Royally Relatable: Candid Snaps Capture The Human Side Of The Royal Family
For many people, it's hard not to find the Royal Family inherently alienating. Their lives are not only spent surrounded by fabulous wealth but largely see them sequestered from the circumstances their subjects live through every day. Indeed, the stories of Princess Diana's life and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's steps away from the family go on to show that the life of a royal can be just as alienating for the royals themselves.
Yet, while the opulence, centuries-old traditions, and micromanaging Royal Protocols that surround the Royal Family's daily lives may be hard for most people to relate to, they don't make them any less human. Whether they're embarrassing slip-ups or fleeting times of warmth and fun, the Royal Family does have some genuine moments every so often.
The Queen was quite the animal lover
This photo comes from 1952, when Queen Elizabeth II had just recently taken the throne. It was a bittersweet time for her, as this honor also meant she had just lost her father. However, the picture also makes it clear what one of her lifelong sources of comfort was.
She was famous for her love of corgis but this shows that affection was there from the very beginning. And with how happy and cute this dog looks in this photo, it's not hard to see why she fell for them so hard. It's hard to be in a bad mood next to that smile.
Family fun in the Sun
This photo captures Princess Diana and her sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale on a breezy beach day with their children. And together, those children are untaking a special project that one of these outings doesn't feel complete without.
Prince William, Prince Harry, and their two cousins were all burying Diana in the sand. She seemed to take it in stride and carry on her conversation as normal while the kids went to work with their little shovels. It's a cute little scene.
This isn't the dancing most people expect from a Queen
Although balls and galas have always been a cultural feature of being royal, they don't describe every opportunity the Royal Family has had to dance publicly. And while the dance she's doing here can get about as complicated as what they do during those fancy soirées, it's a little more informal.
Instead of dancing with the King of Spain at a grand event as other dignitaries looked on, a pre-coronation Queen Elizabeth rocked a different kind of fashion than usual at a square dance in Ottawa, Ontario. It's hard to tell how often a square dance breaks out in England, but Canada's close enough to The United States for that cultural feature to rub off on them.
That must have been a good one
Throughout her life, Queen Elizabeth likely made her share of little jokes in front of people who felt compelled to laugh because of who she was. But sometimes, it's clear from the facial expressions of everyone involved that the laugh was genuine rather than just polite.
Based on the Queen's cheeky smile and little shrug, it's hard not to imagine that her joke was a little off-color. Not only was it clear that it got Kate Middleton right in the funny bone, but it seems it tickled the people behind them, too.
Mommy's little motorist
While it's certainly true that not everyone has the kind of property that could rival Balmoral Castle, those who live in rural areas often have access to a little more acreage than those in the cities. And as those people can remember from their childhoods, that made home the perfect playground for their Power Wheels.
Although young Charles's toy car didn't quite work the same way as those, that and the cotton candy he was holding nonetheless seemed to give him a great time. And so many folks can remember their mothers sweetly leaning over like this to convince them to come inside for lunch.
A warm domestic scene
Although it's true that this photo was taken at stately Windsor Castle, the snapshot from 1969 manages to seem almost cozy as it captures a quiet moment between the Queen and her immediate family.
While Queen Elizabeth sits by her daughter Anne and Charles and Andrew discuss whatever the latter was holding at the time, Prince Edward has his father's attention. While he may not be lost in an explanation of Pokémon or Roblox as modern dads may be, this is a charming reminder that even royal fathers must sometimes patiently listen to their children babbling.
Kate hasn't forgotten how to wrangle a Christmas tree
Although it's very likely that basically everybody in the Royal Family has somebody on hand to handle all of their Christmas decorations for them, that wasn't always the case with some of them. And that's easy to see from this photo.
It's true that this moment captures the Princess of Wales taking part in a charity event organized by Family Action, but it features her helping the children that the organization supports choose the right tree for their festivities. For those like her who weren't born royals, the ability to judge these things in a hands-on way was once just a simple part of life.
Kids are silly, no matter what family they're in
There are a couple of ways that an event can go when a child is bored of having to be there. In the more aggravating scenarios, they express that boredom by screaming or being otherwise disruptive. But while Prince Louis has demonstrated that scenario before, this photo finds him on the other side of that duality.
Sometimes, kids tune out the event entirely and get lost in their imaginations. When that happens, it's not unusual for them to start dancing in place or making weird faces. In their minds, they're the coolest rock stars in the world. But everyone else ends up suppressing a laugh while they look adorably ridiculous.
