Prince George and Princess Charlotte have become regulars at Wimbledon, and this year, they joined their parents to watch Jannik Sinner defeat Alexander Zverev in the men’s finals on July 12. Following the exciting match, Prince William and Princess Kate brought their kids to meet the players, and their post-game conversation with Jannik Sinner reveals one of their favorite hobbies.

In a video shared on X, Sinner chats with the Wales family after his win, with Princess Kate sharing that it was “really inspiring for the children” to watch “tennis at that level.” Sinner then asked Prince George if he plays tennis “every day,” with the 12-year-old responding, “Uh, not every day, but weekends.”

“You as well?” the Wimbledon champion asked Princess Charlotte, who responded with an enthusiastic “Yeah!” Prince William then turned and said something to his children, which made both George and Charlotte burst out laughing.

This isn’t the first time Prince George and Princess Charlotte have spoken about their love of tennis. Last year, the Wales children met British men's doubles champions Lloyd Glaspool and Julian Cash, who asked the kids if they played the sport.

After George and Charlotte said “yes,” Cash asked if they were “good” at tennis, prompting Prince George to look at Princess Kate and shrug, saying, “I'm all right.”

He’s likely more than “all right” at tennis, as William and Kate’s children take regular lessons at a private London club, and George has been playing the sport since he was just five. The family also has their own tennis court at both their new home, Forest Lodge, and their Norfolk country house, Anmer Hall—perfect for practicing their future Wimbledon serves.

Princess Charlotte is growing up, and so is her style. Prince William and Princess Kate’s 11-year-old daughter channeled her mother as she attended the Wimbledon men’s finals, debuting a custom Jenny Packham dress with sweet flutter sleeves. In previous years, Charlotte has shown off handmade friendship bracelets and a Pandora charm bracelet while cheering on her favorite players, but this year, she went for an updated version of the style.

Charlotte showed off a Ted Baker bracelet as she attended the final day of the tennis championships on July 12, trading her Lion King-adorned Pandora style for a goldtone design featuring dainty heart, flower, pearl and bow charms.

The $85 style is still available at Nordstrom, and while it's an adult bracelet, it's a piece of jewelry that works for any age, as Princess Charlotte proved on Sunday afternoon. The sweet symbols make this an appropriate tween accessory, but the design wouldn't look out of place on Princess Kate.

Charlotte often wore adorable smocked dresses similar to the Liberty print styles worn by Queen Elizabeth as a child, but over the past year, she's leaned into proper designer clothing. Along with her Jenny Packham Wimbledon dress, the 11-year-old wore a floaty ivory style by one of Princess Kate's favorite designers, Alessandra Rich, to Trooping the Colour last month.

As for her new bracelet, charms were also a favorite of Charlotte's late grandmother, Princess Diana. Jewelry expert Nilesh Rakholia, founder of Abelini, tells Marie Claire that Princess Diana's gold charm bracelet represented “a collection of meaningful symbols connected to her life, family and experiences.”

She rarely wore her gold bracelet in public, but it featured personal charms such as Prince William and Prince Harry's initials and an apple to represent her love of New York City.

Unlike Charlotte’s Pandora bracelet, which, like Diana's, has personal charms such as her May birthstone, an engraved heart and Nala from The Lion King, the preteen's Ted Baker style doesn't have the option to add on new designs. However, Rakholia says the style is “a beautiful example of how even small details can carry meaning.”

“The heart is one of the most recognizable symbols of love and family, while the flower represents growth, happiness and new beginnings,” he says of her charms. “The bow has a sense of connection and togetherness, often associated with gifts, celebrations and the bonds between people.”

Pearls, of course, have long been associated with the Royal Family, with Queen Elizabeth in particular known for her love of a pearl necklace and earrings. Rakholia notes that the faux pearl charm on Charlotte’s bracelet “adds a timeless quality, for pearls have long been linked with elegance, innocence and tradition.”

“For Charlotte, this bracelet may be a small, grown-up accessory, but it represents something much bigger: the idea that jewelry can tell a story,” Rakholia adds.

Princess Charlotte followed in her mother’s style footsteps at the Wimbledon men’s finals on July 12, wearing a bespoke bright blue dress by one of Princess Kate’s favorite designers, Jenny Packham. But the 11-year-old also matched with mom in terms of one detail of her dress, with both Charlotte and Kate wearing romantic flutter-sleeve styles to the event.

The Princess of Wales went for green on the last day of Wimbledon, debuting a custom Emilia Wickstead dress with dramatic cape detail extending over one shoulder and a delicate flutter sleeve. It’s a style she’s numerous times over the years, including the bright yellow Dolce and Gabbana dress with flutter sleeves she wore to Wimbledon in 2018.

While Charlotte went for a similar sleeve, hers featured more of a butterfly style with a layered, puffier second row of ruffles on top, adding a sweet tween twist to the trend.

I’ve long been a proponent of a flutter sleeve, especially when it comes to wedding guest dresses when you want something a bit more interesting than a traditional cap or short-sleeved style. Plus, if you don’t want to bare your shoulders, a loose, floaty sleeve provides coverage and a fun element to your dress without feeling too hot or restrictive.

Below, find seven dresses that embrace Charlotte and Kate's style for all of your summer celebrations.

Prince William and Princess Kate have made it a tradition to bring their kids to Wimbledon every year, and on Sunday, July 12, Prince George and Princess Charlotte joined their parents for the men’s finals on an especially hot summer day. George, 12, and Charlotte, 11, tried their best to cool down with Queen Camilla-approved battery-operated fans as the temperatures reached close to 90 degrees, but with the royal box directly in the sun, it became necessary to make a quick escape.

Fortunately, Prince William jumped into “dad mode” as the Princess of Wales carried out her duties as the patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC).

The Prince of Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte took an extended break from the tennis action at one point during the men’s finals, according to influencer Laura-Ann Barr, whose seat faced the royal box. In a series of Instagram Stories, she pointed out that the “sun is just too much,” adding that organizers started handing out Wimbledon-branded sun hats in the royal box and Prince William had “taken the kids out for a break!”

With men and boys required to wear a jacket and tie in the royal box, it’s no wonder that the future King and his heir were especially uncomfortable in the heat. Princess Charlotte eventually returned to the box in a video shared by Barr on her Story, but then the Princess of Wales and her daughter left, with Barr writing that the duo likely headed off to find the others, who had been gone “30 to 45 minutes” at that point.

By the time the third set started, the royals were still missing in action, but Barr shared a video of the Wales family returning to their seats, noting it was “one hour later.”

Princess Charlotte followed in Queen Camilla's footsteps and was on double fan duty once she was settled in, pointing a white plastic fan at herself while also using a traditional paper fan. Meanwhile, Prince George held a battery-operated fan in front of his face during the match, and Princess Kate—wearing her old favorite L.K. Bennett sun hat—did the same.

Despite the uncomfortable temperatures, George and Charlotte appeared to be having a great time at the men's finals, laughing as they donned their Wimbledon hats and cheering for their mom as the Princess of Wales presented the trophy to Jannik Sinner.

Following several solo appearances at Wimbledon in 2026, Princess Kate was joined by husband Prince William and two of their kids—Princess Charlotte and Prince George—for the men's singles final on Sunday, July 12. Both George and Charlotte have attended the tennis tournament in the past, but that didn't preclude them from needing their dad to offer a "moment of reassurance," according to one royal expert.

The Daily Mail's royal editor, Rebecca English, shared footage of the Prince and Princess of Wales's arrival at Wimbledon on Instagram. In one clip, Prince William appears to take Prince George aside to check that he's okay.

"The Prince and Princess of Wales have arrived at @Wimbledon with Prince George and Princess Charlotte," English's caption explained. "A sweet moment of reassurance from dad too."

Additional photographs captured Prince William gently touching Prince George's arm, and placing his arm on Princess Charlotte's back. Clearly, the Prince of Wales is very protective of his family.

Prince George recently left Lambrook School—which he attended alongside siblings Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte. The future King will now attend Eton College, his dad's alma mater.

Royal experts have suggested that attending Eton will be an important step in Prince George's journey towards kingship.

Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith previously told People, "Eton was a much-needed haven for William." She continued, "It will give George a rigorous education that he will need for his role."

The Good Schools Guide editor, Melanie Sanderson, also told the outlet, "As parents, you do talk about your school days, and your kids can relate to that. I'm confident that [George] will be very well prepared."

And with Prince William's gentle reassurance, it seems as though George, Charlotte, and Louis will all be ready for their future roles.

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Despite being famous the world over, Princess Kate still seemingly enjoys flying under the radar whenever she can. Case in point: on Friday, July 10, the Princess of Wales made an unexpected trip to watch the ballet in London with two of her children.

In an X post shared on July 11, one royal fan revealed, "Last night, at the Royal Ballet, my neighbors were the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, as well as Prince George and Princess Charlotte."

A sneaky photo taken by the fan revealed that Princess Kate and Princess Charlotte were actually accompanied by Prince Louis—Prince George didn't appear to be in attendance, sadly.

According to the official schedule, Princess Kate and her children attended a performance carried out by ballet students. "The Royal Ballet School returns to Opera Holland Park with an inspiring celebration of 100 years of training at the foundation of British ballet," the program noted.

The royal children have already made multiple appearances throughout 2026, with Trooping the Colour throwing them into the royal spotlight in a big way. However, Kate's visit to the ballet alongside Charlotte and Louis appears to be a low-key outing without any fanfare. Instead, the trio seemed to be enjoying the performance, just like all other attendees. Although it's understandable that royal fans would be excited to spot Kate, Charlotte, and Louis at a public performance, hopefully they were allowed to enjoy the event uninterrupted.

After attending the ballet on July 10, Princess Kate made an appearance at Wimbledon on July 11 for the women's singles final, at which she presented the winner's trophy.

