All three Wales children and their parents participated in today’s Big Help Out as the Coronation Weekend wrapped up.
This was Prince Louis’ first official working engagement. While he has attended events like Trooping the Colour and last year’s Platinum Jubilee Concert, such events are not considered working engagements.
The family joined other volunteers renovating the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, outside London. Many readers will remember the Princess has been the joint president of the Scouts since 2020. She shares the position with the Duke of Kent, president since 1975.
The Big Help Out was designed to encourage people to volunteer. The BBC reports, “Tens of thousands of charities are taking part in the Big Help Out, with a total of 30,000 organizations putting on 55,000 events across the UK.”
More from the Big Help Out site:
Starting on Monday 8th May there will be opportunities for everyone to join in. No matter what you are good at, there’ll be something to suit helping hands of all shapes and sizes! From checking in on someone who’d like a bit of company or volunteering for a charity the more of us who join in, the bigger help we will be.
If you can spare an hour…fantastic. The day?…amazing. If it becomes a regular thing, so much the better. If we all do a bit, it will really help a lot.
More on the scout hut from The Telegraph’s story.
The Scout 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.
Per a Palace news release, today’s work included “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.”
Prince William’s favorite task may have been operating the backhoe with his sons—more from The Daily Mail’s article.
The young prince missed the Coronation Concert last night because it was past his bedtime, but on his first ever official royal engagement he was operating a mini JCB as the family spruced up a Slough scout hut to support the Big Help Out.
When the Prince of Wales took control of a digger, Louis jumped into his father’s lap as William moved the mechanical arm and grabbed a bucket full of soil before dumping it on a heap. He looked fascinated as William worked the controls of the excavator.
And from the East London Advertiser’s story.
When the Prince of Wales took control of a digger, Louis sat in his father’s lap as William moved the mechanical arm and grabbed a bucket full of soil before dumping it on a spoil heap.
Later the five-year-old prince was given the task of filling a wheelbarrow with what looked like builders’ sand and he focused on the job, diligently shovelling the material before wheeling the barrow himself.
The Prince with the wheelbarrow.
Princess Charlotte helped stain wood, and she also did some painting.
Rebecca English shared a quick video showing Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and others painting.
I’ve got Prince Louis levels of concentration as I’m pounding out my copy today! pic.twitter.com/wdkbGbv3g4
— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) May 8, 2023
Matt Hyde, CEO of Scouts and co-founder of the Big Help Out, tells PEOPLE that the whole family “really got stuck in” — and added, “Louis led the way!”
Anne Edwards, an adult Scout helper, tells PEOPLE that Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte helped paint cinder blocks that supported planters.
While Prince George worked with a drill.
More from People’s story.
Prince George used a drill for a project, and Preeti Valand from the 1st Cippenham Scout group tells PEOPLE that it was Prince George’s first time using an electric screwdriver as she handed screws to him. Prince William was a “very hands-on dad,” Valand, 14, says. “He was showing Prince George what to do, how to put the screw in and what kind of pressure needs to be used.”
After the work was done, it was time for a treat.
Everyone toasted marshmallows.
We return to the Daily Mail’s coverage.
When his work was done he devoured several toasted marshmallows. Charlotte opted for a s’more – a gooey marshmallow in between two chocolate digestive biscuits. When Louis spotted one going spare his father was heard declaring: ‘You’ve made his day – you won’t hear a peep out of him now’ as he chomped away on the treat.
Kate then revealed her affectionate nickname for her youngest son, calling him ‘Lou-Bugs’.
Richard Palmer of The Express posted a video.
Marshmallows pic.twitter.com/o1Fs3uFGVb
— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) May 8, 2023
Another look at Prince Louis enjoying his treat.
After the marshmallow break, it was time for archery.
Princess Charlotte and her mother.
We return to the Daily Mail’s coverage.
Kate and William’s second child looked like a pro as she operated the bow and eyed up her target ahead of time.
Charlotte appeared to channel all her strength into the task at hand and frowned slightly as she let go of the bow.
Having clearly inherited her mother’s sporting talents, Charlotte managed to get an instant bullseye on her first try – blowing her brothers out of the park.
And Prince Louis.
The Princess gave it a go.
The neckerchiefs you see the Wales family wearing are from the 3rd Upton Scout Group. The Wales family contributed to a wall mural showing handprints from everyone helping today.
Prince Louis ponders the perfect placement.
And makes his mark.
And there was a group photo to memorialize the day.
Here is a video from Kensington Palace offering an overview of the Wales family’s contributions to the Big Help Out.