Camilla's pretty chill
Based on the rules of Royal Protocol, one might have expected a member of the Royal Family to spontaneously burst into flames when seeing an outfit both this revealing and this unorthodox up close. However, Camilla was just happy to meet the person wearing it.
This is costume designer Syban Velardi-Laufer, who met the Queen Consort at the Shepherds Bush pop-up hub, an art space encouraging creativity and community. It may not be as stuffy as the environments people often find the royals in, but that doesn't mean they can't appreciate it.
Savannah Phillips clearly enjoyed that
At this point, a lot of royal watchers can tell that when the royals watch their military personnel trooping the color, Prince Louis is not going to like it. And from the looks of things, that's just as well known among his relatives.
It's unknown exactly what he was doing before this picture was taken, but his cousin Savannah was having none of it. So, with a sly look at the camera, she put her hand over his mouth and stopped the noise. Be careful not to get bitten!
Charles was making everyone's face that day
This photo captures King Charles in his younger days and was taken while he was undergoing a commando training course administered by the Royal Marines. Although that may not be a universal experience, his reaction to it certainly is.
After all, Charles looked absolutely miserable to run through whatever trials that day brought him. He looked like he really wanted to go home, and anyone who says they never felt the same way during their most grueling physical challenges is lying. That is an unmistakable face of exhausted dismay.
Prince Louis is done with all of this
Although it's unclear what the future King Charles was talking to Kate Middleton about in this picture, what is clear is that these royals were looking on during the Trooping the Color ceremony. And that's not just because the Queen was looking vaguely pleased and ignoring everything happening around her.
No, the sure sign that the Sovereign's Birthday Parade was underway was the fact that Middleton's children looked like they'd rather be anywhere else. There's always one kid who covers their ears and screams when they get too restless at an event, and on that day, that kid was Prince Louis.
A sweet moment between cousins
During family gatherings, there's always one cousin that most people gravitate to over the others. Whether they share their sense of humor, are the best at establishing a relationship of trust, or just make a given person feel special, they're always the brightest part of otherwise boring events.
And that dynamic is probably what led royal watchers to be so enamored by this little moment that Princess Charlotte shared with her cousin Mia Tindall. She looked like she had a secret to tell her, and based on Tindall's curious little smile, it must have been a pretty juicy one.
Every parent has had this happen at times
When a new baby arrives in the family, they often look around and take in the sights, sounds, and feelings of everything around them. If a new sight doesn't scare them completely, it's something they want to touch right away.
And since they see their parents more than anyone, it's all but guaranteed that any young parent can expect their little ones to put their hands all over their faces. In this cute little moment, that's exactly what baby Princess Anne was doing to Prince Philip.
The body language says it all
This photo finds Prince William and Princess Kate at the Royal Polo Cup, but it also finds them sharing a happy, loving moment. While their royal status is such that they've perfected their smiles for the public by now, this moment doesn't appear to be played for the cameras.
Instead, they're just focusing their happiness and excitement on each other. Her arms are open for him, and her smile is so bright and beaming. It's really lovely to see that.
There's always a point to go with that laugh
When something really makes people split a gut in a group setting, they always have their own natural ways of showing it. Some people slap their knees, others throw their heads back, and some even clap despite not being part of an audience.
But perhaps the most common thing people do is point at whatever is making them laugh. So, what was so hilarious to Queen Elizabeth and King Charles that day may be unknown now, but it's clear where it happened. Pointing while laughing isn't just for bullies.
The way she looks at him
When someone is really in love, they often find it hard to take their eyes off their beloved. And this is just one of the moments that suggest Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have that kind of love. Just look at her eyes.
Whenever she's seen looking at her husband in a photo, her eyes usually sparkle, and it's hard for her not to smile. They exchange a lot of warm, romantic looks, but she also keeps the same energy even when he doesn't know she's watching.
They can be a handful
Here, the Queen's sister, Princess Margaret, was seen sitting on an ornate loveseat with her children, David and Sarah. But while the furniture may not be particularly ordinary, there's something a little more relatable about the way she's holding them close.
It's affectionate, but there's also security in it. After all, both children appeared to be at the age where they could take off in a random direction at any moment. A lot of parents know what that's like.
It's like a magnet for a kid's head
On one fine day, a young Prince William was on a special visit with his family. In it, they were introduced to one of the nation's many firefighting crews. But while it was likely a nice meeting for both of them, it was clear what caught his attention.
As basically any child in this position would, William went right to one of the firefighter's shiny helmets. And when something looks this neat, the first instinct for a curious little one is to wear it himself.
