Royal Family Photos You’ve Never Seen

The Royal Family never go out of fashion. Even though they’ve been around for centuries and times have changed immensely, Queen Elizabeth II and her family still seem to be as relevant as ever. Maybe it’s because each new generation is a product of their time, and their contributions to the monarchy keep things fresh. After all, the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle isn’t one we’d have ever seen at the start of Elizabeth’s reign. Their continued relevance to both their British subjects and the wider world means people are still desperate to follow their every move. That’s not too difficult to do these days considering how often the family dominates the headlines. With all their weddings, births, and endless talk of drama, it’s hard to remember what happened over the last year that didn’t involve the royals. While we might think we know everything about these regal Brits, though, there are still some things that have stayed under the radar. In particular, these photos of the family taken over the years have rarely seen the light of day. They give us an insight into royal life you might not have expected, and they’re well worth a look.

Royal Ancestors

Queen Elizabeth II has been sitting on the throne for as long as we can remember. She was crowned all the way back in 1952, and 67 years later she’s still going strong. Elizabeth is now the longest reigning monarch in British history, overtaking Queen Victoria who sat on the throne for 63 years. Most of their ancestors didn’t last half as long as these two, with Elizabeth’s grandfather, George V, managing 26 years between 1910-36. George’s wife, Mary, sat beside him on the throne, and here she is with her granddaughters; one a Queen in the making.

Happy Families

Elizabeth was still only a young woman when she became Queen. However, although most of her life has been spent leading the monarchy, there was a time when she just got to be a carefree child growing up with royal parents. The first four years of her life were spent being the apple of her parents’ eye, though she had to share the spotlight when her sister came along. Six years later, things changed massively for the future monarch when her uncle passed away, and her father became king. He lasted for 16 years before passing away himself.

Surrounded By Loved Ones

When her father ascended to the throne, his responsibilities changed massively. No longer able to spend as much time with his family, George struggled to balance home life with his royal duties. However, Elizabeth was far from alone while growing up. She still had her mother around to watch over her, as well as her younger sister, Margaret, to play with. Of course, with Elizabeth now heir to the throne, she couldn’t spend all her time messing around with her sibling. She was going to be the queen one day, and she had to be prepared.

Time With The Family

That’s not to say that the family never spent any time together, though. When he wasn’t attending engagements and fulfilling royal duties, King George V had plenty of time for his wife and daughters. Even if they didn’t do anything momentous when together, being in each other’s company was enough. Plus, we’re sure that the family’s dogs appreciated having more people around to give them attention. Elizabeth’s love for the animals is well-known, and it extends all the way back to childhood when she had three pet pooches. What were their names? Ching, Carol, and Crackers.

Shining On Stage

Growing up in the Royal Family comes with its share of ups and downs. While you might have the privilege most other kids don’t have, you also lack the same freedom as everyone else. You can’t go out and do what you want like the other people your age, so you have to make your own entertainment. Luckily, Elizabeth and Margaret found ways to keep themselves occupied when they were younger. The girls casually put on pantomimes to fill their time, as evidenced by this picture here. They reinterpreted classics to keep themselves busy, as you do.

Sister, Sister

Spending time together was something that Elizabeth and Margaret did a lot of while growing up. With no other siblings around and their parents usually occupied, they became each other’s confidante. With four years between them, it would have been easy for the sisters to feel disconnected by age. However, they never let something like that get between them. Elizabeth might have been the older sibling who got to be in control most of the time, but she never let that power go to her head. Even when she became Queen, she still cared deeply for her sister.

Making History

1952 was a big year for Elizabeth – probably the biggest of her life. It’s not every day that you’re made the leader of a nation, especially when you’re only in your twenties. All of her ancestors had made their mark on the monarchy, so the pressure to perform well as the new queen was high. However, over the last six decades, Elizabeth has shown her capability as the head of the Royal Family, and she’s now one of the most celebrated figures in history. Prince Charles has a lot to live up to once he eventually becomes king.

Puppy Love.

If you were asked to name things associated with Queen Elizabeth II, there’s one breed of dog that’ll probably come to mind – corgis. Throughout her reign, the monarch has been the proud mother of over 30 of them, although her last one passed away in 2018. Apparently, Elizabeth didn’t want any to be left behind when she finally departed from this world, so she stopped breeding them. That kind of love for her dogs is exactly what we’d expect of the queen we’ve come to know so well. It’s just a shame her adorable pups aren’t around anymore.

