at the Coronation Concert, held at Windsor Castle.

Princess Charlotte waves her flag during King Charles' coronation concert© WPA Pool
Princess Charlotte waves her flag during King Charles' coronation concert

While Prince Louis missed on the musical extravaganza, William and Kate did bring along George and Charlotte – and the family had the best time.

Take That, billed as pop “royalty”, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie brought the house down and got the royals on their feet and dancing – including King Charles and Queen Camilla – during the 95-minute extravaganza.

King Charles waves his flag at Coronation Concert© YUI MOK
King Charles waves his flag at Coronation Concert

The concert in Windsor, hosted by Paddington and Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville, saw Hollywood star Tom Cruise, Dynasty actress Dame Joan Collins, adventurer Bear Grylls and singer Sir Tom Jones appear via video message.

George and William enjoying a giggle© Getty
George and William enjoying a giggle

The series of pre-recorded sketches revealed little-known facts about the monarch and included moments from beloved literary figure Winnie the Pooh – seemingly echoing the famous moment Paddington Bear drank tea with the Queen during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

There were also performances by Paloma Faith, Olly Murs, veteran rock guitarist Steve Winwood, and Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls.

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