The Royal Story The Royal Story
Stepping out in the spring sunshine, the Wales children appeared poised and polished, offering a glimpse into their developing personalities as they joined their parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales. Their close bond was clear throughout the outing.
Dressed in classic outfits that subtly reflected their individuality, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis — who turns eight next week — drew attention as they attended the royal family’s traditional Easter Sunday service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
It marked their first appearance at the annual Easter Matins in three years, although they were last seen publicly just a few months ago at Christmas in Sandringham. Since then, the children have noticeably grown and matured. George, in particular, stood nearly shoulder to shoulder with his mother, who, in heels, would have been close to six feet tall.
Showing increasing confidence at public events, the three appeared more relaxed than ever as they greeted the Dean of Windsor, the Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth, with handshakes upon entering the chapel, while William and Kate watched on supportively.
Moments like these offer a glimpse into how naturally the children are adjusting to life in the public eye.
“George, Charlotte and Louis are growing up before our eyes, and seeing them take part in these formal family moments gives us a glimpse into what the monarchy will look like in the future,” said HELLO!’s royal editor Emily Nash.
“William and Kate are determined that their children should be children for as long as possible, and there is certainly no rush to push them on to the path of royal duties, but these public outings are a way of gently showing them the ropes in a way that they all feel comfortable with.”
“You can see their confidence as they wave to the crowds and greet the clergy with handshakes.”
Royal author Robert Jobson added: “What we saw on Easter Sunday was the Windsor dynasty 2.0. It showed the family as it is now, and they were all rallying to support the King.”
“Louis, who has entertained us in the past by fooling around and pulling faces at formal events, was the golden boy and on his best behaviour. George was noticeably taller and Charlotte is a little lady.”
Prince George’s big change
It is shaping up to be a year of major change for the Wales family, both as a household and within the wider royal circle.
William and Kate, who will celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary later this month, are also preparing for a new chapter as parents. George is set to turn 13 in July, officially becoming a teenager.
Another important milestone awaits in the autumn, when he will leave Lambrook School to begin the next stage of his education. The young prince is widely expected to follow in his father’s footsteps by enrolling at Eton College.
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Robert Jobson said: “George will be spending more time with his grandfather over the next few years, as William did with the late Queen.”
“He used to meet his grandmother for tea regularly at Windsor Castle when he was a pupil at Eton down the road. Now, it’s Charles who has experience of being King.”
The future of thе royal family
With several members of the wider royal family absent, the difference between this year’s Easter gathering and last year’s was striking.
Last year, as well as the year before, William, Kate and their children did not attend the Easter service, choosing instead to spend the weekend privately while the Princess recovered from cancer.
This year, however, the Wales family led the way into the chapel, accompanied by other members of the royal family.
“What a difference 12 months makes,” Emily said. “The images from Easter Sunday encapsulate the future of the royal family, showing three generations of serving and future royals interacting warmly with one another.”
“Last year, the Waleses were nowhere to be seen, and the York family were out in force. This year felt like a change and painted a far more representative picture of the core royal family, giving us a glimpse into what it will look like in future.”
“That future is set to include three rising royal stars, who are already showing every sign of being the family’s jewels in the crown.”