Princess Kate recently completed the National Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds and awareness for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. As well as sharing her own insights about taking part in the activity, the Princess of Wales shared photos of her three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—who greeted her wearing matching outfits.

The Princess of Wales underwent the physical challenge, which involved climbing three mountains in the space of 24 hours, alongside her brother James Middleton. Upon completion, Kate's husband, Prince William, their three children, and Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, were all present to celebrate the victory.

Notably, Princess Charlotte and her two brothers all wore dark jeans with trendy sneakers for their mom's emotional return.

In some of the photos, it appears as though Princess Charlotte was overcome with emotion when reuniting with her mom. When the young princess seemed to burst into tears, Princess Kate gave her a huge hug.

Per the Princess of Wales's caption, "This time last week, completing the National Three Peaks Challenge. A huge thank you to everybody who has supported The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity."

When announcing her participation in the challenge, Kate wrote on social media, "Cancer doesn't just affect the body. It changes how you think and feel and profoundly affects every aspect of life. I know this personally, and that the journey through and beyond treatment requires more than medicine alone."

She also noted that she was taking part in the "National Three Peaks Challenge, not simply as a physical endeavor but as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back."

Royal fans can donate to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity online.

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Prince William and Princess Kate might not have received an invitation to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Madison Square Garden wedding, but the royals certainly still have a connection to the football family. During the Prince of Wales's unexpected appearance on the "New Heights" podcast, Jason Kelce revealed the funny dilemma he experienced when meeting young royals, Princess Charlotte and Prince George, at the Eras Tour.

Travis pointed out that, while meeting Prince William, Princess Charlotte, and Prince George, his brother Jason had no idea what to do with his open beer. Basically, the NFL star worried that drinking alcohol in front of the royal children might have broken some unknown royal protocol.

"Yeah, it wasn't a joke," Jason shared during William's "New Heights" episode. "It was real. Well, you want to be respectful and know the protocols."

As for what he'll never forget about meeting members of the Royal Family at Swift's Eras Tour, Jason explained, "Princess Charlotte was still the highlight for me. I had four daughters as well, so I mean, she was great."

Prince William was pretty impressed with the revelation that Jason was a dad to four daughters, saying, "Now, congratulations." The prince continued, "Having four daughters. I don't know how you do that."

Jason joked in response, "That is definitely a difficult task. The hardest job."

In spite of his concerns about abiding by royal protocol, Jason appears to have made quite an impact on Prince William, and vice versa.

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Princess Kate made a surprise appearance at the Wimbledon championships on Thursday, July 2, breaking her years-long streak of dresses and skirts with a linen trouser suit. The Princess of Wales chose a bright blue Gabriela Hearst blazer and coordinating linen trousers for her Wimbledon appearance, but what most fans probably didn’t notice was her embroidered friendship bracelet.

Swiftie Princess Charlotte has sported homemade braided and beaded designs over the past few years, with the bracelets then showing up on everyone from Prince William to King Charles. Kate’s blue and green embroidery floss style was hidden under her blazer sleeve, but was visible in multiple photos as she engaged with tennis fans at the event.

Kate's Charlotte-approved accessory comes ahead of Taylor Swift’s wedding weekend, with the pop star reported to be holding her rehearsal dinner on Thursday and wedding celebration on Friday, July 3 at Madison Square Garden.

Although Princess Charlotte didn’t join her mom for the tennis action this time, she’s likely to make an appearance at the men’s or women’s finals later this month. The 11-year-old princess has joined her parents at Wimbledon multiple times over the years, including the men’s singles finals in July 2025.

Along with her bracelet, the Princess of Wales accessorized with a pair of previously worn lapis and moonstone drop earrings by Carousel Jewels, wearing her hair in a bouncy ponytail to show off the gemstone style.

Prince William marked both his 44th birthday and Father’s Day on Sunday, June 21, with his celebrations coming after a busy week of royal events. The Prince of Wales attended Trooping the Colour and Royal Ascot alongside King Charles, Queen Camilla and Princess Kate, and to honor his birthday, shared a special photo of himself with Princess Charlotte on social media. Royal expert and former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said that for William, family coming first is a marked shift in how the monarchy operates.

King Charles grew up with his mother, Queen Elizabeth, as an example of duty above everything, and Prince William has been careful to prioritize time with his children first—even when the public questions why he doesn’t carry out as many royal engagements as the rest of his family.

“As we know, and in the face of some criticism, William has made the conscious and unabashed choice to put his children first whenever humanly possible,” Bond told the Mirror. “I’m sure his wife and kids love him all the more for that.”

“This is where he has drawn a distinct line between himself and his father,” Bond added. “Not that Charles was a bad parent, but he was often an absent parent because his work diary is always crammed.”

Although The King has prioritized family events in a way his mother likely wouldn't have—attending his nephew Peter Phillips's wedding on the same day as the Epsom Derby, for example—Prince William has been clear that he will always put Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis first.

Instead of staying for the full event, Prince and Princess of Wales left Royal Ascot early enough to be home for dinner with the kids—as I noticed when their car whizzed past me in the royal enclosure last Wednesday an hour before the last race was due to begin.

Bond said that it's also evident that William and Kate are a team in a way that Charles and Diana were not. “He and Catherine seem like equal partners in a relationship where, by dint of his birth, he could act as if they weren’t,” she noted. The royal expert continued that “perhaps William is more dependent on Catherine than the other way round.”

The Royal Family has found themselves incredibly busy recently, with high-profile events such as Trooping the Colour, Garter Day, and Royal Ascot taking place within days of each other. But on Sunday, June 21, Princess Kate and her children—Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and Prince Louis—took some time out from their hectic schedules to pay tribute to the future King himself, Prince William.

The Prince and Princess of Wales's official Instagram account shared the special message honoring William on June 21, which marks both Father's Day and his 44th birthday. For the occasion, the royals shared a previously unseen photo of William posing with daughter Princess Charlotte, which was taken on the same day as Trooping the Colour by royal photographer Matt Porteous.

"Happy birthday and Father's Day to the best Papa in the World! We love you very much," the caption said. It was signed off simply with the initials of Princess Kate and their three children: "C, G, C & L."

As well as attending all of the aforementioned royal events this week, Prince William also paid a visit to carbon-negative farm the Apricot Centre in Totnes, Devon, to learn about their farming practices.

During the visit, he spoke to managing director Rachel Phillips about his three children—George, Charlotte, and Louis. "[William] was quite impressed with our strawberries and was telling me in Norfolk his children grow strawberries, raspberries, and lettuce and have a small kitchen garden," she explained, via Hello! magazine.

Phillips continued, "He was asking me how we grew them, and we talked about how we stop our children eating them all."

While Prince William jokes about his children's cheeky habits, it's clear that George, Charlotte, and Louis are very grateful for their father, who just so happens to be the heir apparent.

Prince William and Princess Kate seemingly have their work cut out for them raising three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The Prince and Princess of Wales recently moved into their "forever home," Forest Lodge, and they also have a country home, Anmer Hall in Norfolk. During a recent royal engagement, Prince William opened up about one particular thing he has to stop his children from doing at home.

On Thursday, June 18, Prince William made a solo visit to carbon-negative farm the Apricot Centre in Totnes, Devon, where he met with managing director Rachel Phillips.

Phillips said following the visit, "[William] was quite impressed with our strawberries and was telling me in Norfolk his children grow strawberries, raspberries, and lettuce and have a small kitchen garden," as reported by Hello! magazine.

Phillips continued, "He was asking me how we grew them, and we talked about how we stop our children eating them all."

Clearly, Prince William can't seem to stop George, Charlotte, and Louis from eating all of the fruit before it even makes it indoors.

According to its website, "The Apricot Centre grows biodynamic food which nurtures local people and communities. We offer regenerative farming support, consultancy for land-based businesses, and nature-based wellbeing therapies."

The Apricot Centre also hosts regular events and courses, and offers a range of fresh produce in its farm store.

As for whether or not Prince William will ever be successful in stopping George, Charlotte, and Louis from eating all of the fruit from the garden remains unclear. Still, at least the royal kids seem to have an appetite for healthy and fresh food.

Prince George will be turning 13 in July and heading off to boarding school in September, and with some big milestones ahead for the Wales family, one former butler is weighing in on how they might take a U-turn from previous royals.

Speaking to Select Car Leasing, Harrold—who served King Charles at Highgrove House from 2004 to 2011—says that learning to drive “is a huge thing for the royals as so many of their homes are in the middle of nowhere.” Even though George and his siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are years away from hitting the road, Harrold explains the process that goes behind young royals learning to drive—and why Princess Kate and Prince William could potentially switch things up.

He says that like any other member of the public, members of the Royal Family have to pass a driving test to get their license—except for the monarch. “They have to do the same theory and practical tests, and have to do all the revision and practice that comes with them,” Harrold shares.

Members of the Royal Family will use a private driving instructor, with Harrold noting, “The chosen instructor would have gone through security checks, but apart from that it’s not much different to how normal teens learn.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales have raised their children in a much different way than previous royals, and Harrold notes that they could choose to teach their kids in a more “hands-on” way.

“When it comes to teaching George, Charlotte and Louis how to drive, I wonder if Kate and William might take a more hands-on approach as they do with so much of their private lives,” he says.

Harrold adds he “could imagine Kate getting behind the wheel and teaching them herself when they’re old enough,” as the Princess of Wales is ”a very calm person” and “would make a great teacher.”

Circle back in 2030 when it's time for 17-year-old George to get behind the wheel.

Over the weekend, Princess Charlotte attended Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace alongside members of the Royal Family. The young princess matched her pearl bracelet to a similar item worn by her mom, Princess Kate, and accessorized her dress with an oversize white bow. According to a body language expert, Princess Charlotte's Trooping the Colour appearance was an important moment in her royal career.

