The Wales children, behind the titles
To the world, they’re the Prince and Princess of Wales. At home, they’re just mum and dad to three kids with school runs, homework, and the odd sibling squabble. Prince William said it plainly back in 2016: they’re trying to be a normal family. The titles don’t change how you feel about your children, and he’s been open about wanting that same ordinary love and routine inside the house.
The family story started after the couple’s 2011 wedding. Two years later, on July 22, 2013, their first child arrived. Catherine called it “such a special time” as she and William carried their newborn out of the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital. Princess Charlotte followed on May 2, 2015, and Prince Louis on April 23, 2018—both born at the same hospital, both introduced to the cameras waiting on the steps, a modern royal rite of passage.
After King Charles acceded to the throne in 2022, the children’s styles shifted from “of Cambridge” to “of Wales.” The line of succession is clear: William, then Prince George, followed by Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. A move to Windsor in 2022 put the family closer to the late Queen’s old stomping grounds and further from the constant bustle of London. Their base is Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor estate, and the children attend Lambrook, a prep school with playing fields, woodland, and plenty of room to be kids.
You’ll still see them at big moments: Trooping the Colour, Christmas morning at Sandringham, the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and the Coronation of 2023—where George served as a Page of Honour, while Charlotte kept a gentle eye on Louis. They’re learning the public side of royal life in slow, careful steps.
Who they are: ages, school, and small glimpses of personality
Each child has a distinct lane. George, 11, has an eye on the future—without the weight of it falling too heavily. Charlotte, 10, is confident and watchful, often the steadying presence for her younger brother. Louis, 7, brings the comic relief, the dancing feet, and the faces that launched a thousand memes.
George Alexander Louis was born on July 22, 2013. He’s second in line to the throne and, as the eldest, gets a little more of the ceremonial duty training. He helped at the Coronation and has been a regular at major sporting events, from football to tennis. Football is a big deal at home; William’s an Aston Villa fan, and George has been spotted cheering along, soaking up the noise of a proper match day. At school, he’s part of the usual mix: lessons, sports, outdoor time. The Palace releases birthday portraits—often taken by Catherine, a keen photographer—that show the small, steady shifts from boyhood to pre-teen.
- Full name: George Alexander Louis
- Born: Lindo Wing, St. Mary’s Hospital, London
- Christening: Chapel Royal, St. James’s Palace
- School: Lambrook, near Windsor
- Notable moments: Page of Honour at the Coronation; first Wimbledon visit; match days with dad
Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana arrived on May 2, 2015, and made a quiet bit of history. Thanks to the 2013 change to succession law, a younger brother didn’t bump her down the line—she remains third. Charlotte mixes poise with playful moments; she’s been a bridesmaid for family weddings and at big royal events seems unfazed by cameras. She’s into dance and gymnastics, loves animals, and, yes, she’s a Taylor Swift fan. In 2024, she joined her dad and brother at one of Swift’s London shows, a rare pop-culture crossover for the young royal set.
- Full name: Charlotte Elizabeth Diana
- Born: Lindo Wing, St. Mary’s Hospital, London
- Christening: St. Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham
- School: Lambrook
- Notable moments: Bridesmaid at family weddings; calm presence at the Coronation; Wimbledon and balcony appearances
Prince Louis Arthur Charles, born April 23, 2018, is fourth in line and the family’s resident scene-stealer. He’s the kid who turns a balcony appearance into a meme with one face pull. During the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, Louis became a global GIF in minutes. The following year, William mentioned that Louis is a OneRepublic fan—proof that the family playlist isn’t all hymns and orchestras. He’s at Lambrook with his siblings and, judging by public moments, loves music, movement, and any excuse to dance.
- Full name: Louis Arthur Charles
- Born: Lindo Wing, St. Mary’s Hospital, London
- Christening: Chapel Royal, St. James’s Palace
- School: Lambrook
- Notable moments: Platinum Jubilee antics; Trooping the Colour carriage rides; playful waves and dance moves
The Waleses are careful about privacy. They control what the public sees, often sharing curated photos taken by Catherine for birthdays and milestones. There’s an understanding with the British press about leaving the children alone at school and on private time. That’s why you mostly see them at set-piece events or in official images—never in a scrum of long lenses at the school gates.
Daily life looks surprisingly ordinary. William and Catherine do school drop-offs when schedules allow. Weekends often revolve around sports, fresh air, and cousins. The couple has woven mental health awareness into their parenting too, talking openly about feelings and pressure, and encouraging the outdoorsy, active habits that help kids reset.
As they grow, the choices get bigger. The family has toured senior schools—Eton College included—for George, though nothing is announced. Charlotte and Louis will follow in time, with the same deliberate pacing. The aim is to keep each step age-appropriate. More learning, a little more ceremony, and a slow introduction to duties without rushing childhood out the door.
Publicly, expect more of the same balanced approach. The children will appear at national moments—Trooping, Remembrance, Christmas at Sandringham—and at occasional cultural or sporting events. Privately, it’s homework, hobbies, and lights out at a reasonable hour. That blend of duty and normality is the Wales family’s model, and for now, it’s holding.