Kate Middleton reveals Prince Louis's autumn obsession: conkers

Prince Louis has embraced autumn, focusing on conker collecting as his latest pastime. The seven-year-old royal’s mother, Catherine, Princess of Wales, revealed the detail during an outing with U.S. First Lady Melania Trump at Frogmore Gardens in Windsor, as President Donald Trump’s official visit to the United Kingdom unfolded this week.

During the visit, Kate explained that Louis has a habit of storing conkers in unusual places. She told Chief Scout Dwayne Fields, "We keep finding conkers in cupboards, in his bed—conkers everywhere!" The anecdote underscored Louis’s current obsession, with reports that he even places conkers in his toy trucks to play with them nearby.

Louis’s autumn fixation comes amid a broader public outing by the Princess of Wales, who is joint president of the Scouts. Kate and Melania joined a group of Lewisham-based Scouts for activities at Frogmore Gardens, meeting with Chief Scout Dwayne Fields and leading a leaf-art project with Squirrels, the youngest Scout section. The event offered a window into how royal engagements often blend charity work with lighthearted family moments.

The day’s proceedings also featured a picnic for the Squirrels, organized by the princess, including packed lunches that highlighted honey from the Wales family hives at Anmer Hall and honey-infused granola bars. The First Lady arrived bearing a jar of White House honey for each child, while Dwayne Fields presented Melania with a neckerchief as a keepsake from the Scouts’ UK counterparts. The gathering reflected the ceremonial and charitable aspects that frequently accompany royal engagements, even when the subject is as playful as a child’s autumn hobby.

Beyond the conker chatter, the event offered a snapshot of Louis’s public narrative, which has included a history of shifting interests. Last year, Prince William referenced Louis’s foray into a notably louder activity—learning to play the drums. He joked that the drum practice has something of a soundtrack for Windsor life, quipping, "My youngest is learning the drums that’s why I spend my entire life with my fingers in my ears." The anecdote illustrated the playful side of royal parenting and the family’s approach to balancing public duties with normal, everyday moments.

Frogmore Gardens sit on the Windsor estate that also includes Frogmore Cottage, a residence associated with the royal family for several years. The cottages and houses on the Frogmore estate have gained renewed attention in recent years due to breaks in royal residence arrangements and changes within the royal household. The setting provided a picturesque backdrop for a day that combined public service, family moments, and a gentle exchange between American and British figures during a high-profile visit.

The engagement with the Scouts and the broader social activities emphasized the royal family's ongoing commitment to youth organizations, education, and community outreach. For Louis, conkers now appear to be a seasonal emblem—an autumnal pastime that, for the moment, captures his imagination and offers a light, relatable thread within the broader arc of royal life. As the season progresses, observers will watch to see whether conkers become a lasting hobby or a charming, flash-in-the-pan moment in the young prince’s rapidly evolving interests.

The day’s events, framed by the U.S.-UK visit, highlighted a moment of cross-cultural exchange centered on children and community service. The images and accounts from Frogmore Gardens underscore how royal engagements are often a blend of ceremonial tradition, public diplomacy, and candid family storytelling, reinforcing a persona that is at once public ambassador and affectionate parent.