Over the past weekend, the world watched as the Royal Family and the Commonwealth of Nations celebrated the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
The events, which took place over 4 days, honored the Queen for her long-standing devotion and lifetime of service over the past 70 years of her reign on the throne.
And while the queen may have been the guest of honor, it’s her four-year-old great-grandson Prince Louis who really reigned supreme.
In just a few well-timed snapshots, the pint-sized prince proved that this is Louis’ world and we’re all just living in it – including the Queen herself.
The very essence of Prince Louis of Cambridge – captured by @ianvogler ? #PlatinumJubileePageant #ThankYouDay pic.twitter.com/LuHBkRSaPl
— Derek Momodu (@DelMody) June 5, 2022
While the little prince only made two appearances, once on the balcony during the Trooping of Color Parade on Friday and then again at the Platinum Jubilee Pageant on Sunday, it’s safe to say he made the most of the time he was given.
The press had a field day taking pictures and videos of Louis in all of his four-year-old glory.
With his hilarious facial expressions and cheeky reactions he captivated the world – and Twitter – with his show-stealing shenanigans.
Prince Louis is my spirit animal… ?? pic.twitter.com/G6SFSp6aIH
— Ranj Singh (@DrRanj) June 8, 2022
Of course, as with everything in this world, some people just couldn’t help but take issue with the prince’s behavior and Kate’s parenting.
Oh to be such a perfect parent ***insert eyeroll here***
Nah. My daughter sat her ass down at 4 and compirted herself. Because I'm not the one or the two. She has no control of those kids. Nanny raising that child.
— Carmen's Granddaughter (@CarmenGranddau1) June 5, 2022
You guys, her 4-year-old “compirted herself.”
Wow.Obviously she’s not heavily involved in parenting of that child. One word or look from my mother would’ve been enough to stop whatever I was doing and contemplate the punishment I was going to get when we got home. My guess is if the nanny was there he wouldn’t have done that
— MPathK8??? (@ProudLiberal_60) June 6, 2022
Just because she has a nanny, it doesn’t mean she’s not parenting her kids.
And then there was this commenter, the matriarch of the third generation of perfect 4-year-olds. You might want to clutch those pearls a little tighter.
So many people are saying "he's 4"…I know I didn't act like that at 4, my kids didn't act like that at 4, none of my grandchildren acted like that at 4…wth am I missing?
— bethanyR (@bethany39977644) June 5, 2022
You’re not missing anything. HE’S FOUR. And while you may have been perfect, and your children may have been perfect, and your grandchildren may have been perfect (although extremely doubtful), Prince Louis is a TYPICAL four-year-old.
He is not wild, or feral, or a spoiled brat.
He’s FOUR.
Was he bored? Probably. Tired? Probably. Hungry? Probably. What we do know for certain is that he’s four. With his threenager self barely in the rearview mirror.
Prince Louis isn’t badly behaved, he’s four. If my kid had had to sit through hours of that shit, without access to his tablet, he’d have burned that place to the fucking ground.
— Man vs Baby (@mattcoyney) June 6, 2022
Look, anyone who has ever had a four-year-old knows; they’re not robots. They have a will of their own. And they have zero qualms in exerting it.
They don’t give a shit whether you’re here for it or not.
Sure, four-year-olds are awesome. They’re hilarious, and adorable, and give the best cuddles.
This photo of Catherine and Prince Louis says it all?
A loving mum navigating parenting 3 children with the eyes of the world on her and criticism at every turn. She deserves better.#PlatinumJubilee #PrinceLouis pic.twitter.com/EtJltLk2pb
— Belle (@RoyallyBelle_) June 6, 2022
But they are also neck-deep in the throes of the f*cking fours.
You have no idea what they’re going to say or do next. Are they going to charm everyone in the grocery store or turn into a writhing pile of goo in aisle 9 because they can’t have the Cocoa Puffs?
Are they going to sit quietly in their seat and smile sweetly or stick out their tongue and jump wildly up and down, screaming at you, “I want the RED gummies!!”
You just don’t know.
Prince Louis is still fairly chill here for a 4yr old. He could be inconsolable, screaming, crying, throwing snacks, wildly kicking his feet until mom is yelling and dad carries him outside….you know just normal preschooler in the Target checkout lane things ??? https://t.co/uvUzG8n6kY
— Alissa (Uh-LEASE-Ah) (@AlissaHenryTV) June 6, 2022
Is he whispering sweet nothings or threatening to ruin her?
Could be either.
