Prince William and Kate take children to the panto! Best photos from their festive outing


The Cambridges enjoyed a special day out


cambridges panto© Photo: PA
Emily Nash
Emily NashRoyal EditorLondon
Updated: December 11, 2020
Prince William and Kate Middleton walk with their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, on a red carpet.© Photo: PA

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis enjoyed an early Christmas treat on Friday as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took them to a pantomime. William in a Marks and Spencer jumperand Kate, in an Alessandra Rich dress, arrived hand in hand with their children to watch Pantoland at the London Palladium, joining a special performance hosted by The National Lottery for key workers and their families.

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George, seven, looked all grown up in a red and navy striped sweater, while Charlotte, five, wore a sweet tartan dress and black tights, but appeared reluctant to hold her father's hand. Louis, now two-and-a-half, wore a smart navy coat as the family arrived at the West End theatre for their first red carpet engagement as a family of five. 

WATCH: The Cambridges enjoy a day out at the panto

Prince George and his sister walk on a red carpet with their parents.© Photo: PA

How adorable do Louis, Charlotte and George look?

Keep clicking for more photos!

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Young boy in blue jacket and black pants on red carpet with adults.© Photo: PA

Little Louis is now two and a half years old.

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Kate Middleton, wearing a black dress, holds hands with two children on a red carpet.© Photo: PA

Kate looked stunning in an Alessandra Rich dress.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton hold hands with their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, walking on a red carpet at an event.© Photo: PA

The Cambridges stopped to look at performers dressed as elves, including one juggling artificial snowballs, as they made their way to the entrance, where they were greeted by Sir Ken Olisa, Lord Lieutenant of Greater London.

Prince William and Kate Middleton, both wearing masks, greet a family at a holiday event.© Photo: PA

The couple spoke to Dom Warren and family. Dom is the founder of Doms Food Mission.

Prince George and his siblings sit in a dimly lit room, watching something intently.© Photo: PA

Inside, the royal children sat in the Royal Box for the first time and watched as Prince William made a speech on the stage below. But it looks like little Charlotte was having a moment at one point.

A woman with a face mask holds a child close, while another child stands nearby in a dimly lit room.© Photo: PA

Poor Charlotte leant into her mum Kate before the performance began.

A woman with a patterned face mask holds a child in a red shirt, both looking ahead.© Photo: PA

Louis, who sat on Kate's lap, seemed more interested in a glitter ball hanging over the auditorium, pointing up at it and talking to his mother, while also sucking his thumb. 

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, stands at a podium with a microphone, wearing a dark suit and red shirt.© Photo: PA

On stage, the Duke paid tribute to those in the audience and also to Dame Barbara Windsor, whose death aged 83 was announced earlier in the day.

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He said: "Before I go on, I want to pause and pay tribute to a true national treasure, Dame Barbara Windsor, who so sadly passed away last night. "She was a giant of the entertainment world, and of course a legend on pantomime stages across the country including here at the London Palladium. And I know we'll all miss her hugely."

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, stands at a podium with a microphone, smiling.© Photo: PA

He told the audience: "We are here tonight for a very special performance. Special, because of you – the key workers here in the audience. "You include community workers, volunteers, teachers, NHS staff, representatives from the emergency services and military, researchers working on the vaccine, people helping the homeless, those manning vital call centres, and staff from a wide range of frontline charities – to name but a few.

"You have given your absolute all this year, and made remarkable sacrifices. So too have your families, who I'm sure have seen far less of you than they would have liked. It's lovely that you are all here together tonight.

"You are representative of the huge number of people across the UK who have stepped forward to make a difference this year in so many crucial ways. The country owes you a huge debt of gratitude. "

Two children sit on a red couch, one in a plaid dress, the other in a striped shirt, laughing.© Photo: PA

Charlotte and George were also pictured chatting and whispering in the Royal Box.

A woman with a face mask reads a book to two children in a dimly lit theater.© Photo: PA

Something definitely caught the Princess' eye!

A woman with long hair and a face mask sits with two children, watching a show.© Photo: PA

Charlotte appeared engrossed by her dad's speech.

Prince George of Cambridge, wearing a red sweater, stands with family in a dimly lit setting.© Photo: PA

It was the first time we have seen the Cambridge children together since September, when they were photographed meeting Sir David Attenborough at Kensington Palace.

George, Charlotte and Louis have previously appeared together on the Buckingham Palace balcony after Trooping the Colour and at the King Power Royal Charity Polo Day. They also visited Kate's RHS Back to Nature Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in May 2019.

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