Prince Louis may only be seven years old, but he has already been considered for his very first royal patronage. However, his parents, Prince William and Kate Middleton, turned down the offer in a lighthearted and humorous manner.
A Young Royal Growing Up
Fourth in line to the throne, Prince Louis has been growing up in the public eye much like his siblings. He was last seen in late August attending a church service in Crathie, Scotland, near Balmoral. Now, he has returned to his routine at Lambrook School in Berkshire, not far from the family’s Windsor residence. The family is also preparing to move to a new home nearby.
Although Louis, alongside Princess Charlotte and Prince George, has accompanied his parents at select royal events, he has not yet undertaken any official duties. Certain activities, such as the Wimbledon tennis tournament earlier this year, were still thought to be too much for the young prince.
Louis’s Love for Conkers Sparks a Royal Offer
Despite his age, Louis’s enthusiasm for a traditional British pastime has already attracted attention. During a visit with U.S. First Lady Melania Trump in Windsor last month, Kate revealed that Louis had developed an intense interest in collecting conkers — the seeds of horse chestnut trees, used in a classic children’s game.
“We keep finding conkers in cupboards, in his bed – conkers everywhere,” Kate shared, explaining that Louis even loads them into his toy trucks and plays with them.
The Guardian described conkers as “nature’s Labubu,” showing how beloved they remain among children and adults alike. Recently, King Charles reportedly donated 300 conkers from Windsor Castle and was playfully called the “savior” of the World Conker Championship.
An Honor Declined with Humor
Impressed by Louis’s passion, organizers of the World Conker Championships reached out to offer him the honorary role of patron. However, according to The Telegraph, Kensington Palace responded on behalf of Prince William and Kate, politely turning down the proposal.
“We really appreciate the invite, but currently Prince Louis is ‘conker-trating’ on his studies,” the palace said in a witty statement, making it clear that Louis’s focus remains on school rather than royal duties.
Whether Prince Louis’s fascination with conkers is just a childhood phase or the beginning of a future World Championship bid remains to be seen. For now, his parents prefer that he concentrates on being a regular schoolboy — even if his conker collection continues to grow.