Princess Charlotte will support her brother Prince George as he navigates his role as second-in-line to the throne – just as the Queen relied on Margaret and Charles relies on Anne, a royal expert has claimed.
The Prince and Princess of Wales’ two eldest children, George, heir-to-the-throne, nine, and his younger sister, seven, joined senior royals at the Queen’s funeral yesterday, attending both the state funeral in London and comital service in Windsor.
During the service, the Queen’s great grandchildren – without their youngest sibling, Louis, four, who did not attend the funeral – cut solemn figures, both appearing to grasp the enormity of the day in spite of their tender years.
And now Vanity Fair’s Katie Nicholl has explained there was a ‘clear message’ in the choice from Prince William and Kate Middleton to include their children in the event – that ‘this is the future of the dynasty.’
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, she called it ‘a projection of what is to come’, adding: ‘George is now second in line to the throne and the significance of having Charlotte was — and this is the spare we’ve always had, an heir and a spare.’
Princess Charlotte, seven, will support her brother Prince George, nine, as he navigates his role as second-in-line to the throne – just as the Queen relied on Margaret and Charles relies on Anne, Vanity Fair’s Katie Nicholl has claimed
The Prince and Princess of Wales’ two eldest children, George, heir-to-the-throne, nine, and his younger sister, seven, joined senior royals at the Queen’s funeral yesterday, attending both the state funeral in London and comital service in Windsor
While she said the concept ‘dates back centuries’ and offered security for when royals would die in childbirth, she added: ‘Actually you look back and you see the queen was supported by Princess Margaret, her sister; Charles was supported by the Princess Royal Princess Anne; William was supported up until recently by Harry so that notion of the heir and the spare is something that we’re now seeing continued in Charlotte and George and it’s rather lovely.’
Prince George and Princess Charlotte are generally kept out of the public eye, with Kate and William said to be keen to give their children as normal of a childhood as possible.
However over the past year, the two eldest Wales children have attended more public, high profile, events with their parents.
During the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration, George and Charlotte both took part in their first public engagement, visiting Cardiff Castle alongside their parents.
The royal expert compared the relationship between Prince George and Princess Charlotte to that between the Queen and her sister Princess Margaret, who offered support to the monarch until she died in 2002
Meanwhile Katie pointed out how King Charles has been ‘supported by the Princess Royal Princess Anne’ (left together) while ‘up until recently’ William was supported by Harry (right)
They also attended other events, including Trooping the Colour, with their younger brother Louis.
Meanwhile the siblings also took part in a number of high profile events and engagements with their parents – and without the support of one another.
Prince George attended the Wimbledon men’s final with his parents, while Princess Charlotte attended the Commonwealth Games.
Yesterday marked their highest profile appearance to date, with both appearing pensive and deep in thought as they attended the historic Queen’s funeral.
Prince George bowed his head as the Queen’s casket went past – after being told to do so by his younger sister Princess Charlotte
The royal children appeared to appreciate the solemnity of the occasion yesterday, despite their tender years
Princess Charlotte (left) and Prince George (right) watched members of the Bearer Party transfer the coffin of the Queen, draped in the Royal Standard, from the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy into the State Hearse at Wellington Arch after the funeral service
The young royals watched as their grandmothers casket passed them during the Queen’s final journey out of London. As it passed Princess Charlotte told her brother Prince George that he ‘needed to bow’
Her Majesty made her final and saddest journey from Westminster Hall as Britain mourned its longest-serving monarch and the royals bade goodbye to a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
r Majesty made her final and saddest journey from Westminster Hall as Britain mourned its longest-serving monarch and the royals bade goodbye to a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
For George and Charlotte, the Princess of Wales, 40, provided a reassuring presence throughout, tightly holding onto her daughter’s hand at the family arrived at Westminster Abbey.
Princess Charlotte wore a black mourning coat with velour collar and matching wide-brimmed hat, while George was dressed in a navy blue suit with a black tie.
Prince George appeared mature beyond his years, appreciating the history of the moment, and waiting patiently as his father Prince William arrived into the Abbey after walking behind the Queen’s coffin.
Princess Charlotte was seen giving her older brother Prince George a lesson in royal protocol during a moment of levity amid the Queen’s final send off.
