Kate Middleton is revealing how her youngest child, 4-year-old Prince Louis, is handling the death of his great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II.
The Princess of Wales said that Louis in particular is struggling to understand the loss.
While speaking to Australia's Governor-General David Hurley at a reception held for Commonwealth dignitaries ahead of the queen's funeral, Kate said young Louis is confused and is starting to ask a lot of questions.
Recalling his conversation with Kate, David Hurley said that the older children seem to realize how significant the death of their great-grandmother is. According to Hurley, Prince George, 9, is "sort of now realising how important his great-grandmother was and what is going on."
But 4-year-old Louis isn't quite old enough to understand death, or the significance of what the death of the queen truly means for their family and the country. Kate said that Louis is focusing on the things that have meant a lot to him, like the games he played with the queen.
Kate noted that her youngest child asked whether the family's summertime visit to Balmoral Castle will be the same.
"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?'" Hurley said.
Prince Louis did not attend the queen's services along with his older siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince George. An insider told Us Weekly that while William and Kate originally wanted him to attend, given he's been going to royal events since his birth, they decided to allow him to stay home.
“Kate and William flip-flopped over whether Louis should attend the Queen’s funeral,” the source said, and eventually “came to the conclusion that the procession and service would be too lengthy and overwhelming for their youngest to handle and digest.”
When speaking to mourners and well-wishers this week, Kate was asked how much the children understand about their great-grandmother's death. She responded that while Prince George, 9, does understand that loss, the younger siblings understand "less so."
