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Prince Louis rode a £200 red balance bike on his first day at nursery: Here’s where to buy it

Give your toddler their first taste of riding with this royal-approved steed

Sarah Jones
Friday 23 April 2021 12:41 BST
The young prince was photographed showing off his cycling skills
The young prince was photographed showing off his cycling skills (Getty/The Independent)

A new photograph of Prince Louis heading off to nursery has been released to mark the royal’s third birthday.

The image was taken by the Duchess of Cambridge on Wednesday before Prince Louis left for his first day at The Willcocks Nursery School.

Beaming at the camera, he is pictured wearing a smart blue and white striped shirt, navy blue sweater and sky blue shorts with a pair of Adidas trainers while sitting on a bicycle in the grounds of Kensington Palace.

The young royal showed off his cycling skills on a trendy red balance bike, which is designed to provide children with confidence and positive associations with cycling from early on.

This type of bike is made without any moving parts like chains, pedals or gears that could catch little fingers and instead features the simplest of designs to teach children balance and coordination.

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The exact model owned by Prince Louis is Frog’s tadpole plus and it costs around £200. However, it has been selling fast ever since the royal’s photo was shared online and is currently out of stock on the brand’s website.

But if you want to get your hands on one, fear not, because we’ve managed to track it down in a range of different colours, from Louis’s bright red to electric blue, green and orange.

Whether you want to fine-tune your child’s motor skills or simply need a fun way to get them to school on time, here’s everything you need to know about the Frog tadpole plus bike.

(Getty)

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Frog tadpole plus

Frog Tadpole Plus Bike.jpg

If you’re looking for a great first bike to help your child to achieve the necessary balance to cycle, this might just be it.

The tadpole plus has not only been given the royal seal of approval but it also featured in our round-up of the best balance bikes for toddlers, with our reviewer praising its “solid build quality”.

Designed for children aged three- to four-years-old, this model is the same size as a standard pedal bike, just without the pedals, which our tester said makes the transition easier and less scary for your little rider to manage when they finally have the confidence to move on.

“What we love about the whole range is its solid build quality – it has chunky tyres and a mountain bike aesthetic, making it better for going over bumpy pavements and uneven ground with ease,” they said. “The seats are quite broad which also aids little riders to keep their bums seated comfortably. However, the bikes may be too heavy for some. You wouldn’t want to be left lugging one around a park if your child is tired or having a tantrum. We love the huge range of funky designs and fun colours that will ensure your child stands out from the crowd.”

If your child is younger, Frog also offers the “tadpole mini” (£170, Wheelbase.co.uk), which is designed for use from just 12 months, and the “tadpole” model (£190, Wheelbase.co.uk), which is best suited for two- to three-year-olds.

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