Family Matters

Before she became the Queen, Elizabeth II married the love of her life – Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Between 1948-64, the pair had four children together, the oldest of which is now first in line to the throne. It wasn’t easy balancing four children with royal duties, and much like her father, Elizabeth had to make many sacrifices. However, her motherly instinct meant that the queen still had plenty of time for her growing family. That’s why she regularly went out for picnics like this one at Balmoral in 1953. She didn’t want her loved ones to feel abandoned.

An Unbreakable Bond

With a 16 year age difference between Prince Charles and Prince Edward, relations between the four siblings weren’t always as strong as they could have been. Most of Edward’s siblings were teenagers by the time he was born, so he probably didn’t have many opportunities to play with his brothers and sister. However, this is the Royal Family we’re talking about here – things are never entirely as you expect them to be. While Charles and Anne might have been busy doing their own stuff most of the time, family was always the most important thing to them.

Behind The Wheel

For someone who doesn’t own a license, Elizabeth II does a lot of driving. The monarch seems to love getting behind the wheel of her car and taking it for a spin, even if it’s just around the grounds of her estates. Her love for motors spans all the way back to the Second World War when she was a truck mechanic. At the time, Elizabeth was yet to be made the Queen, though that was probably a good thing. Had she been the reigning monarch, she probably wouldn’t have been able to get her hands dirty.

The Family Vacation

When you become the ruler of a nation, you have a lot of money at your disposal. Over the years, the monarchy has used this wealth to amass several incredible estates, including Balmoral in Scotland. That’s where this family photo was taken several decades into Elizabeth’s reign. She spent a lot of time here while her children were growing up, and she continued to make visits there long after her little ones had matured into adults. Even the Queen loves family vacations, though we imagine her trips away are a bit more classy than the usual affair.

Down Underground

How often do you see a member of the Royal Family using public transport? Basically never given they have their own means of getting around. However, when the Victoria line was opened for the London Underground in 1969, the Queen made an exception. She did what thousands of people now do every day and rode on the underground train, though looking a little classier doing it, of course. This marked the first time a member of the Royal Family had used public transportation, so it was a pretty monumental occasion. However, we doubt it’ll happen again anytime soon.

Girl Power

There are plenty of perks that come with being the monarch. Sometimes, though, it’s her subjects who get to benefit from her position. People who take to the stage at the annual Royal Variety Performance get to meet with the Queen afterward, and the way they react says it all. The Spice Girls might have been on track to becoming the biggest girl group in the world, but they felt like giddy little schoolgirls when they got to shake hands with the monarch in 1997. This was girl power in full force, and it was an incredible moment.

A Job Well Done

While the Queen and her family might get to live a life of luxury, her job isn’t an easy one. Her list of royal duties is exhaustive and more than one person can handle, hence why so many of her children and grandchildren do them for her now she’s in her nineties. When she was still in her prime, though, the monarch took to them with great ease and passion. From meeting with world leaders to helping with charities, Elizabeth proved herself time and again, and she showed why she deserved respect from everyone around her.

Wondrous In White

There’s more to the Royal Family than just the Queen. The monarch might have been getting all the attention during the early years of her reign, but once her first-born got married, everything changed. In 1981, Prince Charles tied the knot with Diana Spencer, a woman later known as the People’s Princess. Her stunning fashion and endless love made Diana a favorite with the public, although her new family wasn’t always impressed by her antics. That didn’t stop her from making the most of her new life though, like on this ski trip to Austria in 1993.

United By Love

While the couple was married, they brought two beautiful children into the world. The first came in 1982, with his brother following a few years later in 1984. This picture was taken before William’s sibling came along when he was the center of attention with his mother and father. Despite all the trouble Charles and Diana might have had behind the scenes, the love they had for their children always united them. They both took their role as parents incredibly seriously – Diana in particular. Her kids were her world, and it’s sad they lost her so early.

A Celebrity Feast

While she was involved with the Royal Family, Diana generated a lot of press. Wherever she was the cameras followed, and people wanted to know what she was doing. However, on this one occasion, it probably wasn’t merely Diana that was stealing all the focus. Surrounded by greats like Brian May, Bob Geldof, and David Bowie, this celebrity feast likely sent the media crazy. The lot of them were pictured at Live Aid, a concert established to raise money to help with the famine in Ethiopia. Many famous faces were present, with Diana there front and center.

Stealing The Attention

William and Harry have always had a strong relationship. There are only two years between them, and they were each other’s rock after Diana passed away. However, with William being the older sibling, he’s always gotten more attention from those around him. After all, the Queen’s grandson is currently second in line to the throne, whereas his brother is sixth. Although that power hasn’t gone to the future king’s head, it’s clear William loves having all eyes on him. Even at Harry’s christening, he was stealing the spotlight from his brother – a sign of things to come.

