Traditionally one of the most elaborate birthday celebrations held yearly, Trooping the Colour is meant to be about the monarch. But while the King clearly had a good time commemorating his official birthday, the next generations stole the show. With everyone else on the balcony at Buckingham Palace aged 60 or over, it’s the vibrant young Wales family. That most of the crowd come to see and
the TV viewers tune in to watch.
A royal family that shines together
And this year, they didn’t disappoint. The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis shone, with William positively regal in ceremonial dress. Kate the epitome of elegance in aquamarine, and their children full of confidence and smiles. The youngsters were all impeccably behaved – even Louis, who is known for pulling faces. Now seven, he’s mainly learned to curb his boisterous enthusiasm. Although he still did manage a few cheeky grins, and at one stage, George, 11, told him to stop waving so energetically.
The brothers seem to get on well, with the pair appearing to be sharing jokes as they travelled in a carriage as part of the procession. George, the most serious of the three children, seems well settled as the eldest sibling and future king, says royal commentator Jennie Bond. Meanwhile, Charlotte, 10, looks set to follow in her mother’s fashionable footsteps, looking stylish in a sweet turquoise dress that matched Kate’s striking outfit. Mother and daughter have a close bond, with body language experts pointing out they’re very in tune with each other.
Kate shines with joy and grace
“It was joyful to see Kate looking so well after going through cancer and the rigours of chemotherapy,” adds Jennie.
“She was dazzlingly elegant and so happy with her children.” Of all the photos taken at Trooping the Colour, one of the most endearing was a shot posted on William and Kate’s Instagram account. It shows them posing with their children in front of doors to Buckingham Palace, and it looks like they gave a phone to a passerby and said, “Would you mind taking a snap for us, please?”
It’s captioned, “Another brilliant day at Trooping the Colour.” Despite the fact they’re one of the main attractions at the event, in this image, they appear to be an ordinary family keen for a photographic record of themselves in their best clothes at a special family day out. And, say those close to them, when they’re out of the limelight, that’s exactly what they’re like – pretty ordinary.
“They’re obviously very good at being royal and doing everything that is required of them as representatives of the King,” says a friend.
“But when they’re not working, they are just a typical family. Normal family life is paramount to Catherine and William. Royal families over the generations haven’t had the chance to get those foundations right, but they have.”
Raising royals
Kate, 43, grew up outside the royal fold and wants her kids to have a down-to-earth upbringing similar to hers. William, 43, is keen on that too.
“She wasn’t brought up in that aristocratic setting where you see the children for a short time each day. She appreciates the importance of family time. William absolutely loves it.”
The couple is very hands-on with George, Charlotte and Louis, although they have had nannies to help out over the years. One of them, Caroline Redgrave, recently revealed what life is like in the Wales’ home. Caroline, who worked for the family for five years, says they have very ordinary routines, including at bedtime.
She tells, “We always kept to a familiar structure of a warm bath, quiet play, stories, then bed. It was designed to help them unwind slowly. The routine was the same no matter what had gone on during the day. “You get to know them in those quiet evening hours. That’s when they’re most relaxed. And it’s also when you see how grounded they really are – polite, playful and full of personality.”
Royal bedtimes
When it came to bathtime, there was one non-negotiable rule – no harsh chemicals or strong fragrances. And screentime was a no-no in the evenings. “It was all about slowing everything down.”
George liked to play with building blocks after his bath, Charlotte preferred to read quietly and Louis was often to be found curled up with a stuffed toy. They would have a cup of warm milk an hour before bedtime and sometimes a slice of banana or half a plain rice cake.
“There were cuddles, books and the occasional giggle fit,” recalls Caroline. “It was beautifully ordinary. People imagine strict formality, but the truth is, it was warm, loving and very normal.”
The children know there is a formal and very public side to their lives thanks to the fact they’re members of the royal family, says a palace insider. They cope well with being on show at events like Trooping the Colour because they know that once it’s over, they can go home and get on with simply being George, Charlotte and Louis Wales.
“Their parents should be commended for getting the balance right.”
Candid smiles from the prince and his children
Kate and William sometimes provide glimpses of the informal side of their family life in social media posts marking special occasions, and last week, they followed tradition by sharing snaps of William with his children for Father’s Day in the UK. The images, thought to have been taken by photographer Josh Shinner at the same time as Louis’ seventh birthday portraits, show William in a garden with his arms around George, Charlotte and Louis, then being piled on by the children as he lies on the ground. They’re captioned, “Happy Father’s Day, Papa (before and after!). We love you, G, C & L.”
Harry at play
Their children have mostly been kept under wraps, but we saw more of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s children than ever before in a Father’s Day post. Meghan shared a video made up of lots of clips of Harry, 40, with Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, over the years.
Their faces could often be seen, a departure from previous posts in which the youngsters’ faces have been hidden. Harry is captured dancing with Archie, reading to him and teaching him to ride a bike. There are also shots of the proud dad taking Lilibet for a walk and introducing her to farmyard animals. Meghan, 43, wrote, “The best. Happy Father’s Day to our favourite guy.”
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