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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Zoe Forsey

Kate Middleton's comforting whisper to Charlotte at memorial and George's instructions

Prince George and Princess Charlotte were some of the youngest guests at Prince Philip's memorial service, reflecting on the life of their great-grandfather.

They walked into Westminster Abbey with their parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge before taking their seats in the row behind the Queen and Prince Charles.

The eight-year-old future king and his six-year-old sister looked slightly nervous when they got out of the car and walked towards the building, however some reassuring words from mum Kate saw Charlotte start smiling.

According to lip reader Jacqui Press, Kate whispered to a very serious and nervous looking Charlotte, "you can smile", reports MailOnline.

George and Charlotte arrived hand in hand with their parents (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
Kate held Charlotte's hand as the family made their way into the memorial service (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

The princess, who was holding her mum's hand, then breaks into a big smile.

Meanwhile Prince William held George's hand and gave him some instructions, saying: "Let's go in". He then guides his son towards the dignitaries and introduces them.

The youngsters shook hands with the clergy who bent down to speak to them, with Charlotte giving a large grin.

George matched his dad in a dark blue suit and a spotted tie, while Charlotte looked smart in a navy coat with a blue ribbon in her hair.

George – who will one day be monarch – and Charlotte’s appearance marks a key moment in their public lives, being the first major televised church service they have attended.

Charlotte smiled as she was introduced to the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (PA)
Prince George shares a joke with the Archbishop of Canterbury (pixel8000)

In line with the order of seniority, the Cambridge family left the abbey after the Queen, Prince Charles and Camilla but before the rest of the royal family.

As Charlotte walked past her second cousin Mia, the daughter of Zara and Mike Tindall, the little girls shared an excited wave.

George and Charlotte have appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour and joined their parents on official tours when younger, but this is the first time they have taken part in an event on this scale.

Westminster Abbey is a focal point for royal celebrations, coronations, commemorations and funerals, and is likely to serve as such for the siblings in the future.

They looked shy as they walked inside (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
The Cambridges sat in the second row, behind the Queen and Prince Philip (PA)

The gothic church in central London is where their parents married, and where William said his final farewell to his mother – who George and Charlotte refer to as “Granny Diana” – when he was 15.

Also at the memorial were Peter Phillips’ children, Savannah, 11, and eight-year-old Isla, who were sitting next to their cousin Mia.

The girls were dressed in navy with their hair fixed back with headbands.

The Queen and Philip had a large brood of great-grandchildren, but a number are still babies.

The couple’s 12 great-grandchildren are Savannah, Isla, George, Mia, Charlotte, Prince Louis, Lena Tindall, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, August Brooksbank, Lucas Tindall, Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, and Sienna Mapelli Mozzi.

August and Lucas both have Philip as a middle name in honour of their great-grandfather.

Lili and Sienna were born in the months following Philip’s death.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have remained in the US, where they live with two-year-old Archie and nine-month-old Lili, rather than travelling back for the service.

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