A Shoulder To Lean On

Diana might have been all smiles for the press, but life was rarely ever easy for the People’s Princess when she was married to Charles. Her love for her husband turned to bitterness when she discovered the extent of his feelings for Camilla Parker Bowles, leaving Diana feeling incredibly alone. Luckily, while she might not have always felt welcome in the royal circle, there was always someone there by her side. Prince Andrew’s former Wife, Sarah Ferguson, often served as a friend to the Princess of Wales when she was still in the royal fold.

A Mother’s Love

Luckily, no matter what was happening with her love life, there were two people that Diana could always turn to – her children. Both William and Harry were incredibly close with their mother, and they proved to be her rock while growing up. If Diana had known her time on Earth was going to be so limited, she probably would have done even more to show her kids how much she loved them. However, she did a pretty amazing job as it was, especially as she spent more time with her children than most of the royal ancestors.

Perks Of The Job

The Queen isn’t the only one that gets to jet off around the world as part of her royal engagements. The rest of her family get to travel from country to country as they fulfill their own duties, often doing so in place of Her Majesty. When Diana was still married to Charles, she was also afforded this luxury, and she made the most of every trip. You could never fault the Princess of Wales’ passion as she immersed herself in each new experience, always beaming with a big smile. Her love and laughter were infectious.

Checking Out The Military

Being the wife of the future king, Diana found herself in places she probably never expected. The monarchy has connections with different areas and industries, so the duties of a royal go far beyond meeting aristocratic figures in glamorous palaces. That’s how the Princess of Wales found herself inside a naval submarine base during a trip to Scotland. Both of her sons grew up to serve in the British military, so her visit to this base was quite befitting. However, she probably didn’t want to imagine her two kids would go off to war one day.

Dining With The Greats

You really do get to rub shoulders with all sorts when you’re in the Royal Family. We expect Diana had more celebrity friends than most, what with her being so prominent in the pop culture trend of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Her status as an icon only grew when she split from Charles, with her standing as a celebrity keeping her relevant after the royal connections disappeared. That’s how she came to attend dinners with people like Liza Minnelli. The actress’ association with theater and the arts was something that likely struck a chord with Diana.

Bonding With The Grandkids

Despite all the drama going on between Charles and Diana, it never affected anyone’s feelings towards William and Harry. They were the future of the monarchy, and no amount of parental strife would change that. It certainly didn’t impact how the Queen viewed her grandchildren, and she regularly spent time with them whenever possible. She might not have had much free time on her hands, but what was more important than family? Luckily, some engagements gave her the perfect opportunity to bond with her grandchildren, such as watching a game of polo from the Royal Box.

Royal Treatment

It doesn’t matter where in the world the Queen visits, she’s always treated like royalty. Considering she’s one of the most respected monarchs in history, people are wise not to get on the wrong side of her. Even when she’s in far-away countries like China, she’s still waited on hand and foot. However, just because Elizabeth expects to be given the star treatment doesn’t mean she isn’t willing to try new things when she’s in a different culture. Here, she’s being offered chopsticks while dining in Peking, and we can only imagine how the Queen fared with them.

A man and his boys

A lot is said about Princess Diana and her relationship with William and Harry, but she wasn’t their only parent. The boys spent just as much time with their father while growing up, even when he was busy with his royal engagements. The trio often did a lot of bonding while staying at the Queen’s estate in Balmoral, a place that Charles had fond memories of from his own childhood. We’re sure the Prince had a lot of advice to impart on his two sons, including how to prepare for future life as a royal.

A Moment Of Normality

Being a child in the Royal Family isn’t as easy as you might think. All those rules and regulations make for a very restricted childhood, especially when your parents aren’t around as often as you’d like. However, as limited as life might be for the young ones in the royal bloodline, the kids do still get some semblance of normality every now and again. Things like going to the theme park do occasionally happen, although the issue of being spotted unfortunately follows them to these places. Harry and Diana clearly didn’t care about that here, though.

His Own Person

With his wife as the Queen, Prince Philip has certainly had a good life. He couldn’t have picked anyone better to marry really, although he hasn’t merely spent the last few decades leeching off her success. Philip has done a lot to contribute to the monarchy, fulfilling many royal obligations himself. He’s acted in place of his wife on many occasions, and helped make the Royal Family as beloved as they are today. His kindness is clear to see in this rare photo which shows the prince talking with two kids playing around on a field somewhere.