Body language expert Judi James spoke to the Express about the young royal's latest outing, saying, "Charlotte is now officially the one who does all the heavy lifting in terms of sweetly stepping up into a star role at formal royal events like this."

James continued, "While Louis waved away happily and George grinned but rationed his waves, Charlotte leaned forward and turned to both sides to ensure every member of the waiting crowds got a wave of recognition from her."

Royal fans also took notice of Princess Charlotte's attendance at Trooping the Colour 2026, with many noting the royal's growing confidence.

"Princess Charlotte is out there being the main character," one X user wrote. Another person said of the princess, "Incredible aura at such a young age." One Royal Family fan labeled Charlotte as "pure class with such great elegance."

Someone else compared Charlotte to Princess Kate, writing, "She's like her mom...Confidence, maturity, and aura." Meanwhile, an additional commenter suggested, "She looks so much like Diana."

One royal fan even made a suggestion regarding the line of succession. "I wish Princess Charlotte would be next in line after William," they wrote on X. "She could run the world! They say she is the one who runs the household."

Basically, along with brothers Prince George and Prince Louis—who coordinated with mom Princess Kate at Trooping the Colour—Princess Charlotte is making quite the impression on royal fans.

Princess Charlotte's adoration of Jellycat's range of plushies and cute products such as bag charms and keychains is no secret. Even Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's daughter, Princess Lilibet, has shown love for the adorable brand. Now, King Charles appears to have taken notice of the growing Jellycat-inspired plushie trend.

Royal Family fans are able to shop a plethora of products in the Royal Collection Trust Shop, and in person at royal properties such as Buckingham Palace. The latest items to appear in the Royal Family's online store are a range of stuffed toys relating to regal afternoon teas.

One of the items is a "smiling teapot plush keyring," described as "a charming character inspired by our iconic Great Exhibition range and a playful addition to our Tea at the Palace collection."

Joining the teapot is a matching fluffy teacup, a cucumber sandwich plush keychain, and a strawberry cupcake keychain.

As emotional support accessories remain all the rage in 2026, it seems likely that King Charles's latest product release will be a big hit with royal fans.

Last year, Lilibet appeared on Meghan's Instagram account carrying Jellycat's Amuseable Rainbow Bag, which retails for $40.

Meanwhile, when Prince William was gifted two Jellycat toys for his kids—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—in May 2025, he replied (via the Daily Mail), "My children will love these...They are children's currency."

As King Charles is known to take style tips from his granddaughter, Princess Charlotte, by wearing friendship bracelets she's made for him, it seems entirely likely he drew inspiration from her stuffed toy collection for his latest Royal Collection Trust products.

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Trooping the Colour is always a regal and stylish affair. Case in point: Princess Kate arrived at the 2026 event wearing a Catherine Walker coat dress featuring a chic Princess Diana reference. As for Prince George, he made sure to match his tie to mom Kate's dress. But it was Princess Charlotte's sleek mommy-and-me accessory that actually stole the show.

Princess Charlotte has often followed in mom Princess Kate's sartorial footsteps. From wearing similar coat dresses to matching their hairstyles, Kate and Charlotte are truly in sync when it comes to fashion. And at Trooping the Colour 2026, Princess Charlotte opted to wear one of her mom's trendiest accessories.

Arriving alongside other members of the Royal Family, Princess Charlotte was seen wearing a white dress with a subtle blue floral design. She accessorized the outfit with a Jane Taylor London Small Fauna Organza Bow in White in her hair.

Both Princess Charlotte and Princess Kate are known for wearing on-trend ribbon bows at special events. For instance, at 2025's "Together at Christmas" carol concert, Princess Charlotte wore a stylish velvet bow in her hair. And at King Charles's annual pre-Christmas luncheon, both Charlotte and Kate wore velvet bows. While Kate opted for a large and floppy black velvet bow, Charlotte wore a smaller, bright red ribbon-style bow in her hair.

As always, Princess Kate has seemingly ensured that all of her children look stylish and comfortable for Trooping the Colour, while letting their individual personalities shine through. And when it comes to Charlotte's adorable bow, it's sure to start another trend amongst royal fans imminently.

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Prince William and Princess Kate are extremely dedicated parents, often shaping their work schedules around school pick ups and soccer games. When it comes to childhood, they want their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—to have as normal a childhood as possible. While Princess Kate grew up in a normal, middle class suburb with picnics and at home birthday parties, Prince William grew up with the enormous pressure that he would one day be King.

That pressure of Prince William’s future must have only bred tension between him and his brother, Prince Harry. Famously known as ‘the heir and the spare,’ Prince Harry was clearly upset by the comparisons—so much so that he titled his memoir Spare, a sniping comment towards his role within the Royal Family. Global parenting expert Jo Frost, famously known as the Supernanny, suspects Prince William and Princess Kate will raise their children in a different way.

"I think William and Catherine understand the importance of nurturing the sibling relationships between the three of them,” Frost told Hello. Prince William and Princess Kate have already emphasized the importance of treating their children equally, doing as much as possible to give each child equal attention and importance when they are in public. “Dare I say it, in their family, it would never be the 'heir and spare'. It would be about the importance of all of them.”

"The understanding that it really takes a team, with the important roles in upholding the crown and the monarchy,” Frost said of the future of the British Royal Family. When Prince George is eventually King, he will want his brother and sister at his side carrying on as working members of the Royal Family. “We're seeing these very early seeds now, with respect to what it means to support each other and to nurture together."

Jo Frost believes that their home life is key to nurturing those relationships. "They have a lovely balance of that and behind closed doors, no doubt they're playing games and winding each other up as siblings do, teasing each other, having fun and baking cookies and being out in nature,” Frost said. This image of a happy, messy, normal home life was recently echoed by Katie Nicholl, who wrote “We can just imagine that Forest Lodge will be a home with muddy boots outside, dogs and kids running in and out of the garden, something lovely cooking on the stove.”

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis only make a few public appearances a year, but when they do, there’s one member of Prince William and Princess Kate’s family who keeps everyone in check. Princess Charlotte, 11, has been spotted correcting her brothers’ behavior on several occasions, and Supernanny star Jo Frost says the princess is a pro at reminding her siblings of the proper etiquette.

“Charlotte knows the rules. She's the one in the middle,” Frost told Hello! in a new interview. “She knows how to keep everyone in good stead.” During Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, Charlotte gently nudged Prince George when he put his hand up, and she appeared to tell Prince Louis to put his arms down as she repeatedly tapped him during Trooping the Colour 2024.

The childhood behavior expert noted that Princess Charlotte’s big brother might not love her corrections at times, even if he’s ultimately “grateful” for the help.

“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, when he's taking it all in as well,” Frost said.

She added that when it comes to etiquette, the Wales children have been “raised with an understanding of royal procedures and protocols” as well as understanding “there's a time and a place” for certain behaviors.

Charlotte, in particular, seems to take after her mother when it comes to royal protocol, but Frost said that kids being kids at events is “relatable to any family.”

“For example, there's a wedding or a christening coming up and we know that it would be good manners and etiquette to be quiet while the choir is singing and the service is happening,” she said. “That, to me, is just responsible parenting, and we see that.”

Princess Kate and Prince William have seemingly built a close-knit family unit with their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. However, according to the Prince of Wales, there might be some tensions developing at home regarding one particular loyalty.

Prince William has made his devotion to Aston Villa soccer club clear, with the royal even declining a phone call while attending a recent match. But when it comes to his kids, Prince William doesn't necessarily have the full support of George, Charlotte, and Louis.

As reported by GB News, during his visit to Nansledan near Newquay, England on May 21, Prince William reportedly discussed Aston Villa's victory over Sport-Club Freiburg in Turkey the previous day.

While relaying his excitement over Aston Villa's win, the royal allegedly revealed that daughter Princess Charlotte has chosen not to support his favorite team. Instead, the young royal reportedly supports Chelsea Football Club, taking after mom Princess Kate.

Royal fans were quick to weigh in about the news on social media. "As a Chelsea fan, I am delighted by the news that Princess Charlotte is a Chelsea fan," one person wrote.

Someone else commented, "It's likely the Chelsea women's team she's a fan of." Another commenter noted, "He said he lets his children choose who they support and she supports Chelsea."

Despite being committed to Aston Villa, Prince William previously suggested he was happy for his three kids to support any team.

"I'm kind of hoping they'll all find their own teams in time," he told the Sun in March 2025. "They don't all have to be Villa fans."

The Prince of Wales continued, "I'm trying not to be biased but obviously they see how passionate I am about it and they watch the matches with me. I'm trying to spread the love a little bit."

Prince William and his kids showed they were certified Swifties after attending the Eras Tour in London, and in a new interview on the U.K.’s Heart Radio “Heart Breakfast” show, he insinuated that he might be heading to the celebrity wedding of the year.

When asked by co-hosts Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden if he had “got an invite” to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s upcoming nuptials, the Prince of Wales gave a cheeky “no comment” response that made the radio personalities gasp.

“I’m hoping and I’m sure there might be an invitation around, but we’ll see," Prince William added. He went on to dedicate a song to his daughter, with Thurston saying, “This is for Charlotte, we know she's listening in the car on the school run.”

The Prince of Wales said that Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were both big fans of Swift, but that Charlotte especially was “obsessed” with the pop star. “We went to see her on her Eras Tour and it was amazing,” he said.

“It was at Wembley, so we had a box, so we were watching from up there, which is quite a long way from the actual action’s happening, but the atmosphere was so incredible,” Prince William said. “You could actually feel the floors shaking when they were all dancing, so it was brilliant.”

Prince George also came along for the family’s big night out, but Princess Kate had to miss the concert while she was recovering from cancer treatment.

