Prince Louis winces under the gaze of his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, as a group of planes fly over Buckingham Palace. Karwai Tang / WireImage
Queen Elizabeth II smiled on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Thursday during the military parade that kicked off the Platinum Jubilee celebration for her 70 years on the throne, but it was one of her great-grandchildren, 4-year-old Prince Louis, who stole the show.
The youngest son of Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, made faces, covering his eyes, holding his head in his hands or resting his chin throughout the ceremony on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte hold hands to their heads as military aircraft pass by in honor of their great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. Paul Grover / AP
Prince Louis covers his ears with his hands, while Princess Charlotte looks skyward during the parade. Paul Grover / AP
The prince was dressed in a blue sailor suit similar to the one his father wore at the 1985 Trooping the Color, the traditional military parade that has been organized every year since 1760 for the birthday of the monarch who rules the country.
Queen Elizabeth II with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children.
Paul Grover/A.P.
His older brother, George, 8, was dressed in a navy blue suit, white shirt and blue tie, while his sister, Charlotte, 7, wore a blue dress.
Prince Louis became one of the protagonists of the day for his reaction to the passage of military planes over Buckingham Palace. Aaron Chown / AP
The trio had earlier waved to the crowd from their carriage on their way back from the Trooping the Color, where their father joined his grandfather, Prince Charles, in saluting the armed forces.
The youngest son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge points to the sky. Paul Grover / AP
The event marked the start of a long weekend: for the next few days, the country will vibrate with concerts, parades and historic religious services, all festooned with UK flags and giant screens installed in city centres.
The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, looks out from one of the balconies of Buckingham Palace, while her young son, Prince Louis, appears from the next door doing the military salute. Roland Hoskins / AP
A four-act parade will be staged at Buckingham Palace on Sunday, including a military march, a carnival celebrating British cultural and technological innovation during the reign of Elizabeth II, and a pack of puppets created in the image of the famous mascots. of the Queen.
Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by numerous members of her family, looks up to the sky as military aircraft pass by to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. Chris Jackson / Getty Images
There will be an estimated 16,000 street parties across the country, with people drinking commemorative sparkling wine and eating sandwiches on special Jubilee-printed plates.
Aircraft of the British Royal Air Force fly over The Mall avenue before the eyes of thousands of people.Chris J Ratcliffe / Getty Images