Fun In The Sun

One of Diana’s many famous friends was Richard Branson. The man responsible for Virgin had a lot of love for the Princess of Wales, and he still talks highly of her many years after her passing. The pair were so close that he played host to Diana on his private island multiple times, including in 1990 when this photo was taken. It seems that the mother was enjoying a family vacation to the island paradise as she showed off her infectious smile once again. We wonder whose idea it was to bury her in the sand.

Family Time Abroad

The family unit didn’t restrict their vacations to just the sandy beaches of Necker Island. In 1995, Charles and Diana brought their kids to the snowy landscape of Klosters in Switzerland, and it wasn’t just the four of them. The trip was a large family affair with William and Harry’s cousins also in attendance. Pictured here are Beatrice and Eugenie, the two women who currently sit behind Harry and his future child in the line of succession. Skiing was obviously on the agenda during this vacation, though that’s not surprising – the royals seem to love the sport.

Going Against The Grain

One thing kids in the Royal Family can be sure of is that they’ll get the best education their country can offer. Money isn’t an issue, so they can afford to go to the most prestigious places around. After all, the better they do in school, the easier it is for them to tackle the complexities of royal life. However, while William certainly got an amazing education growing up, he broke tradition when he went to high school. He studied at Eton College which his mother’s side of the family had attended, but not his father’s.

Staying Strong

No matter how much they grow up, a royal is never too old to go on vacation with their parents. Family is incredibly important to the monarchy and spending time together is always something to be celebrated rather than avoided. This photo of Prince Charles with his sons was taken the same year that Diana passed away. It was a difficult time for everyone, particularly Harry and William, so being together was more vital than ever. Even if Charles had fallen out of love with Diana, he still cared about her, especially as the mother of his kids.

Turning Out Her Light

The world became a little darker the day that Diana left us. Few people in the world have passed away and had quite the same impact as the Princess of Wales did. It’s a testament to all the good she did over the years, as well as her endearing love for everyone she met. While millions of people around the globe were in a state of mourning, though, none were affected quite as much as those closest to her. This photo was taken at her funeral a week after her car crashed, and it speaks volumes.

Losing A Legend

Diana isn’t the only royal we’ve lost over the last few decades. In 2002, the Queen mother finally passed away after making it all the way to 101 years old. Evidently, Charles had always had a close relationship with his grandmother, still being there for her even as she was nearing the end. While she certainly wasn’t as active as she had been earlier on in life, she was still surprisingly animated in her final years. Apparently, the women in the Queen’s family just have long lifespans as the monarch is now 92 and still going strong.

Head Over Heels

Following his split from Diana, Charles was free to embark on a relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles without any resistance. The public might not have been happy about it, but they’ve slowly come to accept the woman as a member of the royal fold. Although Diana still holds a place in many people’s hearts, it’s been clear how much stronger Charles’ relationship is with Camilla than it was with his first wife. Public displays of affection are often frowned upon by the Royal Family, but that didn’t stop these lovebirds from kissing during a 2005 polo match.

Carrying On The Torch

With a mother like Diana, William and Harry were always destined to grow up with big hearts. When the Princess of Wales passed away, it inspired her sons to do all they could to continue her legacy and make her proud. Harry has maintained the work Diana did to eliminate landmines, while William has used his power as future king to campaign for a wealth of different charities. Together, the pair has already had a significant impact on the world, changing it for the better wherever possible. If Diana was still around, she’d be so pleased.

Cracking A Smile

It’s not often that you see the Queen showing much range of emotion. She always has to look prim and proper while doing her royal duties, so she tries not to express too much on her face. However, there are moments when the monarch can’t help but let loose and give us a smile or a laugh. We saw it in 2016 when Elizabeth II got excited by a cow during her 90th birthday celebrations, and also in 2006 when she and Charles laughed their heads off at a tug of war competition at the Braemar Games.

Down With The Kids

You rarely ever see the Queen looking anything other than regal. As the head of the monarchy she has a standard to uphold, so the last thing she wants is to look out of place. However, in 2010, we were given a rare glimpse of the Queen showing her looking a little suaver than we’re used to. She and her husband were given some 3D glasses to wear while at the University of Sheffield, and the pair has never looked quite so cool before. Now we’re wondering if Elizabeth asked if she could keep the specs.

The Good Egg

While both William and Harry have continued their mother’s philanthropic efforts, it’s the latter who’s been a little more hands-on with the work. To be fair to William, he’s been a little busy over the last decade what with getting married and having three children. Plus, being second in line to the throne, he probably doesn’t have as much free time as his brother. That doesn’t take away from all the good that Harry has done, though. Everywhere the younger sibling goes he tries to help out, including in Lesotho where he provided assistance to an orphanage.

