Princess Kate reportedly took her children on a very special VIP visit to the set of the new Harry Potter TV series, narrowly avoiding bumping into Prince Andrew
When one of the most high-profile new TV series around is filming in your backyard, one of the perks of being the future Queen is getting to take your kids along for a VIP visit.
With the HBO Harry Potter series getting underway in Windsor Great Park, Princess Kate didn’t miss an opportunity to get a nomination for parent of the year by arranging a set visit for her three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven.
The Princess of Wales was even reported to be invited back on Friday evening with the youngsters to watch the cast filming scenes for the new show, based on the books by JK Rowling. However, Kate wasn’t the only member of the Royal Family who paid the set a visit – the disgraced Duke of York is said to have turned up as well last week, with the Wales family narrowly missing a run-in.
Both William and Kate reportedly accompanied their three children to the set visit earlier in the week, where they explored the replicas of the Scottish highlands that have been built in the park for the show.
However, on Friday evening, Kate is said to have flown solo with the kids, who were lucky enough to meet the young stars of the show, and Prince Louis even got the opportunity to take a quick ride on the Hogwarts Express – which has been constructed on a half mile track just behind their home.
“It was so special, Kate and the children met the young actors and the director on the set. There was only one night of filming there so it really was a magical ticket,” an insider told the Daily Mail.
“And as for Louis, he got the chance to ride on the train with the driver. He seemed to absolutely love it. It’s the dream for most children to step aboard the Hogwarts Express.”
However, people on set were reportedly left shocked when Andrew showed up there with his grandchildren, amid an ongoing scandal surrounding an email his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson sent convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, calling him a “supreme friend” – and Andrew’s name appearing in the newly released Epstein files.
The set is right next to Andrew’s home, Royal Lodge, and a source explained, “It was all a bit strange that he turned up, but it was lovely to see the children having a great time. They were busy looking at the Hogwarts Express and it genuinely seemed like a magical time for them.”
Andrew and Kate didn’t visit at the same time. It comes amid reports that William intends to “freeze out” his disgraced uncle, and King Charles will not be inviting the Duke and Duchess of York to Christmas.
The Royal Family has long been fans of the magical book series, with Queen Camilla admitting that Charles even reads the books aloud to her grandchildren.
“Sometimes, when we are with my husband in Scotland, he reads them Harry Potter,” Camilla said back in 2017. “And he does all the voices, because he is a brilliant mimic. I’m not very good. I try to do the voices, but acting isn’t my forte. But he sits down and they all sit with him.”
