When one of the most anticipated new TV series is filming in your backyard, being the future Queen comes with its perks – like taking your kids for a VIP visit.
The HBO Harry Potter series is currently filming in Windsor Great Park, and Princess Kate seized the opportunity to earn some major parenting points by arranging a set visit for her three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven.
The Princess of Wales was even reported to have been invited back on Friday evening with the youngsters to watch the cast film scenes for the new show, based on JK Rowling’s books. However, Kate wasn’t the only Royal who visited the set – the disgraced Duke of York also reportedly made an appearance last week, narrowly missing the Wales family. The news follows as Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson ‘unwelcome at King Charles’ most important’ celebration
Earlier in the week, both William and Kate reportedly accompanied their children to the set, where they explored the replicas of the Scottish highlands built in the park for the show.
On Friday evening, however, it’s said that Kate flew solo with the kids, who had the chance to meet the young stars of the show. Prince Louis even got to take a quick ride on the Hogwarts Express, which has been constructed on a half-mile track just behind their home.
“It was so special, Kate and the children met the young actors and the director on the set. There was only one night of filming there so it really was a magical ticket,” an insider told the Daily Mail.
“And as for Louis, he got the chance to ride on the train with the driver. He seemed to absolutely love it. It’s the dream for most children to step aboard the Hogwarts Express.”
Nevertheless, crew members were reportedly stunned when Andrew arrived at the location with his grandchildren, while controversy swirls around an email his former wife Sarah Ferguson sent to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, describing him as a “supreme friend” – with Andrew’s name also surfacing in the recently released Epstein documents.
The filming location sits directly adjacent to Andrew’s residence, Royal Lodge, and a source revealed, “It was all a bit strange that he turned up, but it was lovely to see the children having a great time. They were busy looking at the Hogwarts Express and it genuinely seemed like a magical time for them.”
Andrew and Kate did not attend simultaneously. This development follows reports that William plans to “freeze out” his scandal-ridden uncle, while King Charles will exclude the Duke and Duchess of York from Christmas celebrations.
The Royal Family has maintained a longstanding appreciation for the enchanting book series, with Queen Camilla revealing that Charles regularly reads the stories aloud to her grandchildren. “Sometimes, when we are with my husband in Scotland, he reads them Harry Potter,” Camilla shared back in 2017.
“And he does all the voices, because he is a brilliant mimic. I’m not very good. I try to do the voices, but acting isn’t my forte. But he sits down and they all sit with him.”