Special bond the Queen had with grandchildren and great-grandchildren
Sweet moments with Gan Gan: Adorable videos and pictures show the close bond the Queen shared with her great-grandchildren and grandchildren over the years
- Queen Elizabeth II was a beloved grandmother to eight grandchildren and a great-grandmother of twelve
- The monarch, 96, shared many sweet moments throughout her last few years with her great-grandchildren
- These moments included making Christmas pudding in a wholesome video with a young Prince George
- Here, Femail looks at some of the cutest scenes of the Queen with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren
Tonight, the Queen’s eight grandchildren will unite to stand vigil over her coffin as she lies-in-state.
Prince William and Prince Harry will be joined by their cousins Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, as they come together to honour Her Majesty. Their partners are not expected to attend.
It will be a poignant farewell to a grandmother who always made time to create memories with her family, despite her role as Queen and Head of State.
The same is true for her great-grandchildren: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis; Mia, Lena and Lucas Tindall; Savannah and Isla Phillips; Sienna Mapelli Mozzi and August Brooksbank; and Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.
Queen Elizabeth II was was a beloved grandmother to eight grandchildren and a great-grandmother of twelve (pictured left to right: Prince George, Prince Louis being held by Queen Elizabeth II, Savannah Phillips (standing at rear), Princess Charlotte, the Duke of Edinburgh, Isla Phillips holding Lena Tindall, and Mia Tindall
Prince Harry, Prince William and Princess Beatrice’s husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi all spoke about how important it was that their children were able to make memories with Her Majesty before her death.
Some of these memories were captured on camera, in front of the globe’s press – or television crews – for the world to see and enjoy.
They gave the public an intimate view of what the Queen was like behind closed doors in her role as mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
One sweet clip shows the Queen playing with Peter Phillips, her eldest grandson, as he spent time with his mother Princess Anne in the royal nursery. More recent ones include Prince George and his great-grandmother making a cake, and the Queen taking in the sights of the Platinum Jubilee with a young Prince Louis.
Here, ahead of her grandchildren’s moving tribute, FEMAIL looks at some of the most uplifting interactions between ‘Granny’ and her family…
Just like Gan-Gan! Charlotte copies the Queen’s wave at Trooping the Colour
Learning by example: All eyes were on the Royal Family during Trooping the Colour in 2018, but it was Princess Charlotte who stole the show. The cheeky three-year-old was caught on camera as she watched her great-grandmother the Queen waving at the crowd… then decided to follow suit (pictured)
Look at that! Princess Charlotte looked up in awe at the flypast during Trooping the Colour in 2018. Also pictured (left to right): The Queen, the Duchess of Sussex, King Charles, Prince Harry, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Savannah Phillips and
All eyes were on the Royal Family during Trooping the Colour in 2018, but it was Princess Charlotte who stole the show.
The cheeky three-year-old was caught on camera as she watched her great-grandmother the Queen waving at the crowd… then decided to follow suit.
Her mother Kate picked up on the adorable moment and looked over her shoulder to William to alert him to what their daughter was doing.
Despite her tender years, the youngster has had plenty of opportunity to practice her royal wave after taking part in overseas tours with the Duke and Duchess, now the Prince and Princess of Wales.
She looked adorable in a blue dress matching both her mother, Kate, and great-grandmother.
Getting stuck in: Whipping up Christmas pudding with George
Prince George tries his hand at making Christmas pudding under the watchful eye of his great-grandmother the Queen for a video broadcast on Christmas Day 2019
Prince George, dressed in a white shirt with black piping and a cute collar, tries very hard to mix the pudding
Eventually all the family step in including the now King Charles III, Queen Elizabeth the second and the now Prince of Wales can be seen assisting Prince George in a sweet family moment caught on camera
Filmed in December 2019, this heartwarming clip shows Prince George mixing some batter for Christmas pudding alongside his father Prince William, grandfather King Charles, and great-grandmother, the Queen.
George appears to be having a whale of a time as he enthusiastically takes his wooden spoon to the mixture.
The video, which featured in the Queen’s Christmas Day message, showcased four generations of the royal family supporting a Royal British Legion project.
The puddings were mixed for the Royal British Legion’s Together at Christmas initiative, which aims to provide extra support to the Armed Forces community at annual festive ‘get-togethers’ across the charity’s network, both at home and abroad.
After prompting from his father, George repeatedly stabs at the thick pudding mixture with a wooden spoon, making his grandfather Charles laugh, while the Queen watches on, smiling.
Charles and William are also featured trying their hand at Christmas pudding making and the duke is seen holding his son’s hand.
