The Prince and Princess of Wales led the nation in a day of volunteering today – with five-year-old Louis operating a digger with his father while his older brother and sister looked on with a touch of nervousness.
The young prince missed the coronation concert last night because his bedtime was over, but he got down to business and operated a mini-JCB while they spruced up a scout hut in Slough.
And it didn’t end there, Kate was seen pushing a wheelbarrow while her youngest son shoveled sand. He then took control and steered it expertly while his mother supported his weight.
Louis also devoted himself to painting and wolfing down marshmallows after work while his father was heard declaring, “You made his day” while munching on a burger.
Charlotte ran away ecstatic to prepare a new path, while George, himself a future king, was observed learning to use a drill. All three young Welsh boys also had a crack at archery, but while George got control of the digger, Charlotte seems to have turned it down.
The young prince missed the coronation concert last night because his bedtime was over, but he got down to business, operating a mini-JCB on his father’s lap.
Louis and William helped create a new path and beds for a scout hut in Slough
Charlotte and George watched their little brother and father dig, with George apparently biting his nails
Princess Charlotte skillfully fires an arrow at the target
Louis devoured a marshmallow and dropped his stick into the fire
Less than a minute later he was eating a burger. William explained: ‘You made his day’
George was also allowed to try and helped his father with the controls
And it was a thumbs up from Kate, who had her little helper Louis with her and held his hand tight
Prince Louis takes control of a wheelbarrow while helping his mother, Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales, attend the Big Help Out in Slough. Louis also helped fill the cart
Prince George, a future king, used a drill
Princess Charlotte paints a new door
The Big Help Out is known to be a project close to the heart of the Princess of Wales
Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte try their hand at archery while participating in the Big Help Out
Louis and his hand covered in paint, ready to hang on the wall
Prince William, Prince of Wales uses his hand to paint a wall decoration for a mural
The couple and their three children were on the road again to celebrate the third day of the king’s coronation and the service life of Charles III. to celebrate.
The Princess of Wales has been joint President of the Scouts since 2020 and the Royals joined volunteers who reset a path, dug a new septic tank, sanded and repainted the front door, fitted planters to the front of the building and put up a mural to Make a lasting impact Legacy of Big Help Out’s work.
William and Kate, dressed casually, wore 3rd Upton Scout Group scarves as they mingled with scouts and guides attending The Big Help event – one of thousands across the country to mark the end of the coronation to mark.
Louis, accompanied by his older brother George, nine, and sister Charlotte, seven, all tried their hand at archery.
Each fired an arrow with a rubber suction cup at a target.
Volunteer Beatriz Andrade said the younger members of the royal family all hit the target.
William and Kate also took part in the mini archery competition.
“They were very good and seemed to be having a lot of fun,” she said.
The three young royals enjoyed roasting marshmallows over an open fire while William and Kate chatted with scouts from several troops in the Slough area.
Daniel Madigan, of the 1st Chippenham Scout Troop, said George, Louis and Charlotte took part in all the outdoor activities that had been planned.
“I saw them roast some marshmallows. They seemed to enjoy it,’ he said.
“Louis also helped move the sand into a wheelbarrow.”
Prince George shoots an arrow, watched by his proud mother
Louis also used a spade to move sand with his mother
Kate was seen speaking to one person in the crowd and saying Charlotte was in 3rd grade at school
William thanks and says goodbye to the volunteers
He said the Big Help Out event should make improvements to the Boy Scout Hut, including building a ramp at the back of the Boy Scout Hut to make it more accessible.
As the Princess of Wales left, she stopped to speak to local resident Donna Robinson, who was standing at a barricade with her seven-year-old daughter Ciara.
The princess, dressed casually in a blue top and dark pants, held Louis’ hand as she stopped to say hello and Donna asked how old her daughter was.
Donna said, “She asked what year Ciara was and was beautiful.”
William and Kate attended in support of the Big Help Out alongside other senior royals including the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Lawrence, attend a civic service recognizing local volunteers at Gloucester Cathedral, followed by a special reception for invited volunteers and charity representatives from across Gloucestershire.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, as Patron of Guide Dogs, attends a puppy training course with her husband, Prince Edward, at the Guide Dogs Training Center in Reading.
There are over 8 million ways to get involved today, with more than 52,000 events across the country.
The 3rd Upton Scouts Hut was built in 1982 and is used by a variety of community groups in the area including the local mosque, a seniors contact group for members of the Asian community and the Scout group itself.
The building is also used by Slough All Nations, a group with a heritage spanning across St Kitts and Nevis that offers recreational and leisure activities to improve health and well-being and promote community cohesion.
Among other planned events, the Royal Parks are hosting a drop-in session in Green Park in central London, near Buckingham Palace, where volunteers can plant wildflowers in the same spot where the public laid flower tributes to the late Queen.
The Duke of Gloucester, the late Queen’s first cousin, and his wife Birgitte meet young volunteers at a coronation ceremony at St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Kensington, west London.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is helping out at a lunch club, Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer is set to answer the phones with the NHS Volunteer Responders scheme, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford is volunteering at a local charity shop and Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf is doing it Volunteer at a local community pantry.
Mr Sunak said: “The Big Help Out is not only an opportunity for everyone to come together to celebrate His Majesty’s coronation, it is also a reminder of how each and every one of us can help make a difference for the better.
“It’s that community spirit that binds us together and makes us stronger as a country, and I hope that as part of the legacy of this historic moment of national unity, I hope that for years to come people will be inspired to volunteer, help and make a difference.” to others around them.’
Chief scout and adventurer Bear Grylls stars in a big taster session for would-be recruits at Wembley, north-west London.