If there was one song he could listen to for the rest of his life, William said he couldn’t pick, but said he likes “dance songs” and “motivational” music. And as for the Princess of Wales’s favorite songs, William revealed that she’s a fan of Raye and requested her hit “Where Is My Husband.”

“Love a bit of Raye. Where's my husband?” the Prince of Wales said. “As my wife calls, keeps asking, ‘Where IS my husband?’”

Prince George is wrapping up his final year at Lambrook School this summer before heading to his next adventure, and during a rare interview, Prince William revealed that his eldest son, 12, has already got started on one aspect of boarding school life.

While speaking to Heart Radio hosts Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston, the Prince of Wales was asked to give a shout-out to his kids, who were getting ready for their school day. But in the process, he revealed that Prince George is already spending some nights away at school.

“Charlotte and Louis—because George is boarding last night—Charlotte and Louis, if you're listening, make sure you're on time, please, make sure you're not fighting over who listens to what, this morning,” he said.

Lambrook School, where all three Wales children attend, offers flexible boarding, meaning day students can choose to sleep over occasionally. It seems that George isn't the only one who sometimes chooses to stay overnight at school, with Prince William discussing their busy mornings on the radio show.

When asked if it was “chaotic” getting Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis out the door, the future King said, “It can be. It depends if there is a guitar lesson or a music lesson, you have to get the guitar in the car, no we aren’t taking the car, are we boarding are we not? Are we seeing friends or are we not? All of that going on in the morning.”

Prince William and Princess Kate will likely be announcing George's secondary school choice soon, as his last day of school at Lambrook is in early July. While the Prince of Wales's alma mater, Eton College, was widely assumed to be where George would attend, Oundle School in Northamptonshire is now considered to be in the running.

William and Kate were spotted bringing Charlotte for a tour of the boarding school earlier this month, with sources telling Marie Claire that they're considering enrolling all three children at the prep school.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are visiting Northern Ireland this week, and proud grandpa Charles is bringing home a tween-approved souvenir for Princess Charlotte. While visiting Belfast, The King met with small businesses who are supported by The King’s Trust, including jewelry business Empower Flower, who gave him a special something to bring home to 11-year-old Charlotte.

While speaking with business owners at the W5 Life (Learning Innovation for Everyone) program, King Charles met Empower Flower’s owner, Rachel Rose, who told him she’s “trying to encourage people to come off their phones and use their hands to create some magic,” per Hello!

She then gave The King a beaded handbag charm she made for Princess Charlotte, with the monarch replying, “Thank you, she will love that.”

In an exclusive interview with Hello! earlier this month, royal biographer Robert Jobson said that Charlotte “enjoys a close relationship” with her grandfather. “He totally adores her,” the author said. “She loves it when he reads to her in his funny voices.”

Charlotte, who calls King Charles “Grandpa Wales,” is expected to make her next appearance on Saturday, June 13, when she joins the Royal Family for The King's official birthday parade, Trooping the Colour. She's also joined Prince William and Princess Kate at the Wimbledon championships over the past few years, wearing handmade friendship bracelets that she seems to have shared with her grandpa, too.

With Prince William rumored to be heading to the United States for the World Cup, it's possible Charlotte and her siblings could tag along—and what better time to show off her new bag charm?

Princess Kate is currently in Reggio Emilia, Italy, where she is continuing her research into early years development. During the trip, the Princess of Wales has gotten her hands dirty, but also delighted royal fans with her outfits. Although this marks Princess Kate's first solo trip abroad since her cancer diagnosis, the royal is keeping reminders of home close to her heart with a unique bracelet.

On the second day of her trip, Princess Kate was spotted wearing an eye-catching fabric bracelet, featuring a floral deisgn and several gold charms, which she wore alongside her Cartier Ballon Bleu Watch. Sharing details of the jewelry commission on Instagram, the label explained, "Atelier Molayem is deeply honored that HRH Catherine, Princess of Wales, chose to wear our 9kt yellow gold cube initials bracelet from the 'ABC' collection."

The caption continued, "Crafted in collaboration with @relaisroncolo1888 and paired with original Liberty fabric, the jewel celebrates the people we hold closest to our hearts, those we wish to carry with us always."

While examining wildlife during her visit to Scuola dell'infanzia ("Salvador Allende"), the bracelet was visible on Princess Kate's wrist. Reminiscent of Princess Charlotte's adorable friendship bracelets, which she lovingly gifted to family members, Princess Kate's new piece of jewelry is an important memento referencing all three of her children.

Discussing Princess Kate's trip to Italy, one source told People, "She's looking forward to being here, she's energized, she's enthused, she's excited to see Reggio Emilia in action and meet the people here too."

Despite being so far from home, Princess Kate is likely comforted by her new bracelet containing her children's initials, which makes the new piece of jewelry even more special.

Whenever Prince William gets the chance to praise his children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—and their many talents, he generally seems to take it. Case in point: while carrying out an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, during which he handed out a plethora of awards, Prince William was also happy to talk about his daughter's sporting prowess.

During the event, Prince William bestowed former England women's soccer player Kerry Davis with an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire). Afterwards, Davis spoke to reporters and revealed some of the topics she spoke to the Prince of Wales about.

"I asked him about his daughter because she plays," Davis explained (via the Independent), referencing Princess Charlotte's soccer skills. "It's important to keep progressing with the women's game, don't rest on our laurels, basically," Davis shared.

Prince William and Princess Kate have both shared details about their daughter's interest in sporting activities, which reportedly includes gymnastics, competitive running, tennis, and soccer.

While visiting Wakefield Trinity Rugby League Club earlier this year, the Princess of Wales explained (per Hello!), "[Charlotte] does loads of sport but not rugby." However, Kate did previously share that Charlotte plays rugby at home with her brothers, George and Louis, but not at school.

In March, professional soccer player Lucy Bronze told Hello! magazine, "Prince William's a huge fan of ours, and I'm sure his kids are as well, so it's really nice to get that support."

Bronze continued, "He's such an important person to the country and has such a huge influence on so many people...It would be amazing if his daughter played for England one day."

As always, Prince William has made his fatherly support extremely clear, meaning Princess Charlotte can pursue all of her many talents.

Princess Kate’s first day in Italy has been an action-packed one, meeting with enormous crowds of fans, visiting a local school and getting her hands dirty at an immersive workshop. While Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis didn’t join their mother on her two-day visit to Reggio Emilia, Italy, Kate revealed some of the activities she found to keep them busy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Princess of Wales is visiting the city to learn more about the Reggio Emilia philosophy of early childhood education, which focuses on self-directed, experiential learning. While visiting the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre—a meeting place for international researchers, teachers, and families—the Princess of Wales participated in one of the center’s specialist atelier’s, a clay modeling workshop.

Per the Telegraph’s “Your Royal Appointment” newsletter, royal editor Hannah Furness noted that the princess had no problem with mess during the event. “Don’t worry! I have children—I’m used to it,” she said. Princess Kate then shared some of the hands-on activities she found to do at home with her three children.

Instead of relying on screens, Kate said she tried to keep their curiosity alive with hands-on crafts.

“We tried to find as many objects in the house as we could with as many colors in the rainbow as possible,” the Princess of Wales told the group.

This tactic was visible when Prince Louis showed off his messy, paint-covered hands in his second birthday photo. The prince, who turned two in 2020, created a handprint painting with the primary colors, showing Kate’s dedication to sensory-based projects.

After her visit to the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, the Princess of Wales visited a local school that uses the Reggio Emilia approach, Scuola Comunale d'Infanzia Anna Frank.

Students formed a line to hug the princess in one adorable moment shared by Chris Ship of ITV on Instagram, and if Wednesday was any indication, the Princess of Wales is in for many more hugs on the final day of her trip over the next day.

Prince George will become King one day, but Prince William and Princess Kate have been careful to give him as normal of a childhood as possible. Whether it’s playing with his dogs, Orla and Otto, or taking part in school sports, 12-year-old George has experienced a much different childhood than his grandfather, King Charles. However, royal biographer Robert Jobson has shared that the preteen prince still has to get used to one aspect of being a royal.

In an interview with Hello! magazine to mark Princess Charlotte’s 11th birthday, Jobson said that Charlotte and George share a sweet bond. He points to the viral moment when royal mega fan John Loughrey greeted the future King on Christmas morning 2025. “George, I've got something to say to you. Granny Diana would be ever so proud of you,” Loughrey, who has been a supporter of the Royal Family for decades, said in a clip shared on TikTok.

Prince George looked slightly uncomfortable during the interaction, but said a polite “Thank you” to the fan as Princess Charlotte placed a supportive hand on his back. Jobson said that little sister Charlotte’s move was “an instinctive gesture of support in an unusual situation.”

“George is a little bit reticent about [royal superfans],” Jobson added. “When she put her hand on his back, I think that's natural. There's no training. They learn by observation.”

At the time of the interaction, royal fans were quick to voice their opinions on social media, with some calling the Diana comment “disrespectful” to George and his family.

One user wrote on X, “This is appropriate for immediate family but not for general public. It's so disrespectful and to be fair [he] doesn't know anything about Diana and what would have made her proud.”

While Prince George might not be the most comfortable with interacting with fans just yet, he's only 12, after all. Emily Nash, Hello!'s royal editor, says that Princess Charlotte, however, is more confident with the public.

“Even as a little girl visiting a newborn Prince Louis for the first time, she had a ready wave," she said. “Her parents are introducing their children to the spotlight in a careful and controlled way, and she seems to be taking these occasional forays into public life in her stride so far.”

Princess Charlotte might only be 11, but one day, her father, Prince William, will become King. It’s a lot of responsibility for a tween to take on, but one matter that royal watchers have wondered about for years is which title Charlotte will be granted when she’s an adult. Speaking to Hello! magazine, royal biographer Robert Jobson shared two of the possibilities ahead for Prince William and Princess Kate’s only daughter.

