Royals know from a young age that they're different and they're going to grow up to be leaders and role models. But when they're kids, they're still, well, just kids. Here are 69 pictures of royal kids acting like very normal kids throughout the years.
Queen Elizabeth
Cuddling with a dog, like any child with access to a dog would.
Queen Elizabeth
Looking so displeased with the dorky hat her parents are making her wear in public.
Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret
Playing in the backyard—except, in their case, the "backyard" was a royal garden. But whatever.
Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret
Doing chores—or possibly just choosing to work on this garden.
Queen Elizabeth
Looking bored and sullen AF, just like any normal teen.
Queen Elizabeth
Posing for an awkward group picture with her swim team.
Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret
Being the MOST excited about dogs.
Prince Charles
Hiding his face from a camera. Typical shy kid move.
Princess Anne
Ruining this family portrait, just like infants everywhere do.
Princess Anne and Prince Charles
Focuses literally only on the cake.
Prince Charles and Princess Anne
Making their dad push them on a swing set.
Princess Anne
Mugging at the camera.
Princess Anne
Hating this portrait session.
Prince William
Lunging at his mom because sometimes kids need their moms.
Prince Harry
Playing with some homemade binoculars made out of toilet paper rolls.
Prince William and Prince Harry
Climbing a fence because boys will be boys.
Prince Harry
Snuggling a puppy.
Prince William
Rolling around town in a Mickey Mouse graphic tee.
Prince William
Playing dress up and getting super into it.
Prince William
Getting VERY into his army dress up game.
Prince Harry
Riding around on Princess Diana's shoulders.
Prince Harry, Prince William and some cousins
Burying Princess Diana in the sand on a tropical vacation.
Prince Harry
Struggling to get the hang of skiing.
Prince William
Laughing at Prince Harry's attempt to play the piano as a baby.
Prince Harry
Playing with the kind of toy only a toddler could love.
Prince William
Throwing a bit of a fit in public.
Prince Harry and Prince William
Playing on a slide with their mom.
Prince Harry and Prince William
Playing in the exact same plastic playhouse every '90s kid owned.
Prince William
Being like, "What? I'm supposed to play with the ball?"
Prince William
Getting the hang of playing with the ball.
Prince Harry and Prince William
Being overly dramatic about the wind.
Prince Harry
Making a silly face (he would never really grow out of this).
Prince Harry
Sucking his thumb, while Diana looks at him like, "...Why?"
Prince Harry and Prince William
On a water ride with their mom at a theme park.
Prince Harry
Playing an intense game of water gun wars.
Prince William and Prince Harry
Soaking wet after a log flume with Princess Diana.
Prince William and Prince Harry
On a roller coaster (but one that seemed to bore Will, TBH).
Prince William and Prince Harry
On another roller coaster, but one that Will seems to actually like.
Prince William and Prince Harry
On a bike ride with their dad, Prince Charles.
Prince Harry and Prince William
Sledding on those cheap plastic circle sleds we all loved.
Prince Harry
Riding a sled the wrong way.
Prince William
Wearing a homemade mask.
Prince Harry
On a waterslide with Princess Diana.
Prince William
Playing soccer (or football, as he and most of the rest of the world would call it).
Prince William
Making a weird gagging face, probably to make his little brother laugh.
Prince Harry
Not being happy at all about being in the kiddie seat on this bike.
Prince Harry
Playing by a river with his mom, Princess Diana.
Prince William
Carrying his blanket with him to the first day of nursery school.
Prince William
Walking a dog.
Prince William and Prince Harry
Being SO EFFING EXCITED about the chance to play on a fire engine.
Prince George
Being SUPER focused on a butterfly.
Prince George
Dragging his mom, Kate Middleton, along to play with him.
Prince George
Putting something in his mouth that is not meant to go in his mouth.
Prince George
Having a full-on tantrum in public.
Princess Charlotte and Prince George
Being a little weirded out by this balloon artist.
Prince George
Being actively fascinated by this balloon animal.
Prince George
Blasting his little sister with bubbles from a bubble gun.
Prince George
Trying harder than necessary to blow a bubble.
Prince George
Gleefully catching bubbles.
Prince George
Smooshing his face against the window of a plane.
Prince George
Eating candy in church.
Prince George
Looking deeply pained by being forced to be in a wedding.
Princess Charlotte and Prince George
Frolicking together in a field.
Princess Charlotte
Digging through her mom's purse while George plays with a slinky.
Princess Charlotte
Dancing with the confidence only a toddler has in their dancing.
Prince George
Playing with a slinky.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte
Jumping over a piece of wood in a field.
Prince George
Trying really hard not to laugh out loud during a wedding.
Kayleigh Roberts is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, covering celebrity and entertainment news, from actual royals like Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle to Hollywood royalty, like Katie Holmes and Chrissy Teigen. She’s a Ravenclaw who would do great things in Slytherin. To learn more about her, google “Leslie Knope eating salad GIF.
-
Prince Andrew High School Is Changing Its Name to Make Students Feel More “Safe”Can you blame them?
-
Here’s an Exceedingly Weird Story About Late Singer Meat Loaf and Prince Andrew
Obviously, there is a moat involved.
-
Prince Harry Is Reportedly ‘Desperate’ to Return to the UK This Year
According to a former royal security officer, Harry wants to make sure the Queen meets Lilibet.
-
Surprise! Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas Are Parents
They welcomed a baby via surrogate.
-
This Therapy Dog Liked Kate Middleton Way More Than Prince William
No hard feelings!
-
Prince Charles Is "Desperate" to See Grandchildren Archie and Lilibet, Royal Source Says
He's never met Lili in person.
-
Meghan Markle Probably Declined to Stay With Prince Charles Because It Would Be Too "Awkward," Royal Expert Says
To be fair, I wouldn't want to be at *that* breakfast table.
-
Kate Middleton and Prince William Are "Undeniably on the Same Page" as They Step Out for Their First Joint Engagement of 2022: Body Language Expert
They're both confident in each other.
-
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Might Not Come for Prince Philip's Memorial After Being Denied Security in the U.K.
The duke doesn't think it's safe for his family.
-
Kate Middleton Is Responsible for the Royal Family's Future, Insider Says
Sounds like a lot...
-
Why Kate Middleton Didn't Let Prince George Wear an England Shirt at the Euros Final, According to a Royal Expert
It has to do with his future.