Stop saying this is a sweet moment between Prince Louis and Princess Kate. No it is not. That is a hostage situation for Kate. As mom to a 4 year old I assure you, he is threatening to ruin her life ??? #PrinceLouis #Jubilee pic.twitter.com/WIdTQf0wN3
— Erin Walker (@ebeewalk) June 6, 2022
And quite frankly, Duchess Kate handled her 4-year-old like the absolute queen that she is. I can’t imagine parenting on the world stage and yet, she appeared to take it all in stride.
She was calm and patient and even managed to find the humor in Louis’ hilarious antics. And what parent of a 4-year-old can’t relate to what she must have been feeling as she tried to keep her shit together while quietly rage-whispering at him to “STOP IT” (probably).
We are all Kate ???? https://t.co/WjjqcTEPeo
— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) June 5, 2022
We’ve all been there. We are ALL Kate.
Twitter parents are right there with her or have survived to live the tale.
Here are a few of our favorite tweets about the reality of living with four-year-olds.
Four-year-olds are savage.
My 4 year old son asked me why I was putting on makeup and I said "To make me look pretty." He replied "I don't think it's working."
— Chutup (@Chutup) September 23, 2017
With classics like "I like you, but not as much as the rest of our family," I feel our 4yo would dominate the greeting card industry.
— Emme Reynolds (@TheEmmeReynolds) March 24, 2016
They will look you dead in the eyes and stomp every ounce of your self-respect into itty bitty bits.
4yo: *throwing a ball to my husband* Fetch!
Husband: No, you say "fetch" when it's a dog and "catch" when it's a person.
4yo: *maintaining eye contact* FETCH.
— Lil Bit ? (@LizerReal) October 9, 2021
They are the masters of their universe. And we’re just living in it.
My 4yo said wouldn’t it be funny if she was the queen and I was her servant and we both laughed and then I cried bc that’s my actual real life
— MumInBits (@MumInBits) May 5, 2021
They’re gonna be who they want to be:
Took my chatty 4yo on a school visit where he refused to talk to anyone until the last teacher asked his name and 4 yelled “my name is Chicken”
— meghan (@deloisivete) June 3, 2022
Say what they want to say, especially when it comes to public humiliation (yours not theirs):
I love my 4yo. But when she yells "mom your legs are so hairy!" in the middle of a crowded mall, I have no choice but to deny all relation.
— yelisa (@beingyelisa) October 10, 2017
I forgot to pack my 4YO’s lunch once 7 months ago, and every now and then at drop off she’ll randomly say in front of everyone, “mom, you packed my lunch today GOOD JOB!”
— Not the Nanny (@not_thenanny) June 1, 2022
Wear what they wanna wear (or not)…
Apparently my 4yo doesn’t “believe in underwear anymore.” Which chapter covers this in my parenting handbook?
— The 21st Century SAHM (@21stcenturysahm) October 14, 2017
4-year-old: I don't have anything to wear.
Me: You have an entire closet full of clothes.
4: I don't have any capes.
— James Breakwell, Exploding Unicorn (@XplodingUnicorn) February 8, 2017
..and eat what they wanna eat. Except for broccoli.
Monday: Loves broccoli
Tuesday: Hates broccoli. It's gross. How can you feed this to me? Oh the humanity..
My life with a 4 year old…
— CurrentlyCaprece (@MommieKnwsFresh) July 26, 2016
Even when you do give them what they want? It’ll still be wrong.
If you're on the fence about having kids, my 4-year-old asked for the REALLY red apple & then was angry because I gave it to him with the peel still on
— A Bearer Of Dad News (@HomeWithPeanut) April 25, 2022
Four-year-olds will argue with you about anything and make you question reality…
got into an argument with my 4yo about whether the word "dragon" starts with a J or a D and now i'm just repeating the word "jragon" to myself wondering why it doesn't sound any different
— Alix E. Harrow (@AlixEHarrow) April 20, 2021
…even if it doesn’t make any sense. Like, at all.
Wait, do we own a boat?
The 4 yr old is wandering the house in a life jacket, crying b/c it's clipped. He also cried when I unclipped it.
We don't even own a boat.
— Stephanie Ortiz (@Six_Pack_Mom) July 18, 2017
Yup, four-year-olds are fun. They will drive you to the brink of insanity and back again. They will make you laugh with their hilarious antics (when we’re not crying, that is).
As for Prince Louis? His “behavior” over the weekend seemed pretty typical of a four-year-old and honestly, we can’t wait to see what he’ll do next.