Being a royal can be a confusing, overwhelming, and alienating life. We've seen how it has impacted generation after generations of the British royal family. We've also seen how having an ally on the inside can be a saving grace. Prince William and Prince Harry's bond, particularly after the death of their mother, is something that's been evident for their entire lives. As the next generation of royals comes up, we're seeing a beautiful bond form between William's oldest two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
The brother and sister have been thick as thieves since the moment Princess Charlotte was born. With just two years between them, the two have grown up causing trouble as kids do and enjoying time with their parents together. They are growing up under extraordinary circumstances, as third and fourth in line to the throne. The worries of ruling as a monarch are far from these little ones' minds, however. They're just a brother and sister growing up and figuring out why the world knows their names.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte are more than brother and sister — they're best friends. The 6-year-old prince and 4-year-old princess have been thick as thieves from the very beginning, and there are no signs of that changing as they grow.
There's no doubting that the siblings are growing up under some pretty unique circumstances. The only ones who can really relate are their father, Prince William, and uncle, Prince Harry. Still, what George and Charlotte have going on is truly one of a kind.
"They are close in age, and they spend so much time together," a royal insider explained to People. "Playdates [with outsiders] can be tricky, so they learn to lean on each other." That's understandable when your house is a palace and your "Gan Gan" is the Queen.
Of course, a close bond doesn't mean that everything about the two kids is the same. While Prince George is described by those close to the family as "more reserved," Princess Charlotte already has proven to be charming and "more outgoing."
You can see the siblings' different personalities by their public behavior. While George often doesn't look directly at cameras and simply smiles when he does, Charlotte has been known to grandstand a bit more, like when she recently stuck her tongue out at onlookers at the King's Cup Regatta.
George certainly did have some fun that same day. He took a liking to survivalist Bear Grylls, who even revealed that he saw the little prince eat an ant at the event. "And also Prince George, your first ant you ate today," he said in a speech, according to People. "And that is a great moment. Well done, you."
George and Charlotte have been having a good time together this summer. Aside from riding their scooters around the grounds at Kensington Palace, the siblings also enjoyed the Englefield Summer Fete with grandparents Michael and Carole Middleton.
An onlooker noted that the siblings seemed to be having a blast. "They were so cute, and Charlotte particularly was very friendly, politely saying hello to other children," the local told People. "George was running around, exactly like all the other children."
Of course, things will vary for the children more as they get older. As third in line to the throne, George will undergo a lot of training on what it means to lead. He's already proven to be a bit of a leader, according to his dad. "George rules the roost and Charlotte isn't far behind," he commented after Prince George began his schooling, according to HuffPost.
School is another place where the royal siblings will come together. Starting this fall, Charlotte will be joining George at Thomas's Battersea Day School in London. She previously attended Willcocks Nursery School.
Charlotte can't wait to get her start at her new school, which costs a cool $23,000 a year and is just 3 miles from the family home. "She can’t wait to be with George at big school," a source explained to People. "She is so excited about it all."
While Willcocks staff will surely miss her, they're sure to get at least one more royal in the upcoming years. It's likely that William and Kate will send 1-year-old Prince Louis to the nursery school when the time comes.
While the age gap between Louis and his siblings seems big right now, he'll be running around trying to keep up with them before you know it. He's also got another comrade a little closer in age. He's just a year older than his new little cousin, Archie.
The Cambridge children's life only stands to become more spectacular and unique. At some point in their lives, they'll see their father become the King of England. When that happens, it will be them learning the ropes and preparing to one day take the throne themselves.
