Prince Louis has attended his first major sporting event, joining the Prince and Princess of Wales and his siblings at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games this afternoon. The family of five watched the netball semi-final between Australia and Jamaica from a packed stadium, with the children seated between their parents.
Kensington Palace announced that the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, as the couple are known in Scotland, would attend the penultimate day of the 'friendly games'. The appearances of Prince George, 13, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight, were kept under wraps until the family arrived, marking the first time the children have been publicly seen in Scotland.
A first major sporting occasion for Louis
Louis is known for his playful antics and unfiltered facial expressions, and he regularly joins set-piece royal events such as the Christmas and Easter church services and Trooping the Colour. Until now, he had attended only one public engagement, the Big Help Out volunteering initiative in May 2023 during the King's Coronation celebrations.
Today's visit also marks the first time Louis has attended a major sporting fixture. His older siblings frequently accompany their parents to football and tennis matches, including the Euros and Wimbledon, but Louis had yet to do so. He looked delighted as he took his seat inside the 5,000-seat Hydro for the second semi-final of the Women's Netball.
Netball semi-final and Team Wales
The family were warmly welcomed inside the arena for the match between the world's No 1 ranked team, Australia, and Birmingham 2022 silver medallists Jamaica.
Later on Saturday, William and Catherine are set to spend time with Team Wales athletes and their families. Before the Games began, the future King spoke to five Team Wales competitors - lawn and indoor bowler Ross Owen, blind para bowler Julie Thomas and her guide John Wilson, and weightlifters Madaline Connelly and Catrin Haf Jones - during a visit to the London Welsh School in Hanwell, west London.
SportsAid and the friendly games
The royal couple will also meet athletes whose careers have been supported by SportsAid, which Catherine has supported as patron since 2013, and emerging talent taking part in the Team England Futures project. Sporting stars whose early promise was boosted by SportsAid include Sir Chris Hoy, Ellie Simmonds, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill and Tom Daley.
The Commonwealth Games, affectionately known as the 'friendly games', started on July 23 with an opening ceremony that saw the King and Queen emerge from Doctor Who's Tardis. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal have attended several days of the sporting action across the nine-day event.
William and Catherine last visited the Games when Glasgow hosted them in 2014, accompanied by the Prince's younger brother, Prince Harry.
