Love them or hate them, none can deny that the British Royal Family are possessive of a certain magnetism; an allure that is difficult to put a finger on, and virtually impossible to completely ignore.
Perhaps it’s the legacy of the institution. Perhaps it’s the sheer dignity and power that Queen Elizabeth has exuded for the entirety of her more than 70-year reign.
Whatever it is, it’s real, and a great many people the world over find themselves following the ongoings of the Britain’s most famous family as though they were participants in some sort of reality TV show.
Of course, there have been enough scandals over the years to draw comparisons with even the most tantalizing of TV series and films. The fact that The Crown has proven to be as popular as it has speaks volumes over just how many eyes the Royal Family can draw simply by virtue of its everyday existence.
And yet the times they are a-changin’ at Buckingham Palace.
It’s not too great an exaggeration to suggest that the monarchy is currently languishing in a transitionary period between the dizzying heights of its glorious past and the bleak uncertainty of its future.
One doesn’t need the help of Nostradamus to predict that Queen Elizabeth is rapidly approaching the end of her record-breaking spell on the English throne, and the famous solidity that has underpinned her monarchy appears very much to be on the rocks.
Not only has she lost her so-called “strength and stay” – Prince Philip passed away last year just a few months short of his 100th birthday – but plenty of eyes remain angled on Prince Andrew after continual allegations of sexual assault.
And let’s not forget the furore surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s exit from the Royal Family in favor of a quieter life across the Atlantic in the US.
These things considered, one would be forgiven for thinking that Queen Elizabeth has more on her plate than she deserves after decades of unwavering service to her country.
What’s more, it’s been reported of late that Her Majesty isn’t in the best of health. She recently turned 96, but has been forced to cancel any number of public engagements since the close of last year.
It’s hardly ideal at a time when speculation of the need for a royal family in the UK is rampant.
And yet …
And yet there is hope for the future, primarily in the form of Queen Elizabeth’s grandson, Prince William, and his adorable family.
Princess Diana’s oldest son, William has long been groomed for the day when the British throne will eventually be his to sit upon. Unlike most others, his name and reputation has never been sullied in the media, and one is hard-pressed to find a sector of the general public that doesn’t like him.
These days, Prince William draws much of his strength from his family: wife Kate Middleton, whom he tied the knot with in 2011, and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Together, they form a family fit for postcards – it really is easy to envisage them one day making up the center piece of arguably the most famous monarchy on Earth.
Yet though we’ve been privy to the internal workings of Prince William’s life since he was a young boy – rightly or wrongly, he very much grew up in the searing media spotlight – he and Kate Middleton have done their utmost to ensure that their children’s exposure has been limited.
Which is why it’s always a bonus when we, as fans of the royals, get a sneak-peek into the sorts of characters the likes of Prince George and Princess Charlotte are becoming.
We were given one such glimpse earlier this year, when the Royal Family gathered for a memorial to mark the passing of Prince Philip. Unsurprisingly, self-proclaimed ‘royal experts’ came out in force to analyze the various royals on show, with particular focus given to the children of William and Kate.
According to once such expert, Judi James, Princess Charlotte displayed characteristics not unlike her much-loved, much-missed grandmother, Princess Diana.
James said: “Like Diana she gives the initial impression of shyness but beneath that appears to be an outgoing, fun personality. She also picked out several of the cameras with her eyes, as Diana always remembered to do.”
Indeed, according to reports, Charlotte is very much the “joker” of William and Kate’s brood, while she already likes to think of herself as “the one in charge” of the household.
Now seven years of age, the young princess, by all accounts, likes to engage in ballet and singing every morning when she comes into the kitchen for breakfast. There, she and her older brother Prince George regularly argue over which song the family will listen to.
As Prince William revealed during a royal engagement: “If you ask her, she says she’s 16. Charlotte says, ‘I’m six now, I’ll do whatever I want’. They grow up very fast.”
Indeed, Charlotte is still a young girl, but she’s already making headlines on the regular. As per Hello Magazine!, it was Charlotte who stole the show when the Royal Family turned out for the annual Easter Sunday church service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
Interestingly, Charlotte was dressed for the occasion a coat made in the same workshop as a smocked outfit worn by Prince William when he was a baby!
I don’t know about you, but I think the future of the British Royal Family looks bright, despite everything they’ve been through of late.
Are you a fan of the Royal Family? Do you think the likes of Prince George and Princess Charlotte can take the monarchy forward into the future?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments box, and share this article if you like reading about the royals!