Playing with her eldest grandson: The Queen in the nursery with Anne and Peter
The Queen shares a sweet moment with Princess Anne and Peter Phillips. The three royal generations gather on a sofa in Buckingham Palace, something the broadcaster describes as ‘The Royal Nursery’
Princess Anne comes into the nursery, cradling a baby Peter Phillips on her hip as The Queen, dressed in a moss green dress and pearls, beams at them
A one-year-old Peter Phillips smiles as he see’s his grandmother The Queen and seems unfazed as a dog climbs up on the couch
In her 1978 Christmas broadcast, the Queen told people ‘not to give up hope for a brighter future’, and shared clips of her young grandson Peter Philips.
The clip showed her leaving church with the Queen Mother and ended with an intimate moment in the royal nursery at Buckingham Palace, as Princess Anne presented her mother with her grand-child Peter.
As the mother and daughter sat on a floral patterned sofa, they were joined by one of the Queen’s many dogs – which seemed to delight the one-year-old Peter as he gurgled and smiled.
Meanwhile his grandmother, the Queen, could be seen smiling down at him.
Sharing a moment with Louis: Playful Prince sneaks a special moment during the Jubilee
Prince Louis struggled to hide his displeasure as the Red Arrows flew past during Trooping the Colour for the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations earlier this year – while the monarch struggled to hide a grin
The Queen and Prince Louis watch a flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 2, 2022 in London, England
The royals enjoy the flypast for the Platinum Jubilee – all except Prince Louis – on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. The little royal could be seen covering his ears as the Red Arrows flew overhead
Queen Elizabeth II smiled warmly at her four-year-old great-grandson Prince Louis at the flypast presumably trying to distract him from the noise
The Queen appeared to point out towards the crowd and the Red Arrows in an apparent effort to distract Prince Louis from all the commotion – while Charlotte smiled out at the crowds
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s youngest child, Prince Louis, four, managed to steal the limelight with his antics during the Platinum Jubilee this Summer.
The youngster was filmed pulling funny faces, and covering his ears during a flyby when the royals appeared on Buckingham Palace’s balcony to kick-off the four-day celebratory weekend.
Among the funny antics, royal watchers also noticed a sweet moment between Prince Louis and his great-grandmother.
During his appearance, the youngster seemed entranced, looking up inquisitively at the monarch, and seeking out her attention.
At one point, he even broke away from his mother Kate to make his way closer to his Gan Gan.
And the pair shared a chat during the flypast, while the Queen seemingly trying to distract Louis from the loud noise of the aircraft.
Showing her protective side: Running after Prince William
The moment before the Queen lost her poise to grab a young Prince William as he ran after the carriage as Duke and Duchess of York as they set off on honeymoon after their wedding in 1986
The Queen showed her protective instinct as she stood by a four-year-old Prince William in 1986 after the wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York.
As they all stood watching the wedding carriage head off, The Queen can be seen running after Prince William as he attempted to follow it.
The usually regal monarch showed her softer side in the unearthed clip, where she quickly grabbed William from behind the carriage wearing a light blue dress.
Cuddles at the polo: Queen held a baby Zara Phillips on her knee
In this adorable photograph from 1984, the Queen took her young granddaughter Zara Phillips, aged three, onto her knee as they watched the polo at Smith’s Lawn, Windsor. Then Zara sat on Grandma’s knee to watch mother Princess Anne ride her horse in a display.
Three year old Zara, daughter of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, was pictured attending the polo match at Smith’s Lawn Polo Ground in Windsor in the Royal Box
This sweet shot was captured when the Queen attended a Polo match with a three-year old Zara Phillips – who now shares her love of the sport alone with her mother Princess Anne.
The monarch and her grandchildren were at the 1984 event at Smith’s Lawn Polo Ground in Windsor to watch Anne perform a horse display.
There was one sweet moment where the Queen picked up her granddaughter and held her on her lap, while the two watched the match together.
It was a tender moment between the pair, who both shared a love of horses and riding.
Zara went on to win the silver medal as part of the London 2012 Olympics, the single Olympic title of her career.
Her Majesty shares a sweet moment on the balcony with George
Prince George with his great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II caught in an intimate moment where he turns to her and smiles during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June
The pair share a smile together as they stand before the crowds at Buckingham Palace at the end of the Platinum Pageant on The Mall in June
As the third in line for the throne and the oldest of the Queen’s great-grandchildren present, Prince George was the Queen’s most obedient servant during her Platinum Jubilee fly-past on June 4.
Dressed to the nines in a navy blue suit, George, nine, was seen calmly standing next to the late Monarch as the royal family and the crowds amassed in front of Buckingham Palace sang ‘God Save the Queen.’
The special moment erupted with rousing cries from royal fans and fireworks on his side of the Monarch’s London residence.
The Queen, who looked particularly pleased, was seen turning to her great grandson to share in the special moment with him.
