As she celebrates her milestone 90th birthday, the people who know her best give some fascinating insights into what Queen Elizabeth is really like.
Prince William on her personality
“From a personal point of view, I am privileged to witness the private side of the Queen, as a grandmother and a great-grandmother. The Queen’s kindness and sense of humour, her innate sense of calm and perspective, and her love of family and home are all attributes I experience first-hand. All of us who will inherit the legacy of my grandmother’s reign and generation need to do all we can to celebrate and learn from her story. Speaking for myself, I am privileged to have the Queen as a model for a life of service to the public.”
Prince Harry on her funny streak
“She is very funny but I think she gets it from my grandfather. They are very funny together. My family is the same as any other family when it comes to humour behind closed doors, though I’d like to think I was funnier than my grandmother.”
Watch Prince Harry talk about his beloved ‘granny’ in the player below. Post continues after the video!
Duchess Catherine on her love and support
“She’s been very generous in not being forceful at all and in any of her views, but I feel she’s been there, a gentle guidance really for me.”
Prince George and Princess Charlotte on their great-grandmother
Although he’s not quite old enough to articulate his bond, proud mum Kate has revealed how fond Queen Elizabeth is of her great-grandson. “George is only two-and-a-half and he calls her ‘Gan-Gan.’ She always leaves a little gift or something in their room when we go and stay and that just shows her love for her family.” While Duchess Catherine says of Princess Charlotte: “The Queen was really thrilled that it was a little girl, and I think as soon as we came back here to Kensington she was one of our first visitors here.”
Three royal rascals! (L-R) Princess Charlotte, Queen Elizabeth as a little girl and Prince George. The trio all bare a very similar smile.
Prince Charles on her incredible ability to balance family and duty
“I remember my mama coming up when we were being bathed as children, wearing the crown [before her Coronation in 1953]. It was quite funny – practicing. My mama takes great pride in her family, from being a young mother at the start of her reign, to now being a great-grandmother twice over. The fact that my mama has been a constant feature on the scene has provided that sense, I think, of continuity in a time of immense change over 60 years.”
Prince Philip of her gentle nature
“Tolerance is the one essential ingredient. You can take it from me that the Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance.”
Watch members of the Royal Family talk about Her Majesty in the player below. Post continues after the video!
Prince William on her enduring help
“She’s been a very strong female influence and having lost my mother at a young age, it’s been particularly important to me that I’ve had somebody like the Queen to look up to and who’s been there and who has understood some of the more, um, complex issues when you lose a loved one… So she’s been incredibly supportive and I’ve really appreciated her guidance.”
Prince Harry on honouring her legacy
“People have always said ‘Do you feel as if you’re following in her footsteps?’ Well that’s exactly what we are doing. There is nowhere on this planet that I can think of that she hasn’t been in the last 90 years. She’s been everywhere.”
Watch The Queen in grandmother mode with a young Prince William and Prince Harry in the player below
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