With the Royal Family preparing to welcome a new addition to their family this April, it feels like the perfect moment to take a look back at the royals over the years and the children of today. Before we know it Prince George and Charlotte will have a little sister or brother of their own and will be adults one day. Yet, their mommy, daddy, and great-grandmother were once their age too. Spoiler alert; they were all adorable children!
Queen Elizabeth was a sweet rosy-cheeked kid with blonde curls. Kate Middleton had a thirst for adventure. Prince William and Harry (as you might remember) made girls all around the world swoon with their natural good looks and shy smiles.
Of course, now they are all grown up with children and grandchildren of their own. In 2017, Prince William enjoyed taking his son George to his first day of school in a uniform that probably reminded the young prince of what he wore when he was a toddler. Princess Anne is a grandmother who dotes on her grandchildren. And, we can only imagine how excited Queen Elizabeth is to see her family flourish with grandchildren and great-grandchildren and to enjoy seeing their sweet smiles.
18 Matching Princes
Did you know that the Royal Famly’s dress code requires little boys to wear shorts? And matching is clearly a part of it. This picture was taken when Prince William and Prince Harry were heading off to school. They kept with the royal dress code and their school’s dress code of a blazer with a shirt and tie and a matching hat. They have adorable smiles that hint at their personality. William’s smile is reserved and Harry’s has a mischevious element to it as if he might have a bag of pranks hidden somewhere in that bag he’s carrying. Princess Diana stands behind them, seeing her boys off to school in a red sweater and skirt combo that we wonder if it was chosen to compliment the pipping on their school blazers.
17 Just Like Grandma
It’s nice to know that in some ways the Royal Family is just like every family and Charlotte is just like every other little girl. Here she is enjoying every kid’s most exciting and nerve-wracking activity- going to school for the first time. Although, Charlotte doesn’t look nervous. She looks excited. She also bears a shocking resemblance to her grandmother Princess Diana. It’s not just the tailored coat or the side part in their straight blonde hair that has everyone seeing the resemblance. There’s something in those wide eyes and bright smiles that look exactly the same. In typical royal fashion, Anne is dressed in matching colors and a bow that perfectly matches her outfit. She was clearly the best-dressed and most photographed little girl at her preschool.
16 Twins Again!
Prince William and Prince Harry have always appeared to be best friends. The duo was always photographed together as kids. They went on official outings together. They took vacations together. They have even dressed alike. Here they are not only seated side-by-side but in matching camouflage jackets as well. They even have the same haircut and wore the same pair of pants. Honestly, if Harry didn’t have his ginger hair, they would appear to be twins. Even as adults they have a close bond. Part of their bond was formed from suffering through a great tragedy together. As the world knows, the boys lost their mom, Princess Diana, in 1997, Years later Harry said, “We have been brought closer as a result of the circumstances. You are uniquely bonded, because of what we’ve been through.”
15 Craving Adventure
Princess Diana loved to be outdoors. In an effort to have her sons raised as normal boys she often took them on trips to see the great outdoors. She clearly had a thirst for sports and adventure. And, it appeared to have rubbed off onto her sons. Many pics were taken of the Princess sailing, swimming, and even enjoying long walks with her boys. Here she is with William and Harry enjoying what appears to be a very wet boat ride. The young princes are all smiles as they enjoy the adventure with their mom. You can clearly see so much of her features in their young faces. Not to mention that they all seem to have the same haircut! We’ve already met Prince George, now we wonder who Harry’s son will resemble.
14 More Than Just A Princess
Princess Diana will forever be remembered as the ‘People’s Princess’ and the woman who breathed life and warmth into the British Monarchy. Although, we doubt that the young Diana had any idea what her future had in store for her when she was just a young girl. While it’s rumored that she always dreamt of having a title, she was willing to settle for being a Lady. Boy, did she go farther than just being a lady! Even when she was young, Diana had perfected that shy smile with her chin slightly tilted down. She was always a shy girl and it showed in her photos. Although, it was probably one of the qualities that made her endearing to the paparazzi and the people who clamored to give her flowers and small gifts.
