Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Take Children to Pantomime in London’s West End

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge surprised royal watchers by taking their children, Prince George VII, Princess Charlotte V, and Prince Louis II, to a special pantomime performance at the London Palladium on Friday.

The rare appearance of the Cambridge kids delighted fans and was a welcome break for the royal family after a hectic visit across Britain just a few days earlier.

The pantomime was held to thank key workers and their families for their phenomenal efforts this year.

Photos from the event show the Duchess wearing a black printed midi dress while the Duke donned a red sweater and black blazer.

The little Cambridges looked adorable in their holiday outfits, with Prince George wearing a knitted striped sweater, Charlotte in a plaid dress, and Louis sporting a blue coat with black trim.

As they arrived at the London Palladium, George and Charlotte held onto William's hand as they walked cautiously up their first-ever red carpet.

Charlotte let go of her father's hand as they got closer to the doors, showing her confidence as she took in her surroundings.

William adorably stroked his daughter's head before they were greeted by dignitaries.

Inside, the family had their first experience of a royal box and chatted excitedly as they waited for the start of the performance of Pantoland, starring Julian Clary and Elaine Page.

Prince William made a speech before the show, leaving Louis sitting on his mum's lap.

During much of William's speech, Louis was focused on a glitter ball hanging from the ceiling and talking to his mum Catherine.

When the Duke returned to the box, he sat between his eldest son and daughter, leaving Charlotte amusingly doing a face palm gesture before they all sat down for the show.

Pantomimes are a slapstick-style show that is a family tradition around Christmas in Britain.

Typically based on fairy tales, the farcical musicals can be laced with some innuendo-laden rhymes and songs and require frequent raucous interventions from the audience.

They often have older men playing female parts, like the ugly sisters in Cinderella, or young women playing male leading roles like Peter Pan.

The family outing comes after the Duke and Duchess undertook a mini Christmas tour on the Royal Train Tour to pay tribute to the incredible work of individuals and organizations that have gone above and beyond in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The trip was also designed to showcase the UK's arts, heritage, and live performance sector, which has been devastated by the pandemic.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have always been very involved in charity work and have shown their appreciation for key workers throughout the pandemic.

This pantomime visit was just another way for them to express their gratitude and give back to those who have worked tirelessly during these difficult times.

It was heartwarming to see the royal family enjoying a special day out together.