London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Prince Louis drives a digger as he joins volunteering efforts

Prince Louis drives a digger as he joins volunteering efforts

Prince Louis has been driving a digger as part of volunteering efforts on the final day of Coronation celebrations.

The five-year-old, along with brother Prince George and sister Princess Charlotte, helped Scouts in Slough, while the prime minister made food in a village hall.

People across the UK are being urged to get involved in local projects such as beach cleaning and flower planting.

It is part of a drive to encourage a post-pandemic return to volunteering.

Tens of thousands of charities have been taking part in the Big Help Out, with a total of 30,000 organisations putting on 55,000 events across the UK.

Prince George also joined his father Prince William in the digger


Joining events on Monday, Prince George and Princess Charlotte worked to improve the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, while Prince Louis gave his father Prince William a helping hand driving a digger.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh also took part in a puppy class at the Guide Dogs training centre in Reading, while Princess Anne and her husband Sir Tim Laurence were attending a civic service recognising local volunteers at Gloucester Cathedral.

Elsewhere, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak prepared food for the elderly at a Hertfordshire village hall, alongside his wife, Akshata Murthy.

Commenting on the weekend's Coronation events, the prime minister said "no other country in the world" could have put on such a "dazzling spectacle".

The PM helped out at a community lunch at Mill End Community Centre, Rickmansworth


Sunday saw street parties and the Coronation concert at Windsor Castle.

The King and Queen - who were not due to join Monday's events - enjoyed performances by stars including Take That and Katy Perry at the concert, with other senior royals and thousands of spectators.

It came after King Charles III was crowned alongside Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, in a service watched by millions of people around the world.

But after the pomp and ceremony of the weekend, Monday has seen a shift of focus to local projects making a difference, and volunteers giving something back.

The Royal Family have taken part in a Big Help Out, hosted by Scouts in Slough

Krishan Kant Attri, Julie Siddiqi, Venerable Ajahn Amaro and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby prepare food as they join other faith leaders in taking part in the Big Help Out


The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby was spotted helping other faith leaders to prepare and serve meals to the homeless at the Passage in Westminster, central London.

An app and website were set up to allow people to search for volunteering opportunities, which range from helping the elderly to working with environmental charities and supporting animal welfare.

Matt Hyde, co-founder of the Big Help Out and CEO of the Scouts, said it was "not too late" for people to sign up for activities in their area.

He told BBC Breakfast: "The whole theme of this weekend has been about service. We're not just spectators in that, we're part of the story."

The Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children posed with volunteers for pictures


Brendan Cox, the co-founder of the Together Coalition who is also behind the event, said organisations like his "desperately need" volunteers.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Over the Covid pandemic, volunteering rates dropped because organisations that normally recruit weren't recruiting, and people got out of the habit."

And 15-year-old Jay Dzuira - one of the Scouts who has organised an activities session for young people in Brent, west London - said he would "recommend volunteering to anyone".

"Being a Scout really helped me with my socialising skills. Before I didn't socialise a lot. Now I'm a youth leader and it is a really enjoyable experience."

In Brockham, Surrey, people have spent several months making a crown entirely of recycled materials, which will act as a focal point for a Coronation party this afternoon, the culmination of four days of events.

"I think it's important to keep history alive and to mark these events when they happen," David Challenger from the parish council told the BBC. "It's about bringing the community together, and we've found it's something people really embrace."

In Wales, international rugby players Leigh Halfpenny and Jamie Roberts joined a litter pick in Newport.

"I think the Coronation's a big event for the British public and it's a time when we should come together, and something like this is a way of doing it," said Roberts.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie posed for a selfie with a well-wisher while attending a street party on Sunday


A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the King was "wholly supportive of the Big Help Out initiatives".

Queen Camilla is patron of the Royal Voluntary Service charity and has also been patron of the Big Lunch initiative since 2013.

The royals have been out in force over the weekend as they joined various Coronation events around the country.

Before Sunday's concert, Edward and Sophie attended a Coronation Big Lunch in Cranleigh, Surrey, while the Princess Royal and Sir Tim Laurence went to a community street party in Swindon.

The Duke of York's daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie also attended a big lunch in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×