Kate Middleton’s two youngest children appeared to have a royally good time on the set of the reality dance competition show Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday—not to mention Kate herself, a noted fan of the show, which inspired Dancing with the Stars.
Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis joined their mother for a two-hour visit. According to The Sun, the family got to meet hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, visit the costume department (where Louis, 5, reportedly tried on a tiny golden crown for size), and even sit at the judges’ table. Charlotte, 8, and Louis watched pros Katya Jones and Neil Jones dance, then used the show’s infamous scoring paddles to deliver their verdicts on the performance.
As an unnamed source told the Sun, “Kate and Charlotte are huge fans of Strictly so they were delighted to be invited.”
“Kate took pictures of the children in the judges’ seats. She seemed really relaxed and was all smiles,” the source continued. “She was polite, sweet and charming with everyone and made sure Louis didn’t get over-excited.”
With the royals in attendance, security on the BBC’s Elstree Studios set, just outside London, was reportedly tight.
“There was a strict security lockdown on set and staff were told not to take any photos,” the source said. “The children were especially excited and got dressed up. They were thrilled to be on set and to meet their favorite celebrities.”
Kate has long been known as a “huge fan” of Strictly, with her husband, Prince William, even bringing it up at a charity event in 2019. In 2020, she recorded a video message for the show’s season finale, thanking the show’s cast and crew for their hard work during the pandemic. “It’s lifted the whole country’s spirits,” she said.
Kate herself has been known to cut a rug, with a supercut of her dance moves, from the so-called “Princess Shuffle” to a partnered performance with Paddington Bear, recently making the rounds on social media.
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