Traditionally, a monarch’s eldest daughter is given the title of the Princess Royal. In Queen Elizabeth’s case, her only daughter, Princess Anne, was granted the title. But the title is not hereditary, meaning it can’t be passed down to Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall. Princess Anne will hold her title for life, but once she dies, it will return to the Crown.

However, Jobson said that it’s not necessarily a given that Prince William will make Charlotte the Princess Royal. “I was told The King wanted to reserve the Duchess of Edinburgh role for her, which could happen,” the author told Hello!

Currently, Prince Edward's wife, Sophie, holds the title of Duchess of Edinburgh. But once Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, dies, the dukedom will revert to the Crown. This makes it possible for Princess Charlotte to be given the duchess title one day in her own right. Sophie, if she outlives Edward, will likely be down as the Dowager Duchess of Edinburgh.

As for when Charlotte receives a title, there's no set time. Although Prince William and Princess Kate were named the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their wedding day, Princess Anne didn't become the Princess Royal until 1987, nearly 15 years after her first marriage.

However, other Princess Royals in history where given the title at birth or upon their 18th birthday, so Prince William could choose to go a different route with his only daughter. For now, Princess Charlotte is busy being a student at Lambrook School, playing with her brothers George and Louis, and enjoying the family's new dog, Otto, who makes a sweet appearance in her 11th birthday video.

King Charles might be a workaholic, but when it comes to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, he shows his softer side. Charlotte, who turned 11 on May 2, is growing in confidence as she prepares to follow in her big brother’s footsteps at boarding school. The princess was spotted touring Oundle School with Prince William and Princess Kate earlier this month, but for the next two years, she’s got plenty of time to enjoy being a kid—including rare quiet moments with her grandpa.

In an exclusive interview with Hello! magazine, royal biographer Robert Jobson said that Charlotte “enjoys a close relationship” with King Charles. “He totally adores her,” the author said. “She loves it when he reads to her in his funny voices.”

It seems to be a special talent of The King, as in 2017, Queen Camilla revealed her husband’s “brilliant” ability to imitate voices when reading to her own grandkids. "Sometimes, when we are with my husband in Scotland, he reads them Harry Potter," she told the Daily Mail. “And he does all the voices, because he is a brilliant mimic.”

“I always think they are going to be wriggling around in the bed, but they sit spellbound,” Queen Camilla added.

As for the Wales children, Jobson shared that unlike Queen Elizabeth, who called her grandfather King George V “Grandpa England,” George, Charlotte and Louis have a different nickname for The King.

“They don't call him Grandpa King, they call him Grandpa Wales,” Jobson said.

Grandpa Wales, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte had one particularly sweet interaction on Easter Sunday. After Louis, 8, told his grandfather "Happy Easter," The King reached out and affectionately patted his grandson's cheek before giving Charlotte a gentle poke on the shoulder.

There’s a new frontrunner in the battle of the boarding schools, with Prince George suspected to be attending Oundle School in Northamptonshire, England. Prince William and Princess Kate also toured the school with Princess Charlotte earlier this month, as Marie Claire exclusively reported. While the Wales family prepares to take their next educational step, there’s three important principles Kate hopes they take with them.

In a 2017 speech the princess gave at the Place2Be Big Assembly for Children's Mental Health Week, she reflected on the values her parents instilled in her and how she applies them to her own kids. Prince Louis wasn’t born at the time, but she said that for George and Charlotte, academic success wasn’t everything.

“My parents taught me about the importance of qualities like kindness, respect, and honesty, and I realize how central values like these have been to me throughout my life,” Princess Kate said. “That is why William and I want to teach our little children, George and Charlotte, just how important these things are as they grow up.”

The Princess of Wales holds these values so dear that she added her childrens' moral characters were equally important as getting good grades. “In my view it is just as important as excelling at maths or sport,” she said.

“I think that every child should have people around them to show them love, and to show them kindness, and nurture them as they grow,” the princess added.

Prince George will finish his time at Lambrook School in July before he moves on to secondary school, and Charlotte, 11, will follow in his footsteps when she turns 13. While 8-year-old Prince Louis is still a bit young to be thinking about boarding school, a source recently told Marie Claire that Prince William and Princess Kate visited Oundle School and “were enquiring about boarding all three of them, but this was a tour with Charlotte for this time.”

Princess Kate and Prince William are known to love dogs and they recently included their two pups—Orla and Otto—in a new family portrait. Now, the Princess of Wales has opened up about how her kids—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—have adjusted to caring for their newest pet.

While attending a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace on May 8, Princess Kate reportedly shared (via Hello! magazine), "[Otto] chewed quite a lot the other day." The Princess of Wales continued, "You have to keep them busy. The first thing we do in the morning is check, 'Has anyone taken Otto out?'"

On May 1, 2026, Princess Kate and Prince William celebrated Otto's first birthday and introduced the pup to royal fans in a social media post. "Welcome to the family, Otto!" the caption explained. "1 today."

In February, Princess Kate revealed that the family had decided to keep one of their older dog Orla's puppies. "You are lovely!" she told a cocker spaniel during a visit to Wales. "We have the same breed of dog." Confirming details about the Wales family's two dogs, Kate told royal fans, "So we've got a little puppy, he's only 8 months, and Orla's 5."

While attending the Buckingham Palace garden party on May 8, Princess Kate also revealed why her children—George, Louis, and Charlotte—"make so much noise" at home.

Per GB News, the Princess of Wales shared that George, Charlotte, and Louis are all permitted to watch soccer matches with their dad, Prince William. "They all make so much noise, even Louis," Princess Kate explained. "They wanted to go to the match but we let them stay up and watch it."

As for early mornings, it seems that George, Charlotte, and Louis all help out with their new puppy, Otto.

Prince William and Princess Kate recently started a new chapter when they moved their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—out of Adelaide Cottage in Windsor and into their "forever home," Forest Lodge. Amid news Princess Charlotte toured a boarding school in Northampton, Princess Kate has revealed why all three of her children "make so much noise" at home.

While attending a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace on May 8, Princess Kate made a sweet revelation about parenting. As reported by GB News, the Princess of Wales reportedly explained that George, Charlotte, and Louis are all permitted to watch soccer matches with their dad, Prince William, even if it means staying up past their respective bedtimes.

"They all make so much noise, even Louis," Princess Kate explained. "They wanted to go to the match but we let them stay up and watch it." Meanwhile, Prince William—a known Aston Villa supporter—claimed to have "bags under the eyes" from watching his team's latest soccer match.

While attending the garden party, Princess Kate also opened up about her love of a fast-growing sport, which she enjoys playing with her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton. Per the outlet, Princess Kate shared, "Have you adopted padel? I love padel, it's such a good game, such a great leveler for those who don't play tennis."

For the chic event, Princess Kate wore a vintage-inspired Self-Portrait cream dress consisting of a wool jacket and a pleated chiffon skirt featuring a polka-dot design.

While Princess Kate always looks regal at official royal events, it's nice to learn that she's just a normal mom when she's at home with three boisterous kids.

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An exclusive report in the Sun indicated that Prince William and Princess Kate were spotted at Oundle School recently as rumors about where Prince George will attend secondary school continue to swirl. But a source tells Marie Claire that the Wales family were actually at the Northamptonshire, England boarding school with Princess Charlotte, not Prince George, on Friday, May 1.

“It was actually Charlotte that they are looking to enroll here,” says an Oundle resident. “They visited the headmaster’s home next door to me." The source adds that Prince William, Princess Kate and Princess Charlotte were seen touring the school and having lunch at Dryden House, a girl’s boarding house at the school for ages 13 through 18.

George’s decision would have been made some time ago, as he’ll be finishing his last year at Lambrook School this July and heading to secondary school in September. However, an insider reveals that the Prince and Princess of Wales “were enquiring about boarding all three of them, but this was a tour with Charlotte for this time.”

Another source adds, “parents have been told it’s probably happening” regarding George attending the school.

Prince William and Princess Kate were spotted outside Cobthorne, the 17th-century property that is home to the school’s headmaster and sits along a public street. The Princess of Wales is seen waving in one photo taken by fan Avvie Cunnington, wearing a beige Reiss blazer with the same Veronica Beard striped top she wore in her 15th anniversary photo with Prince William and their kids.

She completed the outfit with straight-legged trousers, pointed-toe Boden flats and what appears to be her Daniella Draper “G,C,L” necklace with her kids’ initials.

Oundle School is located just about two hours away from the Wales family’s home, Forest Lodge, in Windsor Great Park. While it’s been rumored that Prince George will head to Eton College like his father, Oundle has long been considered a dark horse contender in the battle of the boarding schools.

“They are considering other schools but people in Oundle have their fingers crossed that George will be starting here in September,” an insider told the Sun. “The town would be proud as punch if he attends school here.”

Prince George hasn’t been to Australia since he was a baby, but now the 12-year-old has a good reason to return after Robert Irwin announced that the future King and his siblings have helped him out with a major task. On May 7, the wildlife conservationist, who is the son of the late “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, says that Prince William and Princess Kate’s children helped him name Australia Zoo’s newest addition, a baby kangaroo—and they chose to honor Wales with her moniker.

The joey’s name is Cwtch (pronounced “kutch”) and means “cuddle” in Welsh. “I absolutely love the name ‘Cwtch’—it couldn’t be more perfect for this little joey,” Irwin said in a news release. “I am so thankful to have received special assistance from Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis with the naming.”

In an Instagram Reel, Irwin, who is an ambassador for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize, added that the name Cwtch fits perfectly because she spends so much time cuddling inside her mom's pouch. He then thanked George, Charlotte and Louis again for the “brilliant name.”

At the end of the day, Robert said “it's all about making sure we give back to the wildlife and the wild places where they live.”

