VICTORIA, British Columbia—Princess Charlotte has proved to be quite a character following her debut play date in Canada. The pint-size royal had everyone at a children’s party in stitches when she sat on a rescue dog called Moose and made a dash for a display of balloons.
Prince George—perhaps more sensibly—chose to ride a small pony during the fun-filled children’s party, which was laid on for the royal children this morning in the grounds of Government House in Victoria where the family have been staying during their tour.
The hour-long play date was a chance for the Prince and Princess to meet 24 other children who were all under the age of five and had been invited to the party because they come from military families where one parent is deployed on duty.
Government aides at the official residence had gone above and beyond to make it a memorable occasion, bringing in a petting zoo with a Nubian goat, a sheep, and two ponies called Honey and TC.
While George was taken with a fish-shaped bubble machine, which he squirted at his little sister, Princess Charlotte made a beeline for an archway of balloons that led to the petting zoo. Charlotte, who started walking in May just before her first birthday, was sturdy on her feet and so strong she almost caused the archway of balloons to topple over. “Pop,” she said, uttering her very first word on camera to her doting dad William.
VIDEO: Princess Charlotte and Prince George’s Canadian Play Date
The Duchess, who was dressed in an elegant cream Chloé dress—a brave choice for a children’s party!—arrived holding Charlotte, adorable in a blue dress and cardigan, while William held George’s hand. The little prince was in his trademark shorts, shirt, and jumper combination and looked adorable.
As soon Charlotte was on the ground, the 16-month-old was off to explore the party, indicating that she shares her older brother’s adventurous streak. Meanwhile it took George a few minutes to settle in, but once he had, he headed for the two miniature ponies who had been brought in to Government House’s manicured gardens for the morning.
The children and their parents enjoyed refreshments served in crown-themed paper cups, and later on a puppet show. There was also a children’s entertainer Paul Kilshaw, 53, from Victoria, who made George and Charlotte balloon animals. George asked him for a spider and a volcano. Mr. Kilshaw said, “It was totally over the top. I made a teddy bear and a flower for Charlotte and made George a tree and a volcano. When I made him the spider, he started to laugh and pushed it in my face then pushed it in dad’s face.”
William said, “We try making balloons at home, but it doesn’t work.” At first George wasn’t interested in getting one until Charlotte was getting one, then he was right over. He wanted what she had. George especially asked for a volcano, and he was very proud to tell me all about volcanos.
“When I started with the orange flames he was pleased to tell me, ‘And that’s lava,’” Kilshaw said. “Charlotte asked for a flower, I think she said ‘flower’ because the other little girls were asking for flowers.”
The children’s party is the highlight of the tour and is the first time the Cambridges have allowed the cameras to film their little ones at play. Palace aides say they will spend the rest of the day ‘privately.’