Would-be volunteers can try out scouting activities like rock climbing, archery, marshmallow toasting, and skydiving.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh arrives to attend a puppy course at the Guide Dog Association training centre
Princess Anne laughs as she arrives for a festival service to mark the coronation of King Charles III at Gloucester Cathedral on The Big Help Out Day.
Large crowds were in the Cathedral to see the arrival of the Princess Royal
Volunteers plant native wild plants in Green Park next to Buckingham Palace to promote The Big Help Out
The senior royals, celebrities and political leaders will join the estimated 6 million Brits who intend to get involved in the Big Help Out, according to a recent poll.
Organized by the Together Coalition and other organizations including faith groups, the Scouts and the Royal Voluntary Service, Big Help Out aims to pay tribute to King Charles’ decades of public service and to create a lasting legacy of volunteering since a Briton was first crowned create Monarch in 70 years.
More than 33,000 organizations have signed up to take part in the initiative, with volunteering opportunities available through the launch of a new app.
Supporters of the program include some of the country’s best-known charities, including the NSPCC, RSPCA, National Trust, RNLI and the British Red Cross.
And more than 1,000 companies have signed up to the program including BT, British Airways, John Lewis, McVities, PWC and NextDoor, among others.
Is there a Big Help Out near me? How to volunteer for King Charles’ coronation project
The coronation and its concert proved a resounding success in getting the country to come together and celebrate.
And it’s still not over, because today King Charles III. and Queen Camilla encouraged people to band together in communities and volunteer as part of the Big Help Out initiative.
The program, which aims to inspire a new generation of volunteers by giving people a taste of what they can achieve, has been endorsed by celebrities across the country.
She is attending today’s holiday as part of the official coronation celebrations.
Here’s FEMAIL telling you how to roll up your sleeves and get help…
King Charles III and Queen Camilla are encouraging people to come together in communities and get involved as part of the Big Help Out initiative
IS THERE A GREAT HELP NEAR ME?
To see if a project near you offers volunteering, simply use the Big Help Out app to search by zip code, activity type, and the organization you’d like to work with.
It is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
More than 1,500 charities have signed up. The Big Help Out was organized by The Together Coalition and leading charities.
In Somerset, people can take a taster session at their local Age UK charity shop.
And in Shropshire, the Ramblers are urging people to walk local trails and record any problems.
Scout groups let people try out activities their volunteers do regularly, like rock climbing, archery, or campfire cooking.
Loved Island’s Faye Winter, 27, helps the charity The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and has praised the initiative.
“It’s a fantastic cause and I would recommend anyone who can donate some of their time to volunteer,” said the reality star.
The Venerable Ajahn Amaro, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Julie Siddiqi served food as they joined other faith leaders at a Big Help Out event last month
WHAT CHARITIES CAN I VOLUNTEER WITH?
There are thousands of charities that have signed up for The Big Help Out, including major organizations such as The National Trust, RSPCA, British Red Cross and Citizens Advice.
Other good causes include St. John Ambulance, Samaritans, NSPCC.
There are endless possibilities, which inevitably lend themselves to the purposes you are passionate about.
CAN I ORGANIZE A VOLUNTEER EVENT?
You can organize a volunteer event by going to The Big Help Out website.
“The more people organize an event, the bigger the Big Help Out will be,” it says.
“Thousands of organisations, from the smallest local community groups to some of the UK’s biggest names, are doing just that.”
Everything you need to know to organize an event can be found in the app or on the event’s website.
“And don’t forget to spread the word in your communities and on social media by using or customizing the helpful designs in our toolkit,” it added.
WILL ANY OF THE ROYALS VOLUNTEER?
The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to spend the Coronation Day volunteering with some of Britain’s biggest charities.
The senior royals are likely to attend the event – a nationwide Day of Service aimed at both creating a tangible tribute to the King’s history in public service and reflecting his hope of creating an enduring legacy from the first coronation of a British monarch to create for 70 years.
William and Kate believe the charitable giving day is a “fantastic” idea, royal insiders have told The Telegraph.
The Big Help Out is organized by several prominent public figures including Brendan Cox, widow of murdered Labor MP Jo Cox.
Julie Siddiqi, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby help sort clothes while attending a Big Help Out event with other faith leaders in April
Launching the initiative, Chief Scout Bear Grylls said: “Volunteering has always been a big part of what makes this country great – from families caring for evacuees during World War II to neighbors looking after one another during the pandemic took care of
“But we don’t only get involved in times of crisis. Volunteering is what drives our communities, from Boy Scout leaders to soccer coaches, from collecting groceries for an elderly neighbor to helping out at the school festival.
“The Big Help Out will be a day dedicated to volunteering and providing easy ways for people to get involved.”
He added: “We are delighted to be a key part of Coronation Weekend, particularly given The King and Queen Consort’s long history of supporting volunteers.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to spend the Coronation Day volunteering with some of Britain’s biggest charities. The pair were pictured during a walking tour on Sunday
Organizers are hoping for an “unprecedented” response from the community. Catherine Johnstone, head of the Royal Voluntary Service, described it as a “wonderful opportunity” for people to come together.
Mr Cox, co-founder of the Together Coalition, said: “How we mark the coronation will reflect the kind of country we are. We hope that an opportunity to volunteer will leave a long lasting legacy in communities across the country.’
Stuart Andrew, Secretary of State for Civil Society, said: “The Big Help Out is a fitting tribute to the King’s life in public service and the Queen’s longstanding support for volunteerism.
It will allow individuals to see the broader benefits that volunteering can bring to their own well-being and to efforts to combat loneliness.’
Find out more on the initiative’s website www.thebighelpout.org.uk