Echoing that sentiment, Irwin works closely with the Prince of Wales on the Earthshot Prize, including projects focused on protecting and restoring nature. The pair have become so friendly that Prince William made a special video call to support Robert when he was competing in the most recent season of Dancing With the Stars.

Fans hoping to meet Baby Cwtch can visit her at Australia Zoo, located in the Queensland suburb of Beerwah.

A beige trouser suit has become a wardrobe staple for Princess Kate, and she once again stepped out in a neutral blazer and trousers as she launched a new early childhood development resource on May 6. The Princess of Wales is passionate about educating the public on the importance of the first five years of life, and she kept her own kids close to her heart with her accessories on Wednesday.

Princess Kate returned to a favorite Roland Mouret suit to visit the University of East London, where she launched Foundations for Life: A Guide to Social and Emotional Development. Although her outfit was all business, she added a sentimental shout-out to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis with a special Daniella Draper necklace.

The jeweler’s fixed alphabet necklace is customizable with up to three charms, and Kate’s frequently worn design features “G,C,L” to honor her children. She also gave a subtle nod to George, 12, Charlotte, 11, and Louis, 8, with her $1,700 Daniella Draper heart earrings, which feature three engraved diamond starbursts on them.

“While our society often focuses on academic or physical milestones, research consistently shows that it is our earliest relationships, experiences and environments which lay the foundations for our future health and happiness,” the Princess of Wales wrote in the new guide.

“The quality of our connections—with ourselves, with others and with the world around us – shapes how safe we feel, how we relate, and how we process experiences throughout our lives,” she continued.

On May 6, Kensington Palace also announced that Princess Kate will be exploring a somewhat controversial early childhood educational method next week, traveling to Reggio Emilia, Italy, to learn about the child-centered philosophy named after the city. Keep your eye out for Italian designers—a Dolce and Gabbana suit, perhaps?

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Princess Charlotte is now 11 years old. Princess Kate and Prince William's daughter, who was born on May 2, 2015, celebrated her 11th birthday in 2026 with two very special tributes. And the young royal shared the spotlight with an unexpected guest in a new Instagram video in honor of the momentous occasion.

Firstly, Kate and William posted a brand new portrait of Charlotte, taken by celebrated royal photographer Matt Porteous, on Instagram with the caption, "Wishing Charlotte a very happy 11th birthday!"

Unsurprisingly, royal fans were delighted by the new picture of Princess Charlotte, which showed her posing outdoors in nature.

Later in the day, Kate and William shared a new video montage featuring clips of Princess Charlotte, along with the caption, "Thank you for the lovely birthday messages for Princess Charlotte, 11 today!"

In the footage, Princess Charlotte displayed her talent for cricket and spelled out a message using stones on the beach. Notably, Charlotte wasn't alone in her birthday montage. Instead, the young princess could be seen petting two of the family's adorable dogs—Orla and Otto.

Just days ago, the Prince and Princess of Wales celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary by sharing a new family portrait on social media. Their pups, Orla and Otto, were also included in the photo, which showed the entire Wales clan lying down in a field.

As noted by Marie Claire's senior royal editor, Kristin Contino, Princess Charlotte actually embraced one of Spring 2026's most popular manicure trends in the anniversary snap.

Charlotte's on-trend baby blue manicure cleverly coordinated with her aqua T-shirt and navy shorts in the picture, proving she's already following in mom Princess Kate's stylish footsteps.

It’s hard to believe 15 years have passed since Prince William married Kate Middleton, but the couple shared an adorable family photo to mark their wedding anniversary on Wednesday, April 29. The Waleses coordinated in casual shorts and tees in their sunny new portrait—and Princess Charlotte, 10, made her trendiest style statement yet in the picture.

Ocean-inspired manicures like aqua and teal are right on trend for the season, and although the royals typically stick to nude nails or barely-there pinks, Charlotte sported a baby blue manicure for her parents’ anniversary photo. Her nails coordinated with her aqua T-shirt and navy shorts with pom-pom detail, although the princess skipped a pedicure for the picture.

This isn’t the first time Princess Charlotte has worn nail polish. While attending the Wimbledon championships in July 2025, she showed off a bubblegum pink manicure—a first for the young royal.

Princess Kate wore cream jeans and a short-sleeved, striped Veronica Beard sweater in the sweet portrait, holding hands with Prince Louis, who turned eight last week.

Unlike Princess Charlotte, Kate went with her usual bare nails in the anniversary photo, which was taken by royal-favorite photographer Matt Porteous during the Wales family’s recent family vacation to Cornwall, England.

Prince Louis’s 8th birthday photos were also taken during the trip, and if previous years are any indication, we’ll be seeing several more shots released for other milestones throughout the year. With Princess Charlotte's 11th birthday approaching in May, perhaps we'll get a closer look at her colorful nails.

She may have access to the world’s finest brands and luxury designers, but Princess Kate is a down-to-earth woman at heart, juggling work, family, school drop offs, and sports events. When she isn’t donning a tiara for a State Banquet, she’s playing outside with her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

As one of the most photographed women in the world, she can’t exactly pop out to the store for some new summer clothes for her kids, so she relies on online orders at her favorite brands—and almost every British mum, including the Princess of Wales, shops at Boden.

In Prince Louis's 8th birthday photo, the youngest prince looked cool and cozy in a knit half-zip sweater from Boden. Prince George has a very similar style from the brand in a bold red. In almost every family photo, you can find a Boden piece on either Prince George, Princess Charlotte, or Prince Louis. The Princess of Wales obviously depends on the brand for classically cute styles for her children.

Boden is a British high street brand—meaning, you’ll often find their shops on High Streets throughout the UK—founded in 1991. They are known for bright, colorful designs in comfortable fabrics. Famed for their quality and hand-me-down-worthy longevity, the brand is very popular with parents for growing, rough-and-tumble kids.

Princess Kate also appears to regularly add a little something for herself to the cart. The Princess of Wales often turns to Boden for simple knitwear classics, like cashmere t-shirts and crew neck sweaters. As she has recently shifted into more flat shoes for official engagements, the princess has turned to Boden styles again and again. From flirty floral dresses to frilly-collared blouses, Princess Kate loves the Boden aesthetic for her own wardrobe.

While she could have the finest ateliers crafting her clothing, the Princess of Wales knows the value of super-soft Boden classics for herself and for her children. It helps that Boden flies the flag for UK fashion, and always feels quintessentially British.

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There was once a time when Princess Charlotte was seen in nothing but little Liberty print dresses. While the middle child of the Prince and Princess of Wales opts for more grown up garments these days—she is, after all, turning 11 month—her royal wardrobe used to consist of varying shades of Liberty florals. If you wanted to replicate Princess Charlotte’s style, all you needed was a ditsy floral and a Peter Pan collar.

Liberty prints have been a British icon for over 150 years. “Shortly after opening on Regent Street London in 1875, Arthur Liberty printed the first Liberty fabrics,” the brand shares on its website. Since then, Liberty’s fabrics have become cultural icons, and their ditsy floral prints have become synonymous with little girl’s summer dresses, especially royal princesses.

Alongside Princess Charlotte, younger royal princesses, like Princess Estelle of Sweden and Princess Leonor of Spain were dressed in little floral dresses when they were young.

Princess Charlotte wasn’t a royal fashion trendsetter with these frilly floral frocks. Queen Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret, wore Liberty print and small floral dresses during their childhood, some of which can still be viewed today.

“Matching cotton dresses and bloomers, mostly in Liberty prints, were a staple in the princesses' childhood wardrobe,” said curators at The Royal Collection Trust. Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret’s beloved nanny, Marion Crawford,—affectionately known as ‘Crawfie’—once said that “the children could not have been more simply dressed. They wore cotton frocks mostly blue with a flower pattern.”

The dresses were often made in a pair, with one for the young Princess Elizabeth and another for Princess Margaret Rose. “I think the matching clothes really speak to how close they were as a family. It was iconic for them, and it presented that view [a close family image to the public] at the time.” Matthew Storey, a curator at Historic Royal Palaces, said of the young princesses’ fashion.

Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret’s childhood dresses are on display now at The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace. The Royal Collection Trust’s latest exhibit, Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, showcases these historic examples of little princess fashions.

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In his new biography of Queen Elizabeth, royal author Robert Hardman chronicles her incredible 70-year reign, including the late Queen’s final days. Queen Elizabeth died at the age of 96 in September 2022, making her final major public appearance that June during her Platinum Jubilee. Before her health continued to decline, Hardman says the late Queen expressed one last wish for her 12 great-grandchildren.

In an excerpt from the book shared in the Daily Mail, Hardman wrote that the late Queen hoped to gather the Royal Family one last time in Scotland. As was tradition for decades, Queen Elizabeth traveled to Balmoral Castle one last time that summer, and she wanted all 12 of her great-grandkids, including Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, to be there for a “happy” time.

“The Queen wanted all the great-grandchildren to come up to Balmoral at some point over that summer, even if the Sussexes might not be able to make it,” Hardman wrote.

The author continued that a “friend of the family” told him it was important for Queen Elizabeth that her youngest family members could spend time with her before she died. “She wanted to make sure that they all had a really happy memory of her,” he wrote.

Former royal butler Grant Harrold recently shared that “all sorts of crazy fun things used to happen up there” at Balmoral, and the late Queen certainly would have gone out of her way to make sure her family enjoyed their final summer together.

“She'd make sure that every summer they were there, and it was part of the annual break and there were lots of different activities and things going on,” Harrold shared. “There were numerous visits, like Highland Games and the Ghillies balls. It was a real fun time for them to be up there and it went on for certainly for two months—but a bit longer for The King.”

Although Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet weren’t able to make the trip to Scotland with their parents, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Wales family traveled to Balmoral that summer to spend time with Her Majesty.