Surprise!

It’s not just the Queen who normally looks poised and elegant. Most of her relatives, particularly the older ones, like to save face when out in public and maintain an air of dignity. Unfortunately for them, a poorly-timed photo can catch them looking far from their best. Prince Charles and Camilla were clearly caught off guard when this bird of prey started flapping its wings at the 2015 Sandringham Flower Show. Even if they were just thrown off for a second, though, that’s all the time the photographer needed to snap a picture of them. Not their best moment.

Preparing For The Game

If there’s one sport that the royals love more than anything else, it’s polo. The family is big fans of horses, so any activity that involves riding around on them gets a big thumbs up from the monarchy. Elizabeth II and her relatives aren’t just avid spectators of the sport, though. Some of her family members are actively involved in playing the game, including her grandsons. William and Harry both competed in a charity match back in 2016, though the former seemed to be more invested in his yoga-inspired warm-up than in the actual event itself.

Dress-Down Friday

We’re so used to seeing the royals dressed in their Sunday best that it’s always a shock when one of them goes out in regular clothes. However, while Kate might be known for dazzling in some gorgeous gowns, she prefers comfy and casual when it comes to raising her kids. She can’t really go around playing in the grass wearing something that cost more than most of us could probably afford. Being a parent comes with its share of messes, and sometimes you just have to dress down for the occasion. We doubt Kate really cares that much.

Game, Set And Match

Polo isn’t the only sport the royals love watching. Another firm favorite of the family is tennis. Members of the monarchy attend Wimbledon every year, with Kate a regular at the annual matches. If you ever had doubts that the Duchess of Cambridge gets invested in the games, this photo ought to set you straight. Whatever’s happening during this match between Sabine Lisicki and Simona Halep, Kate isn’t too happy. She seems gobsmacked by the goings on while her husband appears devastated. The game ended with a win for Halep, but was that what Kate wanted?

Welcoming The Next Generation

William might not yet have ascended to the throne, but already focus is on the newest generation of royals. It’s assumed that Prince George will one day be king, currently sitting third in line behind his father and grandfather, and it’s likely he’ll be a popular one. Ever since he was born, people have gone crazy for him, and the case is the same for his younger sister. The pair of them steal the show wherever they go, and they’re gradually becoming aware of that. In a few years time, they’ll pretty much dominate the media.

Parental Obligations

Unfortunately, just because the young royals are beloved by the public doesn’t mean they’re always the best-behaved kids around. They’re still children, after all, so expecting them to be good 24/7 is never going to happen. While it’s rare to see to the youngsters’ parents telling them off in front of the cameras, Kate has been caught giving a stern word to her son a couple of times. The Duchess of Cambridge appears to be in the middle of telling George off here, not that the future king has noticed – he’s definitely in his own little world.

Another Year Older

Every year the Queen gets older is a moment to celebrate. Given the monarch’s in her nineties, you never know how much time she has left. That’s why it’s essential to make the most of each birthday as it comes. Of course, with Elizabeth being the Queen, she doesn’t just mark the occasion with a few presents and cake. In 2018, she celebrated her 92nd with a concert featuring the likes of Tom Jones, Kylie Minogue, and Shawn Mendes. Most of her relatives were present, marking the first of several big events for the family that year.

A New Face

2018 was an incredible year for the Royal Family, though one person in the fold had a more memorable time than anyone else. May of that year marked the marriage between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, with the couple going on to announce their pregnancy a few months later. The addition of Markle to the family met its fair share of controversy, but the former actress was also highly praised for her contributions. She’s already done a lot to ingratiate herself into the inner circle, and as time goes on, things will only get better for her.

Chowing Down

Public appearances are common ground for members of the Royal Family. However, many of these engagements aren’t done for TV, instead being held behind closed doors. One of the exceptions to this, though, is when Prince Charles and Camilla appeared on a morning TV show in January 2018. This Morning is one of Britain’s most popular daytime broadcasts, so perhaps seeing the royal couple on the set wasn’t necessarily a massive surprise. One person who obviously enjoyed the experience was Camilla who couldn’t keep from snacking when the cameras weren’t rolling. No point letting food go to waste.

Keeping Her Head Held High

With a baby on the way and Meghan nearly a year into her marriage, the future is bright for the Duchess of Sussex. She might be plagued with rumors of a rift between her and Kate, but the former actress isn’t letting that get to her. There are still millions of people standing by her side, and their support keeps her going. In many ways, her experience bears some resemblance to Diana’s, but hopefully, her story will have a much happier ending. The last thing we want is to see her and Harry get divorced.