13 Are They Twins?
How adorable was Queen Elizabeth when she was a baby? Princess Charlotte has the same rosy cheeks her grandmother Queen Elizabeth had when she was a toddler. The two are spitting images of each other. This photo of the queen as a toddler went viral once the world realized just how much Charlotte resembles her grandmother. While most of us only think of the queen as an aging monarch with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Elizabeth was once an adorable baby. She had soft blonde curls and a carefree smile that probably wowed everyone in the room. She was clearly a beaming child and we imagine that Charlotte must have inherited some of that same charm as her photos often go viral. Charlotte reminds the world of a young Elizabeth and Princess Diana.
12 Why So Serious?
We weren’t kidding when we said that the royal family has a dress code. Yep, the minute that Andrew was walking he was required to wear shorts, socks, a button-down, and proper shoes. By the time he was ten, he was fully suited to wear a tie. He also had to wear kilts from time-to-time. During an outing with Queen Elizabeth, his dress code kept him looking just as smart as an adult on Wall Street. Well, not that they would wear a kilt. He seems worlds away from the little boys that we remember from our childhood in shorts and tee-shirts playing sports outside. Andrew probably spent more time getting haircuts and having his suits tailored than he did playing outside. Just as the queen probably spent more time ensuring that she had matching hats for every outfit.
11 There's Nothing Like A Mommy Cuddle
Every child needs a mommy cuddle. Prince Harry was no exception and here he is getting his fill of love from his Mommy who is graciously giving her youngest son a cheek-to-cheek hug. We really wouldn’t expect anything less from the Princess who hugged AIDS victims and children who had been hurt by landmines. She was an affectionate woman and we can only imagine that she lavished her children with hugs and kisses as often as she could. She seemed like the perfect mom to run to when you had a boo-boo or just needed a hug because of a bully at school. It’s a sweet portrait of Diana and her son and we can only imagine how much she is missed by her family who probably wishes that she was still around to lavish all that love and attention on her grandchildren.
10 The Smiling Prince & Princess
Looking at him now, it’s almost easy to forget that Charles used to be young. Yet, how adorable are Prince Charles and Princess Anne in this photo? The Royal Family was always suited and properly dressed, even when they were teenagers or children. Prince Charles had to wear the same dress code that Prince George does today, shorts and socks. Even as a toddler he displayed a quiet confidence that might have had something to do with the spotless double-breasted coat that he wore to match his sister’s. Anne looks equally demur and royal in her tailored clothing and matching hats. Clearly, the royal family learns how to properly dress and avoid getting their clothes messy from a young age. Did you notice George’s socks that match the color of his buttons and blend with his socks? He is one well-dressed future king.
9 Learning To Clap
Suits were clearly in Charles’s future when it comes to his style. Here he is again prepping for a formal dress code. Although, in this photo, he is standing next to his mother, Queen Elizabeth instead of holding his sister’s hand. Charles tailored jacket was obviously well chosen to complement the Queen's tailored dress. They were probably wearing the same color. Although, with his famous Cambridge cheeks Prince Charles is clearly the center of attention in this photo. He’s either mid-laugh or in the middle of a very excited clap. Basically, if it weren’t for Charles and the next generation of children, Buckingham Palace would appear as stuffy as the Queen's smoldering gaze in this photo. It’s also cute to note that Charles is standing on a box to give him a few inches to avoid him being too short next to the adults.
8 I Love Grandma!
Princess Anne is all grown up and a matriarch of her own family in the inner circle of the British elite. She’s rich and daughter of England’s Queen. These days Anne stays out of the spotlight and it’s the photos of her granddaughter Mia that go viral. At four years old, Mia joins her grandmother for an outing spent with horses for the day. Just so you know, everyone in the royal family knows how to ride horses. Mia will no doubt be riding soon if she doesn’t know how to already. Here she lovingly gives her grandmother a kiss on the cheek. It’s a cute gesture and we love her for her natural good looks and the casual way that she has been brought up. When was the last time we saw Queen Elizabeth kiss her grandchildren?
7 The Movie Star Royal
Princess Margaret was a great beauty back in her day. She definitely resembles Elizabeth, but there is something dreamy about her eyes that make her look almost like a film star. The younger sister to Queen Elizabeth was said to be the ‘fun’ and passionate one. Indeed she was, as she was rumored to have a passionate love affair that her family did not approve of. Later, she married for duty and gave birth to two beautiful children- Lady Sarah Chatto and David Armstrong-Jones. They’re in their 50s now, but how adorable were they when they were children? You can definitely see where Prince Harry gets his looks from in this photo. There are certain features that it seems that everyone will inherit from the royal family.
