Prince Louis Sent Sandringham Crowd Into ‘Peals of Laughter’ with Christmas Day Antics at Church Service

Prince Louis made well-wishers laugh on Christmas Day with his cheeky antics during a morning church service.

As they traditionally do, members of the royal family attended the Dec. 25 service at St. Mary Magdalene, a church on the grounds of the Sandringham estate, and afterwards mingled with members of the public as they made their way back to Sandringham House and the Christmas Day lunch that awaited them there.

The Sun reported that the well-wishers could hear Rev. Canon Paul Williams’ sermon inside the church via speakers — and that Louis’ hijinks were “greeted by peals of laughter.”

During the sermon, Williams used a Terry’s chocolate orange — a traditional stocking filler in the U.K. — in his sermon. He asked if anyone knew how to separate the segments, saying, “You have to tap it and unwrap it.”

Louis, who had been asked to help demonstrate the point, was told by Williams to “Just drop it” — which was “followed by a loud bang as the treat slammed into the floor,” according to The Sun, causing the hundreds of well-wishers outside to laugh in response.

Earlier in the sermon, when the clergyman asked if the children in the service had received any sweets for Christmas, Louis “was heard happily answering loudly,” and responded with an enthusiastic, “Marshmallows.”

Later on, as he was given gifts by members of the public, he was seen holding a “choccy orange,” a Cadbury’s chocolate box and a chocolate Santa, The Sun reported. At one point, The Daily Express reported, Prince William “was forced to intervene” as Louis, 6, and his older siblings Prince George, 11, and Princess Charlotte, 9, were given so many sweet treats, telling the crowd, “No, no, you can’t give all the chocolates. Definitely not. You’ve got to keep them for yourself as well.”

Louis “looked visibly excited” by the haul of gifts he received, according to The Daily Mail, ranging from candy and chocolates to stuffed toys, bouquets of flowers and Christmas crackers.

The youngest of William and Kate Middleton’s three children’s hands eventually became so full, The Daily Mail reported, that Louis “appeared to struggle to keep hold of everything he received,” causing him to turn to his father and sweetly ask, “Papa, can you carry some?”

The good news for George, Charlotte and Louis? According to the official royal gift policy, members of the royal family are allowed to accept gifts from individuals not personally known to them, including the public, but gifts must meet certain criteria, including being under $188.

Flowers, food and other consumable items (within reasonable quantities) are acceptable, as are copies of books presented by the author, provided the subject matter is not controversial, the policy states.

The Sun reported that the “crowds were believed to be the biggest” in years, with many people turning out to show support for Kate and King Charles, who both received cancer diagnoses this year. Kate was handed “around a dozen bouquets,” as well as several “Get Well Soon” cards.

Kate, 42, had a cheeky moment of her own on Dec. 25, as she got so caught up chatting with well-wishers that at one point she quipped, “I seem to have lost my family!” after noticing that William, also 42, and their three kids were far ahead of her down the path to Sandringham House.