Keeping it casual
Princess Diana was always the most fashion-forward member of the Royal Family, but that didn't mean she went everywhere in an immaculate gown. Her fashion fit the occasion, and this was clearly a much more casual day.
It was hard to go anywhere in the '80s without wearing a sports coat, but the hat, jeans, and cowboy boots could have fit fine in basically any era. As was often true for her, though, Diana treated this outfit as an opportunity to champion a cause. In this case, it was the British Lung Foundation.
A little help
It's true that when most families travel abroad, they're not doing it via a nation's official government transportation. They're also definitely not stepping off the plane while a soldier salutes them. However, there is something about this scene that's a little more relatable.
Namely, how a family supports little legs when they're trying to get down a steep airplane staircase. While Princess Kate carried her daughter down these stairs, William took his son's hand as he carefully navigated each step.
A girl and her dolly
Before she was queen of anything, Princess Elizabeth was a little girl attracted to the same things many girls in the '30s and '40s would have liked. Indeed, without the knowledge that she was in this picture, anyone would think this was an ordinary girl from the era.
The little dress she's wearing is very in keeping with the style at the time, and the doll and scaled-down stroller match the period as well. Although some old dolls and figurines can look creepy, this one seemed genuinely cute and lovable.
Indulging her sweet tooth
Nothing beats the heat of a muggy day quite like a nice, cool ice cream cone, and it seems that Queen Consort Camilla was very appreciative of hers one day. Even without being able to see her eyes behind her sunglasses, that's plain to see.
After all, anyone who licks their lips like that while eating ice cream is making sure not even a melted drop goes to waste. That must have been hitting the spot so perfectly, which makes it hard not to be curious about who made it.
A realistic reaction
Although it's true that most people will never know what it's like to be a member of the Royal Family, there are positives and negatives to that reality. And one of the biggest silver linings to obscurity is how much easier it is to have a normal childhood when the world isn't watching.
That fact makes this awkward reaction to an adoring British crowd perfectly understandable. Yet, while Louis and Charlotte hesitantly waved with uncomfortable looks on their faces, George seemed more interested in teasing his little brother. Everyone has their own ways of dealing with awkward situations.
A controlled blaze and a good time
During this weekend on one of the Royal Family's properties, they seemed to be tidying up the old trees and making a big bonfire for the logs. This looks more like spring cleaning than a party, but that didn't mean they couldn't make it fun.
Lugging all those logs around was probably hard work, but it's a little easier for that work not to feel like an eternity when it ends with tossing things into a crackling fire. So many nice get-togethers aren't complete with a bonfire.
Everything's better with a dog
On a pretty carefree day in Balmoral, Prince Philip and the then-Prince Charles were having a nice time playing around with their dog, Candy. And while it's certainly taking place on a fancy estate, this scene could have unfolded for anyone at the time.
Both the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales were dressed like even non-royals would have been back then. And, of course, a fun time with a faithful animal companion is about as universal of an experience as it gets.
Just goofing around
It's not clear exactly what was going on behind the camera on this blustery day in Gloucestershire, but it seemed to capture both young Prince William and Prince Harry's interest. Meanwhile, Princess Diana focused on trying to make sure the latter didn't fall off this fence.
In addition to their curiosity-inducing facial expressions about whatever is going on, what's most striking about this photo is how much they seem like any other family to those who don't know who they are. Considering that William was wearing a Dallas Cowboys shirt, it's not even clear from looking at this photo without context that they're British.
Prince Louis wasn't trying to hear it
While the Royal Family was celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Prince Louis wasn't exactly on his best behavior. But when Kate Middleton had something to say about it, his reaction was both funny and easy for others to compare to their childhood households.
After all, it's usually only a kid who's audacious enough to cover their parent's mouth with their hand while they're getting scolded. And while some parents can definitely relate to having to put up with similar brattiness, others can say that this wouldn't fly in their house.
It was a long time coming
At this moment in 2005, Camilla Parker Bowles was finally and officially in a position where she could take a relationship that had first sparked about 35 years prior to the next level. She and the then-Prince Charles had announced their engagement.
But while the circumstances of their love may be unusual, the way she expressed it was perfectly natural. Just like any bride-to-be would in the company of her excited girlfriends, she showed off her ring with a big smile. The Royal Family doesn't really do raucous choruses of screams, but she had the right energy nonetheless.
That face says it all
Although Prince Harry has long been a polarizing figure among the British public, even his biggest detractors could likely recognize a little of themselves here. And that's not because he was planting a tree on Arbor Day at the time.