6 The Great British Beauty
Judging by this picture, Princess Margaret was probably one of those people who was simply born beautiful. As a child, her curls framed her smooth cheeks and mesmerizing eyes just as beautifully as they did when she was an adult. It’s no wonder that she was known as a great beauty that commanded the spotlight. She was gorgeous, royal, and lived a glamorous life that was a far cry from the stern life that her sister Elizabeth lived when she took the throne. She was even photographed without shoes on. If you’ve been following the pictures released by the Palace of Princess Charlotte, you’ll know that her formal dress code requires that she isn’t allowed to take off her shoes except for bath time. Although, we notice that the ruffled collars and puff sleeves were as popular then as they are now for the royal children.
5 A Love For Wood
Viscount David Linley was an adorable little boy. Here he is with Princess Margaret enjoying a day outdoors. It’s no wonder that with a name like that he professionally changed his name last year to David Albert Charles-Armstrong-Jones, 2ND Earl of Snowden. We know, it’s still a mouthful. During his heydays, Viscount almost suited the young lad who was 5th in line to the throne. However, that line has only lengthened. He’s now 18th in line. However, we don’t think it matters much to the entrepreneur who owns shops that make bespoke furniture. It’s a passion that has even attracted the likes of Elton John to request him to make pieces. We wonder if this image of young Viscount clutching a wooden bench was the beginning of his love affair for bespoke furniture.
4 The Ears Have It
Here is a rare moment that Queen Elizabeth is captured on camera smiling. Well, we only see a sliver of her lips, but we know that they’re turned upwards into a smile. She’s cleverly using Prince Edward to block her grin. Prince Edward looks more like a deer caught in headlights, although with those rosy cheeks, he is adorable. You can also see that he had the same ears as a baby that he does now. They stuck out then as a child too. Some things never change like Queen Elizabeth’s stern decision to always wear gloves and give a dignified wave to her people. She has also been a firm believer that women must wear hats when in public. Although, after 6 pm she must retire her hats for a tiara.
3 Embracing Scottish Heritage
Queen Elizabeth and her family even made sitting on the lawn look stately and royal. Not only is everyone properly dressed with her and Phillip sporting suits, but they all sit with their legs folded to the side. If you’ve ever wondered, the Royals cannot cross their legs at the knees, but must always cross their legs at their ankles. In case you’re also wondering, the castle behind them is Balmoral Castle which is in Scotland. Having the children dressed in kilts shows their respect for Scotland and the royal family has been doing this gesture when on Scottish soil for hundreds of years. It also makes a cute picture of Prince Charles and Princess Anne playing with their little brother Andrew. Edward would be born three years later.
2 Like Mother, Like Daughter
Always the properly dressed family; the Royals were suited and gloved for this official outing. Princess Anne is a beaming teen here standing next to their mother, Queen Elizabeth. The duo is dripping in jewels from head to toe to show off their regal splendor at the British Embassy reception in Vienna, Austria, during the State visit in 1969. This, of course, was a time before Anne learned the beauty of hot rollers and how to let her hair down to become an icon of big curled hair in the 70s. Although, the now 67-year old Princess has since reverted back to this teased and backcombed style. Her beaming smile hasn’t changed much though as the royal grandmother is often seen smiling at the sight of her grandchildren.
1 Did He Want To Be The Only Child?
This has to be one of the earliest photos of Princess Anne. Here she is, a fresh googly eyed baby with her beaming mother. Prince Charles, on the other hand, doesn’t seem as happy to no longer be the only child. Although, he is trying to give his new baby sis a tender caress. Similar to other royals, Princess Anne was born at St. Mary’s Hospital. While Princess Diana, Kate Middleton Duchess of Cambridge and Anne herself would later step out of the hospital to give the world a glimpse of the new Princess the day of her birth, Queen Elizabeth had photographers visit the palace to take photographs of the young royals. This official portrait was taken in the nursery and was taken when Anne was a few months old.
Sources: DailyMail.com, People.com, VanityFair.com, BusinessInsider.com, SheKnows.com, HarpersBazaar.com