Prince Louis of Cambridge: Age, Nickname & School Updates

If you’ve watched a royal event recently and noticed a small, expressive boy stealing the show, you’ve met Prince Louis of Cambridge, the youngest child of Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, who turns formal ceremonies into family moments with his playful antics. But behind the cheeky smiles is a six-year-old navigating school, a family health crisis, and the unusual reality of being fourth in line to the British throne.

Age: 6 (as of 2024) · Full name: Louis Arthur Charles · Birthday: 23 April 2018 · School: Lambrook School · Line of succession: 4th

Eight key facts about Prince Louis, drawn from official and editorial sources:

What does Kate call Prince Louis?

Public glimpses of family life have given us one confirmed nickname. In a 2020 Christmas video, Catherine was heard addressing Louis as “Lou Bug” — an affectionate term that quickly spread online. Beyond that, his IMDb biography notes that the family reportedly also calls him “Lou”. The palace has never officially confirmed any private nicknames, so these remain the only verified instances.

The origin of ‘Lou Bug’

• The video was part of a 2020 Christmas message filmed by the Cambridges. Catherine’s use of “Lou Bug” appeared natural and unscripted.
• Some royal commentators see it as a sign of the family’s relaxed home atmosphere.

Public sightings and video messages

• No other video has shown a different nickname.
• The couple occasionally share birthday photos with handwritten messages, but those are usually signed “Mummy & Daddy” — no nicknames.

The implication: what we hear on camera is likely just the tip of a very private family language.

Why didn’t Kate Middleton lose her hair during chemo?

This question often comes up because Catherine appeared in public with her hair intact after announcing her cancer diagnosis in March 2024. The palace has not released details about her specific treatment regimen, so any explanation is speculative. According to the BBC, the Princess of Wales began a course of preventive chemotherapy in early 2024. Not all chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss, and some patients choose cold cap therapy to reduce shedding. However, Kensington Palace has never confirmed which approach was used. What is clear: Catherine maintained a public schedule, including a visit to a school in April 2024, where she was photographed with her full hair.

Type of chemotherapy used

• Preventive chemotherapy is often less intensive than curative regimens.
• Some drugs (e.g., carboplatin, certain taxanes) can preserve hair depending on dose.

Public appearances during treatment

• Several photographs from spring 2024 show the Princess with her usual hairstyle, fueling the question.
• No official statement has addressed the hair‑loss topic directly.

The pattern: without official medical disclosure, all explanations remain speculation. The palace’s priority is privacy.

What do Kate’s kids call Camilla?

Royal reporting has offered one consistent answer. According to People (a Tier‑2 editorial outlet), Prince George, Charlotte, and Louis refer to Queen Camilla as “Mummy Camilla”. The nickname reportedly developed organically after the family moved to Windsor and spent more time together. There is no official confirmation from Buckingham Palace, but the source is considered reliable by royal correspondents.

The step‑grandmother nickname

• “Mummy Camilla” reflects the close relationship the children have with their step‑grandmother.
• It follows the same pattern as “Mummy” for Catherine and “Daddy” for William.

Royal protocol vs. family dynamics

• Formally, Camilla is Queen Consort, but within the family hierarchy the children use the informal tag.
• This aligns with the Wales family’s preference for normalcy at home.

The trade‑off: the palace trades formal protocol for a warm family image, and the nickname is one small sign of that balance.

Do Catherine and William sleep in the same bed?

No official statement from Kensington Palace has ever addressed the couple’s sleeping arrangements. Reports vary: some biographers claim they have separate bedrooms (William’s snoring is often cited), while others say they share a bed like most couples. The Royal Family’s website does not comment on private domestic details. In the absence of a confirmed source, this remains firmly in the “unclear” category. The palace’s consistent position is that the couple’s private life is off‑limits.

Public statements on sleeping arrangements

• Several tabloid articles have claimed separate bedrooms, but none cite named sources.
• Friends of the couple have declined to comment.

Reports from biographies

• Some royal biographies, like those by Katie Nicholl, mention that William snores and that the couple sometimes sleep apart for practical reasons.
• None of these claims are officially endorsed.

The catch: when a couple values privacy, the public is left with rumours. The only certainty is the palace’s silence.

What is going on with Prince Louis?

As of 2024, Prince Louis is a six‑year‑old schoolboy at Lambrook School, living with his family at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor. His mother’s cancer diagnosis has reshaped the family’s public calendar, but Louis continues his normal routine. He attended Trooping the Colour in June 2024 and was photographed smiling alongside his siblings. His BBC profile notes that he remains fourth in line to the throne — a position unaffected by the 2013 Succession to the Crown Act, which put Charlotte ahead of him as the first British princess to keep her place over a younger brother.

School milestones

• Started at Lambrook in September 2022, where he is known as “Louis Wales” (Yahoo Lifestyle).
• By 2024 he had completed Year 1 and moved into Year 2.

Royal appearances

• Trooping the Colour 2024 was his most recent major public outing.
• Family photos released for his 6th birthday showed him in a casual garden setting.

Family health context

• Catherine announced her diagnosis on 22 March 2024, and the family has since focused on privacy and support.
• Louis’s daily life reportedly continues with minimal disruption.

The implication: despite the health crisis, the Wales family is deliberately maintaining a sense of normalcy for Louis and his siblings.

Timeline

• 23 April 2018 — Born at St Mary’s Hospital, London. (Biography.com)
• 9 July 2018 — Christened at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace. (Town & Country)
• 9 September 2022 — Title changed to Prince Louis of Wales after father becomes Prince of Wales. (RoyalResponses)
• September 2022 — Attended first day at Lambrook School. (Wikipedia)
• April 2024 — Turned six; birthday photos released. (Good Morning America)
• March 2024 — Mother Catherine reveals cancer diagnosis; family focuses on privacy. (BBC)

Quotes and perspectives

“Hello, Lou Bug!”

— Catherine, Princess of Wales, in a 2020 Christmas video, addressing Prince Louis (IMDb biography)

“Prince George, Charlotte and Louis call Queen Camilla ‘Mummy Camilla’.”

— Royal source cited by People

“The Princess of Wales is undergoing preventive chemotherapy after surgery.”

— Kensington Palace statement, March 2024, reported by BBC

Prince Louis of Cambridge (now Louis of Wales) remains one of the most talked‑about young royals, precisely because so much of his life is kept private. The few facts we have — his age, his school, his nickname, his place in the succession — are carefully released by the palace. For the public, the trade‑off is clear: we get glimpses of a cheerful little boy at Trooping the Colour, but we will likely never know the full story of his daily life. And that, for the royal family, is exactly the point.

For latest insights into his family life, fans can explore detailed coverage of his playful personality and upbringing.

Frequently asked questions