A day in history: Prince George, nine, left, and Princess Charlotte, seven, are pictured travelling by car with the Queen Consort, who waved to crowds, and their mother, the Princess of Wales, to the Queen’s funeral at Westminster Abbey
The brother and sister look out across London’s historic streets, with the Queen Consort seated behind them, as thousands of mourners line the streets
A smile for ‘Gan-Gan’: Princess Charlotte shyly smiles as she stands with her brother and senior royals at Westminster Abbey (Pictured from left: Meghan Markle, Sophie Wessex, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Kate Middleton)
A guiding hand, the young royals pictured arriving at Westminster Abbey ahead of the funeral
Princess Charlotte stares out of the window from the royal car that carried herself and her older brother to Westminster Abbey
Prince George, seated beside the Prince of Wales holds onto his order of service during the funeral for his great grandmother
Responsibility: Heads bowed, Prince Charlotte and Prince George walk inbetween the Prince and Princess of Wales as they follow the Queen’s coffin into the church
Three generations: Prince George walks next to his father, as Prince Harry and Prince Edward walk ahead and behind
Sombre: George and Charlotte sing hymns during the funeral service, each seated beside their mother, the Princess of Wales
The Queen’s great grandchildren, clearly aware of the enormity of the day, stand quietly by their mother’s side before as they await the arrival of their father. To their right, the Duchess of Sussex stands next to them
A family in grief: From left: The Duchess of Sussex, Queen Consort, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex stand outside Westminster Abbey after the state funeral
Princess Charlotte is seen adjusting her hat; the youngster wore a horseshoe brooch on her mourning coat, which was a gift from her great-grandmother the Queen. Right: Princess Charlotte is seen adjusting her hat; the youngster wore a horseshoe brooch on her mourning coat, which was a gift from her great-grandmother the Queen
Prince George and his sister Princess Charlotte are shepherded to their seats by their mother the Princess of Wales
Pictured from above: The Princess of Wales is seen guiding her two children into the Abbey; while Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte wore traditional black mourning dress, Prince George opted for a navy blue suit with a black tie
Prince George and Princess Charlotte were the youngest members of the royal family to accompany the coffin down through the Abbey, (The Prince and Princess of Wales pictured four rows from the back of the central aisle)
The Queen’s great grandchildren sat in front of their mother, the Princess of Wales and the Queen Consort as they made their way to Westminster Abbey in the claret royal car
Prince George casts a glance at the crowds who’ve turned out to mourn his great grandmother
The young heir to the throne en route to a final farewell to his beloved ‘Gan-Gan’, with his mother and the Queen Consort seated behind him
The Princess of Wales cut a pensive figure as she joined her mother-in-law and two of her three children for the short journey – while the King and Prince of Wales marched behind the Queen’s coffin
Solemnity: The family sat in hushed silence as the car drove past crowds of mourners gathered on London’s streets
Arrival: The new Princess of Wales and her daughter exit the royal car at Westminster Abbey; the senior royal gently guides the seven-year-old in the right direction
The Princess of Wales is seen walking hand-in-hand with her daughter as the family arrived at Westminster Abbey’s hallowed doors ahead of the 11am service
The family pictured walking into the Abbey, bypassing royal guards in traditional uniform, ahead of the state funeral
A supportive hand: Kate Middleton touches her daughter’s shoulder as the family make their way to their seats
The youngster was spotted telling her sibling that he ‘has to bow’, as the Queen’s coffin went past while en route to Windsor, following Her Majesty’s funeral at Westminster Abbey yesterday.
As the casket passed the young royals, Princess Charlotte could be seen telling her brother ‘you need to bow’. The older child appeared to take his sister’s instruction on board, lowering his head as the monarch’s coffin passed him.
The Wales are believed to have brought the second-in-line to the throne to the historic event after senior palace advisers them to consider letting him attend the state funeral because of the powerful symbolic message it sent.
The couple’s elder children appearing at the funeral did come as somewhat of a surprise. The Daily Mail reported that the Prince and Princess of Wales thought ‘long and hard’ about whether their two eldest children, aged nine and seven, should join them.
Kate Middleton speaks to a member of the clergy welcoming the royal family to the Abbey, while holding Princess Charlotte’s hand
With her mother close by, Princess Charlotte walked into the Abbey; the princess wore a mourning coat with velour collar and a matching wide-brimmed hat
Prince George is introduced to the clergy leading the Queen’s state funeral service; it’s thought officials at Buckingham Palace made the decision that the nine-year-old should attend his late great-grandmother’s funeral
The sillouhette of the Princess of Wales and her eldest son walking across the stone floor of Westminster Abbey
Earlier, the two children – younger brother Prince Louis, four, was not in attendance – were seen with their parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales ahead of the Westminster Abbey service
Father and daughter appeared to chat during the short journey by car to the start of the funeral procession
Charlotte wore a black hat and looked sombre as she looked out at the thousands of well-wishers lining London’s streets
The car carrying the Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte of Wales pictured on Monday morning
But after George and Charlotte attended their great-grandfather’s memorial in March, William and Kate decided they could cope with the solemnity of the occasion.
‘As parents they have, of course, thought long and hard about whether their children should accompany them,’ a source said. ‘Of course little Louis is too young, but they think George and Charlotte are up to it.’
Aged just nine, and having just overcome the daunting prospect of starting a new school, George is now the second in line to the throne.
With this in mind, aides have suggested it would be good for the public to see the young Prince – who affectionately called the Queen ‘Gan Gan’ – and is the future of the Monarchy.
It was the first time any of the Wales children have been seen in public since the Queen’s death on September 8th.
The death of their great-grandmother the Queen will be a heavy blow to Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, as they and their parents begin a new life at Adelaide Cottage in the grounds of Windsor Castle – where Her Majesty spent most of the year.
During royal walkabouts and engagements this week, the Princess of Wales has offered a glimpse into the grief of her children, saying that Prince George has a greater understanding of their Gan-Gan’s passing.
Days ago, Prince William said the couple are ‘trying to keep everything constant’ for their three children since the death of their beloved Grannie.
While speaking with well-wishers outside the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, the Queen’s grandson Prince William told royal fans the children are ‘settling in’ after their great grandmother passed away during ‘the first week of school’. But he added they were ‘doing ok’.
He told well-wisher Karen Anvil: ‘We’re trying to keep everything constant and settled for them.’
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk