Imagine the Princess of Wales, not in her tiara, but covered in apple juice and giggling with her kids! It turns out, even royalty gets down and dirty with some good old-fashioned family fun. Princess Kate recently revealed the surprisingly "messy" activity she enjoys with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis at their home.
During a visit to Northern Ireland, specifically Long Meadow Farm in Armagh (known as Ireland's Orchard County – a beautiful area where the McKeever family has been crafting cider, apple juice, and cider vinegar since 1968!), Kate and Prince William were shown an apple pressing machine. That's when Kate confessed they'd tried something similar at home. "We tried this at home with a hand press," she said. "It was quite good fun with the children. It was very messy." This paints a wonderful picture of the royal family embracing the simple joys, even if it means a sticky situation!
But the apple pressing isn’t the only glimpse we’ve gotten into Prince Louis's current fascinations. And this is the part most people miss: it's not just about the mess, it's about the curiosity and exploration that Kate fosters in her children. Remember that state visit back in September? While accompanying the First Lady of the United States at Frogmore Gardens, Kate chatted with Chief Scout Dwayne Fields about her youngest son.
Apparently, Prince Louis is currently obsessed with collecting conkers – those shiny, brown seeds from horse chestnut trees. "We keep finding conkers in cupboards, in his bed – conkers everywhere!" Kate shared, smiling. She even added that the young prince puts them in his toy trucks and plays with them. It’s a sweet, relatable image, isn’t it? It shows that despite their royal status, the Wales children are just like any other kids, fascinated by the natural world around them.
Beyond the orchards and conkers, Kate and William's visit to Northern Ireland included a stop at a cutting-edge firefighter training facility near Cookstown. And here's where it gets controversial... Kate, known for her poise and grace, apparently has a bit of a daredevil side! During the visit, she joked about wanting to drive the fire engine at full speed, "with the sirens on!" Newly qualified firefighter Caoimhe McNeice, who joined the royal couple for a ride, confirmed that Kate "was wanting the sirens on" during the short drive across the training site. However, the driver had been "strictly told no."
"The Princess was saying, 'I'd love to drive at the real speed and have the sirens on,' but they were getting to the water rescue [area], it was just a bit of banter," Caoimhe explained. This playful exchange highlights a more relaxed and humorous side of the Princess. It also sparks an interesting question: Should members of the royal family be allowed to express such playful, potentially perceived-as-risky desires, or should they always maintain a more serious demeanor in public? What do you think?
The royal couple's visit to the £50 million Learning and Development College, which opened in May, was a significant event for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. They were given a tour by Chief Fire & Rescue Officer Aidan Jennings, and witnessed training drills in a replica village. It's a great example of how the royal family supports important community services. But let's get back to the fun stuff. Is Princess Kate's 'messy' activity with her children a sign of a modern, relatable monarchy? Or is it simply a glimpse into the everyday life of a busy mom? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