Family day out volunteering for #TheBigHelpOut pic.twitter.com/6weexxc38C
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) May 8, 2023
Other royals were part of the Big Help Out. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh visited a Guide Dogs training center in Reading, west of London.
The pair took part in a puppy training class.
Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Tim Laurence, were at Gloucester Cathedral attending a special service recognizing local volunteers.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester visited St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Kensington. Here you see the Duke with Bishop Angaelos, the Coptic Orthodox Bishop of London.
The royals met faith leaders and young volunteers who hosted a Coronation Street Party.
We now have a quick look at what Kate wore for the Big Help Out.
The Princess was in a top that very much looked like a past-season Really Wild design, the Blue Denim Chambray Frill Neck Shirt, with thanks to Emily for the ID. The product description reads, “Crafted from a soft mid-blue denim chambray with a feminine frill on the collar our denim shirt is versatile, comfortable, and effortlessly cool. Generous-length tails and a bishop sleeve finish this true wardrobe staple.” There is a current Really Wild top in this style, but it is 100% silk. I added some possible stand-in styles to the repliKate Tops page.
The Princess paired the top with the G-STAR RAW Kafey Cargo Ultra-High Skinny Jeans (out of stock), with thanks to Middleton Maven for the ID.
We saw the return of the Blundstone Classic Chelsea Boots. The style is available at Zappos ($229.95), at Backcountry ($229.95), and at Blundstone ($229.95)
The Princess wore her Daniella Draper Mini Cupid Hoop Earrings ($280).
Also today, I am putting together a second post covering the official photos from Saturday’s Coronation.
![](https://whatkatewore.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Formal-Photo-Coronation-Large-Group-Working-Royals-William-Kate-.jpg.webp)
VIDEO:
The Royal Family Channel has coverage of the Wales family helping out in this video.
This video is from the Scout Troop.
Elizabeth
Thursday 11th of May 2023
Her outfit at the big help out was a huge miss for me. Faded pants with odd pockets. Yuck. She can do so much better.
Spruha
Tuesday 9th of May 2023
I loved this event! Everyone seemed to be at their best! I can't believe Kate's shirt is denim- it lays so well! Not stiff at all!
Kelly
Monday 8th of May 2023
S many wonderful pictures! I have to say, I thought the Prince of Wales stole the show - he appeared to enjoy the kiddos and the various events. Ofcourse Kate’s fashion was on point and perfect. They all looked well put together
Bonnie
Monday 8th of May 2023
Just an FYI: Not sure if Scouting and Guiding invented s'mores, but they've certainly been featured at many a campfire, for decades now. As Susan explained, they are a toasted marshmallow between two, chocolate coated, digestive biscuits. The chocolate side obviously goes on the inside, to be melted by the hot marshmallow. Sometimes they are made using graham crackers and thin pieces of chocolate, that sandwich the marshmallow.
If you wonder why they are called s'mores, it is because once you taste one, you want s(ome) more!
Sarah
Sunday 14th of May 2023
@jen, I came to comment this! I’ve never even heard of chocolate digestive biscuits. lol. We do marshmallows, graham crackers, and a piece of a chocolate bar (or a peanut butter cup if we’re being wild).
Lindsey A.
Thursday 11th of May 2023
its fun to experiment with them. I'm a chocolate snob and hate Hersheys (I'm British, now in California, and feel like Hersheys is more like cooking chocolate compared with something like Cadbury), so I use Lindt milk chocolate, or sometimes, the Ghirardelli milk chocolate squares with caramel filling. And then we mix things up for the cracker base, too. Oreos work well, as does shortbread, but I love the ooey gooey marshmallow thing so much that I prefer to use very thin homemade rice crispy treats as the base when I can. Sooooo good! We make them year round, in the winter we'll use the coals from our wood fire at our vacation cabin in the Sierras to roast the marshmallows.
jen
Wednesday 10th of May 2023
@Bonnie, in the j.s., they are made with toasted marshmallows, graham crackers and a square of a hershey bar.
mel burns
Monday 8th of May 2023
Susan the neckline on the dress in the photo is different than the neckline at the Abbey. What is going on?
Susan
Monday 8th of May 2023
@Laura D., I see the necklace too! I didn’t see it at all during the actual coronation. I wonder if she wore it only after the cape was removed…
Laura D.
Monday 8th of May 2023
@mel burns, AND it appears that maybe The Princess is wearing QE2s diamond festoon necklace we all kept reading about in asst press articles but couldn't/didn't see under her robe/mantle, does anyone else notice that too?
Victoria
Monday 8th of May 2023
@mel burns,
I assume she has a cape on like Charlotte’s?