Along with George, Charlotte and Louis, the late Queen’s other great-grandchildren included Sienna Mapelli Mozzi (Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi’s daughter), August Brooksbank (Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s son), Savannah and Isla Phillips (Peter Phillips and ex-wife Autumn Kelly’s kids), and Zara and Mike Tindall’s children, Mia, Lena and Lucas.

Queen Elizabeth gained two more great-grandkids after her death when Beatrice’s youngest daughter, Athena, and Eugenie’s youngest son, Ernest, were born.

It’s not often the public gets to see King Charles in grandfather mode, but on Easter Sunday, the monarch made sure to share a short but sweet moment with Prince William’s youngest kids. April 5 marked the first time the Prince and Princess of Wales attended Easter services since 2023, and The King looked thrilled to have the whole family together on Easter for the first time in two years.

Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, stood at the entrance of St George’s Chapel in Windsor as The King and Queen walked into church, with big brother George, 12, standing just behind them. According to the Mirror, professional lip reader Jeremy Freeman said that Louis greeted King Charles with a cheerful “Happy Easter!” prompting The King to give Louis a warm pat on the cheek.

King Charles is also seen gently poking Princess Charlotte’s shoulder as he entered the chapel in one photo, with Prince William smiling down at his daughter.

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are said to call The King "Grandpa Wales," and they've displayed their sweet connection with their grandfather during events like the Platinum Jubilee, when a rambunctious Louis sat on The King's lap.

Prince George was standing too far away to receive his own Grandpa Wales pat on Easter, but he looked taller than ever at the church service, standing practically as tall as Princess Kate, who was sporting high heels with her beige Self-Portrait dress.

Easter marked the first public appearance for the Wales children since Christmas morning, when they joined the rest of the Royal Family for their annual walk to church on the Sandringham estate.

While Prince George and Prince Louis matched with their dad in blue suits, Princess Charlotte coordinated with mom Kate in a baby blue Self-Portrait dress worn under the same tan Catherine Walker coat she wore on Christmas Day.

Like her mom, Princess Kate, Princess Charlotte showed her knack for a royal repeat when she attended Easter Sunday services with the Royal Family at Windsor Castle on April 5. Charlotte’s adorable style has shifted from smocked dresses to slightly more grown-up looks as she approaches her 11th birthday in May—and her latest outfit is straight from mom Princess Kate’s playbook.

Charlotte repeated the bespoke Catherine Walker coat dress she debuted on Christmas morning 2025, with the tan style featuring a brown velvet collar, cuffs and buttons. The British designer has long been a favorite of Princess Kate’s—and before her, Princess Diana—and the custom designer coat marked a big fashion moment for Charlotte.

The 10-year-old princess also wore the same brown Tory Burch ballet flats she sported on Christmas, but she gave the dress a touch of spring with a pale blue dress by one of Kate’s favorite brands.

Per Instagram account Royal Fashion Police, Princess Charlotte wore a new Self-Portrait dress from the label’s kid’s collection. The pastel style features a pleated skirt and ruffled cape detail at the shoulders along with a sweet bow, making it the perfect preteen Easter outfit.

Princess Kate also wore Self-Portrait on Easter morning, repeating a beige blazer dress with embroidered detail and a belted waist. The label has long been a favorite of the Royal Family, with everyone from Princess Beatrice to Zara Tindall wearing Self-Portrait's feminine, fanciful dresses.

Sunday marked the Wales family's first time attending Easter services with the Royal Family since 2023—and Kate and Charlotte's matching moment made their big return even sweeter.

Lindsay Vonn has spoken out for the first time following her shocking crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and she revealed that Prince William reached out to her with a personal letter. The future King and his family are avid skiers and often go to the French Alps on vacation, and Vonn said she extended them a personal invitation to hit the slopes with her one day.

The decorated skier nearly lost her leg after her catastrophic fall at the Winter Olympics in February, but she's now on the road to rehabilitation after multiple surgeries. In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Vonn said that she won’t “close the door on anything” in terms of ending her career, going on to share some of the messages of support she received from famous faces in an Instagram post from the magazine.

An image of a letter that the Prince of Wales wrote to Vonn is shown on the screen as the skier read his message, noting that it “took a long time to get to me, because it was actually a letter.”

“I was watching your recent accident in Cortina and wanted to write to send you my very best wishes,” Prince William wrote in his letter. “As you have often said, in downhill skiing, there are just a few inches that can determine the difference between a clean run and a serious crash.”

The future King praised Vonn’s “resilience” in the note, adding, “The way you wrote about stepping into the start gate with courage and no regrets says so much about your resilience, and is one of the many reasons why you have been an inspiration to so many people throughout your illustrious career.”

Vonn said she was shocked to receive the message, admitting, “I didn't expect that Prince William is watching me, let alone taking the time to write me a letter.” Adding that the message “means a lot,” Vonn said she “offered to ski with him and his family if they ever want to.”

“Maybe in a while,” she added with a laugh, “but at some point.”

Now that Prince George is turning 13 in July, he’ll be leaving Lambrook School—which he attends alongside siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis—and moving on to a new secondary school. Just as many royal insiders insist that the future King will attend Eton College as those who say he will go to Princess Kate’s alma mater, Marlborough College. But when it comes to Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, one royal expert says that there’s another, lesser-known educational institution that could enter the mix.

Speaking on Hello! magazine’s “A Right Royal Podcast,” Melanie Sanderson, managing editor of The Good Schools Guide, said that “the Royal Family has really kept us guessing” when it comes to George’s school choice. Along with Marlborough and Eton, she said a third boarding school, Oundle, is a possibility for the future King, as well as a fourth, dark horse choice.

“Only last weekend, I heard from a very reliable source, Wellington College,” Sanderson said, but she pointed out that it would be more likely for Princess Charlotte and Prince George to head to the Berkshire, England prep school.

“If we just look at Wellington, for example, that’s a really, really interesting school because it was turned around some years ago by a very famous educationalist, Sir Anthony Seldon,” Sanderson said. She continued that Seldon “sort of parachuted in and took a very average school and made it absolutely exceptional.”

Wellington emphasizes “strong mental health” and has a “very inclusive, kind culture,” the school expert said, emphasizing that instances of “bullying” are nearly unheard of.

Another plus is the culture of students going home on weekends. “It’s de-facto weekly boarding,” Sanderson explained, saying that most Wellington students live nearby and see their families on the weekend, which would be ideal for Charlotte since Prince Louis won't be off to school for several years after her.

Marlborough, on the other hand, is closer to an hour and a half away from Windsor, making it less possible for the kids to see their parents as often.

Sanderson noted that most students are making their school choice in year six, which is Princess Charlotte's current grade, so the Prince and Princess of Wales will be seriously considering where she's going, if they haven't already decided.

At the end of the day, Sanderson said she still thinks Eton will win in the battle of the boarding schools for Prince George. “My guess at the moment is George to Eton, Charlotte and Louis to a co-ed, possibly Wellington, which would be great because it’s 15, 20 minutes down the road from Windsor Castle,” she said.

When members of the Royal Family learned that Queen Elizabeth was dying on September 8, 2022, they rushed up to Balmoral Castle to be there. While Prince William flew to Scotland with his family, Princess Kate decided to stay home to keep a normal routine for their three children, who had just started their new school. In his new biography of the Prince and Princess of Wales, royal editor Russell Myers reveals who Kate relied on when it came time to break the sad news to George, Charlotte and Louis.

Although Princess Kate wanted to be there for the Royal Family, it was decided she’d stay back since the Wales children were already going through a time of huge change. The family had only just relocated to Windsor that summer and were starting over at Lambrook School after previously living in London their entire lives.

In William and Catherine, The Monarchy’s New Era: The Inside Story, Myers shared that the decision for Kate be home with the children was “the right one for their family.” Fortunately for Princess Kate, there was one person she could rely on to help console Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

“Catherine called her mother, Carole, and asked her to come over to their Adelaide Cottage home to provide extra support for the children when they returned home from school,” Myers wrote.

“After picking them up herself and excitedly finding out about their first day, Catherine delivered the sad news that their beloved 'Gan-Gan' had passed away peacefully,” he added.

Having their grandmother and mom at home during such a sad time likely provided a great comfort to George, Charlotte and Louis, who were just 9, 7 and 4 at the time. Carole is a hands-on grandmother and spends time with her grandkids as much as possible, cooking with them at home and bringing them to parks and on local shopping trips.

For Prince William, it must have been a relief to know they were in good hands with Carole. According to Myers, the Prince of Wales once told an aide that his in-laws gave him “More room to breathe,” and during a trying time, Carole did just that.

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis might be the kids of the future King and Queen, but Prince William and Princess Kate try to give them as many “normal” experiences as possible. Whether it’s driving the kids to school themselves, taking them out shopping or not having live-in staff, the Waleses don’t want George, Charlotte and Louis to live in a bubble like royals of the past. Royal sources have noted that part of this is down to Princess Kate’s middle-class upbringing and the enormous influence Carole and Michael Middleton have had on William, in particular.

In his new biography, William and Catherine, The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, royal editor Russell Myers wrote that the Middletons’ “constant presence” has been a “crucial” part of shaping William and Kate’s parenting style.

“William appreciated their involvement beyond measure, enjoying their company and the normalcy of the environment, whatever the circumstance," Myers wrote.

He added that when the children were small, “Michael and Carole enjoyed visiting the couple in Norfolk and would often stay for weekends, providing much-needed extra support for the young family.”

Prince William is said to especially look up to his mother-in-law Carole, whose steady guidance has been much appreciated for a family living in the public eye. Keen to change the narrative of his own childhood, the Prince of Wales wants his children to have more freedom and privacy than he did growing up.

“Although there are some similarities, George is being raised in a very different way to Prince William,” royal expert Duncan Larcombe told the Daily Mail. “William has based his children's upbringing on the Middleton model–three children, affluent, but hardworking parents and lots of love in the house.”

