Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are ‘rising royal stars’ and the ‘jewels in the crown’ of the royal family

Stepping out in the spring sunshine, the Wales siblings looked poised and polished, and offered a glimpse of their evolving personalities, as they joined their parents, the Prince and the Princess of Wales, their close bond unmistakable. 

Dressed in classic outfits that also subtly expressed their individuality, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, ten, and Prince Louis, who turns eight next week, took centre stage as they attended the royal family’s traditional Easter Sunday outing to St George’s Chapel in Windsor.

It had been three years since their most recent appearance at the annual Easter Matins service – though less than four months since royal-watchers saw them at Sandringham at Christmas – and the children have visibly grown and matured. George stood almost shoulder to shoulder with his mother, who, in four-inch heels, would have been nearly six feet tall.

Displaying their growing confidence at public events, the youngsters appeared more at ease than ever as they shook hands with the Dean of Windsor, the Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth, on their way in to the chapel, William and Kate looking on encouragingly.

These snapshots of family life highlight how the children are maturing and how comfortably they are stepping into the spotlight.

“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.”

The royal author Robert Jobson adds: “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.”

© Samir Hussein./WireImage

Prince George’s big change

It is certainly shaping up to be a significant year of change for the Waleses, both as a unit and as part of the wider royal family.

William and Kate, who celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary later this month, will find themselves parents to a teenager when George turns 13 in July. In another milestone, he will be moving from the family’s local school, Lambrook, when he begins the next stage of his education in the autumn, with the Prince tipped to follow in his father’s footsteps to Eton College.

© Getty Images

Robert Jobson says: “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 the royal family 

With several members of the wider royal family absent, the contrast between this Easter line-up and that of a year ago could not have been more apparent.

Last year, like the year before, William, Kate and the children stayed away from the Easter service as the Princess recovered from cancer, opting to spend the weekend privately as a family.

This year, the Waleses led the way into the chapel, flanked by family members.

© PA Images via Getty Images

“What a difference 12 months makes,” Emily says. “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.

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