At School, Princess Charlotte Is a Rule Follower, But Is “Fiery” at Home, Constantly Putting Her Brothers In Their Place

The only daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales turned nine last week.

Princess Charlotte
(Image credit: Getty Images)

We contain multitudes, and that goes for princesses, too. At Lambrook School—where Princess Charlotte attends, as do her brothers, Prince George and Prince Louis—Charlotte “likes to fit in and do the right thing”; then, at home at Adelaide Cottage, she is fiery and feisty and rules the roost, keeping her brothers firmly in check.

Princess Charlotte

Charlotte's look at Louis as he acts mischievous says it all.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

While her little brother Louis is known to ham it up and act out—and my goodness, we love that child for it—Charlotte is much more sensible and takes after her mother, Kate, Hello reports. The middle child and only daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales “knows the rules,” global parenting expert Jo Frost (of Supernanny fame) told the outlet. “She’s the one in the middle. She knows how to keep everyone in good stead.”

Frost added “There are moments when I’ve watched George, and he’s looked over at his sister, and he’s probably annoyed with her one minute and then grateful that she’s there, being able to remind him of things.”

Princess Charlotte

George may be the heir to the throne, but it's Charlotte in charge.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

George may be the heir to the throne, but as we like to say around here, it’s Charlotte that’s in charge. “She’s not only third in line to the throne, but she’s quite a feisty little girl,” royal commentator Charles Rae told GB News (per OK). “And she at times does put her brothers—including George, who one day will be king—in their place.”

Rae added of the newly minted nine-year-old (she turned a year older on May 2) “She tells them off when she needs to,” he said. “She was dubbed at nursery school as ‘the warrior princess.’ She’s all sweet and nice and everything else, but she can tell them off if she wants to.”

Princess Charlotte

Charlotte knows when to perform her royal role...

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Princess Charlotte

...and when to let loose and be a kid.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

William and Kate released a new portrait of Charlotte for her birthday last week, and body language expert Judi James told The Sun “This is such a confident and grownup look from Charlotte, who has moved on from the childlike trait of standing straight and awkward in front of the camera and who has opted instead to strike a pose that looks assertive and relaxed, with a smile that is less of a fun grin and more of a signal of warmth and empathy,” she said.

Princess Charlotte 9th birthday photo

William and Kate released a photo for Charlotte's birthday last week, taken by her mom, Kate.

(Image credit: Courtesy of The Prince and Princess of Wales / Instagram)

James added that “Her lean creates a series of body angles, but the way she has chosen a high wall to lean her elbow on suggests a quiet desire to dominate and take the lead,” she said. “The lifted arm also creates one pit-bare gesture that is another sign of confidence.”

The photo demonstrates Charlotte’s natural “leadership,” James said, and “her head tilt, though, shows a desire to be liked, too, suggesting a mix of personality traits that could make her a very popular leader in life.”

We have no doubt that’s what’s in store!

Princess Charlotte

The coolest.

(Image credit: Getty Images)
Rachel Burchfield
Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor

Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of Podcast Royal, a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts I’d Rather Be Reading, which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more.