Prince George beamed as he turned to his grandmother showing what appeared to be true admiration for his elder, as she turned to face him and smiled back.
A first meeting: The Queen meets newborn Archie Mountbatten-Windsor
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, joined by her mother, Doria Ragland, as they show their new son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, to Queen Elizabeth II and the then Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle
The Queen met her great-grandson Archie Mountbatten-Windsor in 2019, in a meeting also attended by Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex introduced their first son and eighth in line to the throne at the time to his great-grandmother, who was the first of the royal household to meet Archie.
The Queen, along with her late husband Prince Phillip smiled adoringly down at the latest addition to the family while the Duchess of Sussex held him in her arms.
The Queen’s ‘favourite event’: Anne, Peter and Zara at the Windsor horse show
Princess Anne with her children Peter and Zara and The Queen at the Windsor Horse Show on May 11, 1985 in Windsor, Berkshire, England.
It’s no secret that the Queen, Princess Anne and Zara Phillips share a passion for horses, with the Princess Royal becoming a keen equestrian and Zara eventually winning an Olympic dressage medal.
How fitting that three generations of horse loving women, along with the Queen’s grandson Peter Phillips, were snapped at the Windsor Horse Show in 1985.
Princess Anne and The Queen are wrapped up against the British drizzle as Peter and Zara look on ahead.
Despite the typically bleak British weather, the family would no doubt have shared wonderful memories at the Horse Show, which was known as one of the Queen’s favourite events of the year.
The Queen interacts with Prince George as a toddler
Prince George, pictured as a toddler in 2015, looks at his great-grandmother as they share a moment outside of the church where Princess Charlotte was christened in Sandringham.
Prince George, pictured next to his grandmother as a two-year-old wearing red shorts and an embroidered shirt as she looks down at him in a baby pink suit and matching hat
The Queen was pictured thoroughly entertained as she bent down to talk to Prince George as a toddler on a trip to King’s Lynn in Norfolk in 2015.
George, wearing a white shirt and red shorts – appeared to be looking up at his great-grandmother as they left the Magdalen church on the Sandringham Estate after Princess Charlotte’s christening.
While the adults in the picture, including Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Philip and Camilla, chat to each other, the Queen’s attention appears firmly fixed on her sweet great-grandson
After the christening, an official portrait was taken where the Queen’s great-grandchildren were pictured with her.
That’s my foot! The Queen tells off Princess Eugenie for stepping on her toes
A clip, from BBC documentary ‘Elizabeth R: A Year in the Life of the Queen’, which aired in 1992, shows the moment Princess Eugenie, then two, is gently reprimanded after stepping on her grandmother’s toes
In the footage, taken in the grounds of Balmoral Castle, the Queen is joined by several of her grandchildren – including Prince William, then 10, Prince Harry, then eight, Zara Phillips, then 11 Princess Beatrice
An adorable young Princess Eugenie can be seen wondering around aimlessly in the clip (pictured) while her older sister Princess Beatrice struggles to mount a pony
A candid clip that originally aired in 1992, on BBC documentary ‘Elizabeth R: A Year in the Life of the Queen’ shows an amusing moment between the Queen and her then two-year-old granddaughter Princess Eugenie.
Once again, the monarch is sharing her love of horses with her family, and is shown trying to help Princess Beatrice, then four, mount a pony.
Meanwhile, Eugenie can be seem aimlessly walking around in her t-shirt and dungarees before stopping in front of her grandmother.
The monarch then shouts ‘ow,’ before moving the youngster forward and declaring: ‘That’s my foot you’re standing on.’
The accident is forgotten just as quickly as it happens and seconds afterwards, Her Majesty can be seen taking Princess Eugenie’s hand. ‘Now, shall we go that way?’ she adds, before leading the children on a trek around the grounds.
In the footage, Her Majesty is joined by several of her grandchildren – including Prince William, then 10, Prince Harry, then eight, Zara Phillips, then 11 Princess Beatrice – in the grounds of Balmoral Castle.
Young Princess Beatrice goes for a ride with her horse-loving Grannie
Princess Beatrice, pictured here aged 10, was snapped enjoying a moment with her grandmother the Queen, as the pair went riding in Windsor in 1999
A sweet moment the Queen shared with her granddaughter Princess Beatrice was captured on camera in 1999.
Naturally, the bonding moment featured horses, with Her Majesty and her then 10-year-old granddaughter enjoying a ride together.
In the April 1999 snap, the royal pair are seen trotting through a field in Windsor, thought to be the Great Park.
The younger royal sat astride a smaller brown horse while her grandmother looked confident riding a larger brown one, no doubt enjoying spending the quality time spent with Beatrice, despite the somewhat grey weather.
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