Instead, the cultural common ground of this photo has to do with his facial expression. Whenever a British person is suddenly caught in an awkward situation, the chances are extremely good that the first thing they'll do is make an uncomfortable face that looks so much like this.
Harry wasn't always pampered
Although it's very common for members of the Royal Family to have at least a few military titles bestowed upon them, that doesn't mean that the majority of them have actually seen any combat. However, that wasn't true of Prince Harry, who served as the pilot/gunner of an Apache Helicopter among the 662 Sqd Army Air Corps in Afghanistan.
Like other deployed personnel who might otherwise feel a little blue and homesick during the holidays, Harry decided to make his very high ready-ness (VHR) tent at Camp Bastion a little more festive. At least this way, there are no ladders involved.
Harry was always a little rebellious
Every year, it's a tradition for the Royal Family to attend the "trooping the color" ceremony that's also known as the Sovereign's Birthday Parade. This sees them look on as a grand display of military pageantry takes place below them.
What's relatable about that? Well, based on photos like these, it's something that the royal children often find aggressively boring. While Diana looked like she wasn't quite sure what to make of this, it seems that Prince Harry expressed that boredom by being adorably bratty. Every mom's made that face a few times.
A scene from a simpler time
Before either of them had to concern themselves with matters of state or the more microscopic aspects of Royal Protocol, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret rode bikes together. If they had been born to different parents in a different land entirely, they still would have rode bikes together.
That speaks to how powerful the bond between sisters can be no matter what family they find themselves in. Yet, it's also a look at an equalizing experience for so many kids throughout the world. Even those who never learned how to ride a bike usually spent enough time on one to try.
Everybody's been there
No matter how different their childhoods were, everyone can remember a time when they were children and they were dragged to a special event. It seemed terribly important to all the adults in their lives but it was dreadfully boring for them.
Indeed, that was precisely what Princess Eugenie was going through when her and Princess Beatrice stood by their father at the Queen Mother's 100th birthday. It's unclear whether Beatrice was excited about it or venting her frustrations to her sister but what is clear is that Eugenie was suppressing a yawn the whole time. Now, that's relatable.
A quiet moment in a special day
When this photo was taken, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. And while they spent it at Scotland's stately Balmoral Castle, they also seemed to spend it quietly fishing together.
Although the environment wouldn't exactly be familiar to most rural couples throughout the world, a simple description of the day's events would. Although some people wouldn't consider fishing the most romantic thing they could do together, it's perfect for just as many others.
A lovely day inside
For an introverted child of the early 20th Century, it's hard to think of a better way to spend a lazy afternoon than curling up with a good book on a big, comfy couch. And that goes double when that curling up is done in the adorable company of a beloved dog.
That idyllic scene was exactly how a young Princess Margaret whiled away the hours one day. It's a sight that many parents love to see and it's one that seemed to unfold entirely on its own.
It's guaranteed to catch at least one kid's eye
When Prince Louis attended his mother's 'Together At Christmas' Carol Service at Westminster Abbey, it's clear that he was immediately drawn to this large decoration. It's a nutcracker that's bigger than him and clad in grand red and gold, so it would certainly draw his attention.
That said, it's also so true to life that a kid in pretty much any context would get distracted by a large, colorful figure standing in front of something. That's basically the effect that so many tourist attractions with similar gimmicks behind their decor count on.
A nice day out
On one hand, it's hard not to ignore that this photo from Prince William and Prince Harry's youth found on the scenic grounds of Scotland's lavish Balmoral Castle. But if that didn't explain why the future King Charles is wearing a kilt here, it would be an irrelevant detail.
After all, there's not much else about this picture that wouldn't be out of place on any of the nation's rocky shores. After all, it's really just a dad having a nice day out with his sons while one of them plays with their dog.
This was the probably the parents' idea
Although Princess Margaret seemed content to play the piano in her youth, the way her aptitude with the instrument began was probably pretty close to a common experience for a lot of children. At some point, her parents figured it was something she should do.
After all, learning a musical instrument is a pursuit that so many people can recall being pushed towards as children. And while some seemed about as happy about it as she did, others found that whole experience a lot more boring.
If a kid can spoil a picture, a kid will
While Prince Louis is capable of taking a perfectly gentlemanly picture, that's not often how his mood strikes him. When photographers take candid shots of him, the chances are good that their photos will capture him making a silly face like this one.
Sometimes it's because they're not paying attention and sometimes it's because they're feeling mischievous, but so many parents can attest to a similar struggle to get their kids to take nice photo with them. Still, it's always something that they look back on and laugh at when those kids come of age.