Although the Wales family has a nanny, Maria Teresa Turrión Borrallo, they take on many of their childcare duties themselves. Grandma Carole also chips in with her grandchildren, telling Good Housekeeping magazine in 2021 that she loves to “cook,” “go on bike rides,” and “muck around dancing” with her grandkids.

“As long as I am able to, that’s what I’ll be doing,” she told the magazine.

Prince William and Princess Kate have relied on their trusted nanny, Maria Teresa Turrión Borrallo, to take care of their three children for the past 12 years. Nanny Maria has been a constant presence in Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis’s lives, but with the kids approaching some major milestones, her role in the family could be shifting.

Maria was honored by Prince William at a special investiture at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, March 24, receiving the Royal Victorian Medal in Silver for “services to the Prince and Princess of Wales.” The medal is chosen directly by The King, and some have wondered if the timing of the honor means her service to the Wales family will soon be coming to an end.

The Wales family's nanny was educated at Norland College in Bath, England, where VIP families from around the world find their highly-trained childcare help. But as People noted, Norland nannies typically work with children from birth through the age of eight—and youngest child Prince Louis will be celebrating his eighth birthday in April.

Per the Norland College website, their nannies receive a diploma that prepares them “for all the practical aspects of the care and development of children in the early years.” However, the college writes some of their nannies do “go on to care for older children” in roles like “governesses or teachers.”

Prince George is also growing out of the need for a nanny. The future King, who will be turning 13 this summer, will wrap up his final year with his siblings at Lambrook School in July. In September, he’ll be heading to secondary school, with boarding schools Eton College or Marlborough College widely considered to be the frontrunners.

Although there will still be two children left at Forest Lodge once George moves on to his new school, Prince William and Princess Kate are hands-on with the day-to-day schedules of their children.

They prefer to handle tasks like school pickup on their own, giving their kids a taste of a “normal” childhood, as former royal butler Grant Harrold previously shared with Marie Claire.

But even if they no longer need a full-time nanny, it's likely George, Charlotte and Louis will still consider Maria as part of the family.

Prince Harry was so close to one of his nannies, Tiggy Pettifer, that she was chosen as one of Prince Archie's godmothers, and King Charles's former nanny recently turned 100, when he visited her for a special afternoon tea.

The complicated dynamic between the heir and the spare has been seen in royal families for centuries, and for Prince William, it’s a problem he’s especially keen to address with his own kids. At age 12, Prince George already has his future mapped out for him as the future King. But for Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, their lives are a bit more complicated.

In the latest installment of her “Fresh Hell” Substack, royal biographer Tina Brown wrote that breaking cycles with Charlotte and Louis is something William is “preoccupied with”—especially amid the issues that plagued his younger brother, Prince Harry.

“I am told that the heir to the throne, Prince William, is preoccupied with the built-in risk of primogeniture’s cruelty,” Brown wrote in the newsletter, which was focused on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

With fewer working royals to go around, it’s likely that Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will need to pitch in as full-time members of the Firm. However, with Prince William's plans to modernize the monarchy, that might mean his kids take on independent jobs instead.

Looking at Prince Harry, who William apparently thinks was treated unfairly growing up, it’s no wonder the Prince of Wales is concerned about his own “spares.”

“He is determined that his second- and third-born children, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, are well-prepared and well-financed for independent lives and will not fall into the same cycle of thwarted freedom,” Brown wrote.

Writing in the iPaper last summer, longtime royal reporter Richard Palmer noted that “it is by no means clear what, if any, official role Charlotte or her younger brother Louis, seven, will have when they grow up in a world in which European monarchies are slimming down to only a handful of working royals.”

This means it's even more important for the Prince and Princess of Wales to prepare their two younger children for a life outside of palace responsibilities. What exactly that means remains to be seen, but as Queen Elizabeth's former press secretary, Ailsa Anderson, told the iPaper, the Prince and Princess of Wales will be careful to avoid the mistakes the Royal Family made with prior spares.

“William and Catherine, to a certain extent, are going to rip up the rule book and do it their way,” Anderson said.

Prince William and Princess Kate strive to be hands-on parents, but when royal duties take them away from home, they have one trusted pair of hands to help out with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The Wales family has counted on nanny Maria Teresa Turrión Borrallo since shortly after Prince George was born, and on Tuesday, March 24, she received a special honor that was decided on by King Charles himself.

The Prince of Wales carried out an investiture at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, awarding Maria with the Royal Victorian Medal in Silver for “services to the Prince and Princess of Wales.” The medal is an especially meaningful honor as recipients are chosen directly by The King and reflect a deep personal loyalty to the Royal Family.

Although Prince George, 12, will be heading to secondary school in September and Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, are also growing up, Nanny Maria remains an integral part of their family. The Spanish-born childcare professional was hired in 2014 to help look after a young Prince George, adding Princess Charlotte to her care in 2015 and Prince Louis in 2018.

She was pictured heading to The King’s annual Christmas lunch with William, Kate and their kids in December 2025, and has attended everything from royal weddings to tours abroad.

Maria was educated at Norland College, a prestigious institution in Bath, England that trains nannies for some of the most elite families in the world. Although she normally is seen in everyday clothing, Nanny Maria has worn her signature brown Norland uniform—complete with a Mary Poppins-style hat— to more formal events like Princess Charlotte's christening and Pippa Middleton's wedding.

Although Maria lived with the Wales family when they were based at Kensington Palace, their first home in Windsor, Adelaide Cottage, didn't have space for live-in staff. And when Prince William and Princess Kate moved to their new "forever" home, Forest Lodge, it's understood Nanny Maria didn't go with them.

Even if the kids are growing up, it's likely their beloved nanny will be close to the family for years to come. “Maria loves the children dearly. She can be firm and strict, but she is very loving and soft with them too," a source told People.

Prince William and Princess Kate pride themselves on being hands-on parents, taking part in school activities with their three children and being there for the everyday moments, unlike royals in the past. The couple will plan royal events around the school pickup and dropoff times whenever possible, and former royal butler Grant Harrold said that there’s another reason the future King and Queen want their kids have a “normal” experience.

Speaking to Select Car Leasing, Harrold shared that “William and Kate like doing things for themselves,” and this includes driving Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte to Lambrook School each day.

“Their homes runs with very few staff, and their day-to-day life is far more ‘normal’ than older members of the Royal Family,” he continued. “The school run is part of this. For them, it’s an important part of their children’s daily routine and they want to do it themselves.”

Harrold, who published his memoir The Royal Butler last year, shared that the Prince and Princess of Wales are “well aware” that personally driving their children, instead of relying on a staff member, “brings some normality for George, Charlotte and Louis.”

The Prince of Wales has been frank about his plans for a more accessible and relatable monarchy, and using a driver doesn't fit into that philosophy, Harrold said.

“I also don’t think William wants the world to see his children being driven to school by a chauffeur, it’s not the image of the monarch he’s trying to project,” he explained.

Harrold shared that when he worked for The King, Charles also enjoyed driving himself—especially in his 1969 Aston Martin convertible.

“All the royals seemed to really enjoy driving,” he recalled. “The King would often prefer to drive himself than using a chauffeur. If he was going to an official engagement he would use a car, but apart from that he would just drive himself wherever he needed to go.”

As for William and Kate's driving duties, they'll have one fewer passenger in the car when Prince George starts secondary school in September. He's currently expected to attend either Eton College or Marlborough College, both of which are boarding schools—all the more reason to soak up every moment, car rides and all.

As a longtime royal photographer for Getty Images, Chris Jackson has learned to expect the unexpected. Between the unpredictable British weather, surprising fan reactions and historic royal moments, Jackson has seen it all. But he tells Marie Claire that one adorable interaction at Princess Charlotte’s christening completely changed his idea of what the standout image of the day would look like.

Jackson, whose latest book, Modern Majesty, was published on March 3, says as a royal photographer, you “start an event with an image in your mind, and sometimes it pans out like that and sometimes it doesn't.”

He points to Charlotte’s 2015 christening as an example, recalling, “When I was preparing for that event, I thought the picture of the day would be Princess Charlotte in her Honiton lace dress on her christening day.” Royal babies dating back to Queen Victoria’s have worn the same English lace christening gown, including Queen Elizabeth, although Charlotte and her siblings have worn a recreation.

While Jackson did take multiple photos of Princess Charlotte in her christening robe, there was another member of the Royal Family who ended up stealing the show.

“The best picture I think from the day, and the one that stands out to me, was Prince George peering into the kind of Victorian-style pram to catch a glimpse of his sister on her christening day,” he says.

In the photo, George, who was just shy of two years old at the time, wears a red-and-white shorts outfit inspired by one Prince William wore as a toddler. He stands on his tiptoes to look into Charlotte’s stroller as his proud parents look on, and Jackson says “it was a lovely little moment.” He continues the sweet, unplanned photo was “the strongest image of the day by far.”

Reflecting on Charlotte's christening day, the photographer tells Marie Claire, “You never quite know what to expect, and that's what I love about royal photography is that sense of not knowing and the anticipation. It's great fun.”

Jackson admits that “for every photo that's gone right, there's been a lot that have gone wrong,” adding, “I always try my hardest and all you can do is prepare in the best possible way.”

Pointing to the historic coronation photo of King Charles and Queen Camilla wearing their crowns on the balcony of Buckingham Palace—which Jackson had special permission to take from behind—he says that he was “very fortunate” having “a front-row seat” to the event.

“It was quite difficult to imagine that picture in real life, because obviously I've never seen two people in crowns on the balcony with the crowds next to them,” he says with a laugh.

“You always feel the weight of history,” Jackson adds. “But a lot of these times you're acting in split seconds and the situation's out of your control.”

Fortunately, he got the shot—and it's now the cover image of Modern Majesty.