Prince George and Princess Charlotte Join Kate and William for Surprise Visit to Wales for Platinum Jubilee!
Prince George and Princess Charlotte were a surprise addition on Kate Middleton and Prince William's outing to Wales on Saturday.
Kicking off the third day of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the Cambridge family (minus 4-year-old Prince Louis, who was likely deemed too young for the visit!), visited Cardiff Castle to take in the local celebrations being held in honor of Queen Elizabeth.
The day is especially poignant for 8-year-old George, whose visit mirrors his father's first official trip to Wales when he was the same age. Back in March 1991, he joined his mother Princess Diana and father Prince Charles in Cardiff. The excited crowds handed the young prince daffodils — the Welsh national flower — as he went on a walkabout outside Llandaff Cathedral.
Their appearance in Wales underlines one of the main objects of the Jubilee weekend — to not only celebrate the Queen's 70-year reign, but to also stress the future and the succession of the monarchy. In George and William, we have two future kings and two future Princes of Wales.
PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince George and Princess Charlotte
"The Jubilee is of historic significance but it's equally an opportunity to show the succession and the monarchy as a whole," a royal source tells PEOPLE.
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The children, who held hands with their parents, are meeting performers, including singer Bonnie Tyler (who was honored by the Queen in her annual birthday awards), and crew involved in a special Platinum Jubilee Celebration Concert taking place on the grounds of Cardiff Castle.
Globe Photos/ZUMAPRESS.com Princess Diana, Prince William and Prince Charles during a visit to Cardiff in 1991
Kate wore her Eponine red coat dress with her DeMellier bag and Spells of Love gold earrings (the designer is Welsh!) and Charlotte stepped out in her go-to Amaia coat in navy.
At one point, the royals joined the orchestra on stage as they played Welsh singer Tom Jones' hit "Delilah." They moved along the stage to then watch a rock drummer do a roll. The live music entertainment will be especially fun for George. Kate previously revealed that the young prince is learning to play the guitar.
Tim Rooke/Shutterstock Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince George and Princess Charlotte
The family — with Charlotte, 7, clutching her dad William's hand — then went to watch dancers and young musical performers on the castle lawns.
As Bonnie Tyler warmed up with "Total Eclipse of the Heart," they chatted with to some of the food stall vendors preparing for the concert crowd. The family then delighted a small crowd of locals who had been allowed inside the castle before the gates closed.
Samir Hussein/WireImage Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte
William, who had his arm across his son's shoulder, encouraged George to shake some hands as the excited well-wishers chatted to them. Charlotte was also ushered in to join in the chat.
Prince William shared a special moment with Siobhan Lewis, 37, who has cerebral palsy, and her mother Tracey, from Cardiff. Siobhan told the prince that she met Princess Diana when she was at the Peto Institute in Budapest, Hungary.
"He was happy to hear that and said that he knew she'd been to Hungury a few times," Tracey tells PEOPLE.
Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William
All the royals gathered around to chat with her, and Kate was drawn to the bright buckles on her red sneakers.
"Catherine really loved the sparkles on my shoes," says Siobhan. "I gave her a bouquet of flowers. They were sweet Williams. William said, 'How sweet.'"
"We both shook all their hands. We knew William and Kate were coming but it was an added bonus having the children. It was really lovely. They were all wonderfully relaxed and friendly," she says.
Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images Prince George, Prince William, Princess Charlotte and Kate Middleton
The family also chatted with a group of local Scouts.
"George and Charlotte asked how I got my badges," Jack Lovatt, 12, tells PEOPLE. "And William asked George if he had done similar in scouts."
Samir Hussein/WireImage Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William
A fun moment for George and Charlotte came when they were introduced to a goat named Shenkin the Fourth — the mascot of of the 3rd battalion Royal Welsh regiment.
"They were very excited to meet him," handler Sgt. Mark Jackson tells PEOPLE. "So when I explained that he also helps escort the Welsh rugby team out at the Principality Stadium, Prince George was even more excited by that. Both the children were mesmerized by Shenkin."
Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s Welsh walkabout. All the details of their visit to Cardiff, including how they were ‘mesmerised’ by goat, Shenkin the Fourth! https://t.co/fChYZ2jJm8 #platinumjubilee #royal #duekandduchessofcambridge pic.twitter.com/gg1aB4567k
— Simon Perry (@SPerryPeoplemag) June 4, 2022
Shenkin and Sgt. Jackson were among the battalion's band, which was providing a festive musical backdrop as the royals left.
"It was a beautiful surprise for Cardiff to have the children here and an absolute privilege and honor for us to be here and meet the royals and welcome them to Wales," he adds.
ASHLEY CROWDEN/AFP via Getty Images
The Cardiff event is hosted by presenter Aled Jones and Shan Cothi, and will feature live performances from some of Wales' best-known singers and entertainers, alongside choirs, bands and orchestras. And the performances will finish at 7 p.m U.K.-time, allowing the audience to then watch the Platinum Party at the Palace on big screens set up on the grounds of the castle.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images Prince George and Princess Charlotte
Later today, William and Kate will attend the concert held outside of Buckingham Palace, where William and his father Prince Charles will pay tribute to the Queen in speeches they are set to give on stage.
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Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images Prince George and Princess Charlotte
The Queen will take in the festivities while at home at Windsor Castle, where she will be watching on TV.
William and Kate's visit to Wales is part of an effort by the royal family to spread out around the U.K. to thank people for their support during the Jubilee. Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence visited Scotland on Friday and Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex are heading to Northern Ireland.
