Prince Louis is eight years old, attended his first major international sporting event on Monday at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, and when twin gymnasts Abigail and Emily Roper asked him if he could do a handstand, he replied “Charlotte says I’m not very good!” which is either the most honest thing said at the Commonwealth Games this year or the most diplomatically devastating, depending on whether you are Louis or Charlotte.
The Wales family of five attended the ninth day of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on Monday, taking in the women’s netball semi-final between Australia and Jamaica and cycle racing at the velodrome, per GB News’s confirmed reporting. The occasion marked Louis’s first public appearance at a major international sporting fixture, his older siblings having previously attended Wimbledon, the Euros, and various football matches while Louis’s public schedule has been more limited to traditional royal gatherings and school nativity plays. He was at the Commonwealth Games. He met the gymnasts. He reported Charlotte’s assessment of his handstand.
George, 13, who starts at Eton College in September and is third in line to the throne, was equally forthcoming when the gymnasts posed the same question to him. “I’m rubbish at anything that involves flexibility,” the future King admitted, producing laughter from both Kate and the athletes. This is the kind of statement that the future King is expected to grow out of making publicly, but has not yet had to, because he is 13. Charlotte, who did not characterize herself as rubbish at anything, told the Roper twins that floor is her favourite element of gymnastics. Kate added: “Charlotte likes her dancing.” William summarized: “She loves gymnastics and ballet.”
The twins, clearly delighted by Charlotte’s enthusiasm, gave her a signed Team Wales leotard. Louis left with a public assessment of his handstand ability from his sister. George left having admitted to future subjects that he is rubbish at flexibility.
The monarchy attended the Commonwealth Games. Charlotte got a leotard. Louis’s handstands remain unverified.
When the future King says he’s rubbish at flexibility and his younger brother reports his sister’s criticism of his handstands, what exactly is the royal dignity for?
Sources
GB News: Prince Louis leaves athletes in stitches after blunt admission
GB News: Catherine debuts designer look for Commonwealth Games outing with George, Charlotte and Louis
