When Prince Louis, 7, was offered a royal role, the palace’s playful response left everyone wondering why he said no.HL

Queen Camilla, King Charles and Prince Louis at Trooping the Colour on June 14, 2025.

On October 15, 2025, Prince William and Kate Middleton humorously declined an offer for their son, Prince Louis, to become the honorary patron of the World Conker Championships. According to The Telegraph, the royal couple’s office issued a witty response, citing their youngest son’s current focus on his studies. “We really appreciate the invitation, but currently, Prince Louis is ‘conker-trating’ on his studies,” a palace spokesperson quipped, delighting Kensington Palace staff who reportedly found the situation amusing.

Prince Louis and Prince George at Trooping the Colour

The offer came after Princess Kate shared in September during a visit to Frogmore Gardens that Prince Louis, 7, had developed an obsession with collecting conkers—horse chestnut seeds that fall during autumn and are used in the traditional children’s game of conkers, where two players try to break each other’s conker by swinging them on strings. “We keep finding conkers in cupboards, in his bed—conkers everywhere!” Kate laughed as she told Chief Scout Dwayne Fields about Louis’ treasure hunt.

The game of conkers, a nostalgic fall pastime, has been part of the British childhood experience for generations. The World Conker Championships, held annually in Southwick, Northamptonshire, even sent a special invitation to Louis after his newfound passion. Despite the playful offer, the couple decided that the title would be a bit too much for their non-working royal son.

The championship event, which took place on October 12, 2025, nearly faced cancellation due to a shortage of large chestnuts following a dry summer. However, Windsor Castle came to the rescue by sending over 300 chestnuts from the royal grounds. Organizers were thankful for the royal gesture, with one committee member joking that it was possible King Charles himself might have picked the chestnuts, though the true picker remains a mystery.

Kate Middleton, Melania Trump and Dwayne Fields in Windsor on Sept. 18, 2025.

The World Conker Championships have raised significant funds for charity over the years, including for organizations supporting the visually impaired, and the champions of the event are crowned with the prestigious titles of “King Conker” or “Queen Conker.” While Prince Louis might not be donning that crown just yet, the playful spirit of the event certainly has a special place in the royal family’s autumn traditions.

The elimination rounds of the World Conker Championships on Oct.