From Elizabeth II to Kate Middleton: what the royals looked like as children. Photo.

In the legendary song "Old Photos" by Ukrainian singer Kuzma Scriabin , there are lines: "Only in the album will we all be the same as we were then." There's no arguing with that. If you look at the photos from your childhood, everyone mentally returns to that time. They relive certain emotions... We decided to look into the archives of the British royal family. It became interesting to see what they were like when they enjoyed carefree life and did not try to follow the rules of etiquette.

So, take a look at the photos of monarchs, princes and princesses when they were little in the OBOZ.UA material. Then get nostalgic by flipping through your own albums.

1. Queen Elizabeth II

As a child,Elizabeth II was affectionately called "Lilibet" (short for Elizabeth) by her mother and close relatives. The girl had short curly hair, big inquisitive eyes, and a radiant smile. This angelic image was perfectly complemented by dresses with ruffles and a puffy hem. Judging by the photo, she learned responsibility from an early age: when she took care of her younger sister, Princess Margaret, and got along with pets (corgis and ponies). A useful quality for the future Queen of Great Britain!

Fun fact: Elizabeth II was given her first pony by her parents when she was 4 years old. Since then, horseback riding has become one of her main hobbies.

2. King Charles III

Charles III, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was fond of riding cars and boats, taking pictures and training dogs as a child. And no matter how much his parents entertained him, the future king kept a serious expression on his face in the photo. It seems that even then he was getting used to the image of the head of the throne.

Charles' curiosity and desire to develop comprehensively expanded his list of hobbies. Thus, the young prince became an excellent horseback rider, surfer and diver, began to paint pictures (mostly landscapes), and became interested in music, writing and gardening.

3. Princess Diana

When Diana Spencer married Prince Charles of Wales and became a princess, she was remembered by the public as a "queen of hearts" with exquisite taste in clothing, who was also capable of extreme pranks and disturbances in the Windsor House.

If we look at her childhood photos, we see a shy girl (as indicated by both her smile and the position of her hands), often playing with her younger brother, Charles Edward Morris, and her pets. I wonder what the young Diana was like behind the camera lens? Was she a rebel or did she have restrained manners?

4. Queen Camilla

Camilla Rosemary Shand was born to British army officer Bruce Shand and housewife Rosalind Shand. That is, she did not have royalty. Nevertheless, her parents managed to raise their daughter to be the future head of the throne (although they did not dream of such a prospect for her): they instilled in her a love of reading, sent her to study at Queen's Gate School, and always dressed her in elegant dresses like princesses (look at the photo below). Many years have passed... In May 2023, King Charles was solemnly crowned at Westminster Abbey in London. After that, his wife Camilla became queen.

5. Prince William

Prince William of Wales is the eldest son of King Charles III and his first wife, Princess Diana, and the grandson of Elizabeth II. He is the first in line to the British throne. That is, he was seriously prepared for this role from an early age.

What was the prince like as a child? Cheerful, thirsty for knowledge, restless and sometimes mischievous. He fully enjoyed the carefree spirit! And that's great. After all, now his status obliges him to be more serious and responsible.

6. Prince Harry

Harry, Duke of Sussex, is the youngest son of King Charles III and Princess Diana. Unlike his brother, Prince William, he had a wayward disposition since childhood: he was often capricious, disobedient and stubborn. So, if you look at the archival photos, it is not surprising that in most of them Harry shows his tongue or opens his mouth. Perhaps this was his way of trying to stand out from his brother: the title of his memoir, which was published on January 10, 2023, hints at this.

7. Meghan Markle

The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle was born to director Thomas Markle and psychotherapist Doria Ragland. Since early childhood, the girl with dark Afro hair and expressive brown eyes dreamed of conquering Hollywood, and she succeeded thanks to her starring in the mega-popular TV series Force Majeure. But she had no idea that later, after her first failed marriage, she would become the wife of Prince Harry and part of the Windsor royal family.

8. Princess Catherine

Princess Kate Middleton of Wales is the wife of Prince William, heir to the British throne. She was born to air traffic controller Michael Francis Middleton and flight attendant Carol Elizabeth. The young lady did not have any noble privileges, but she is of royalty: on her father's side she is a descendant of King Edward III, and on her mother's side - of King Edward IV. Now it is clear why Kate has had graceful, aristocratic manners since childhood-it is in her blood. Only occasionally did she allow herself to be naughty (especially at school and in her student years).

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