The Royal (funny) Family! From the Queen having a chuckle with Prince Philip to Prince William keeping Kate cool in the heat – the times the royals have let their hair down
Traditionally the Royal family have adhered to a strict rule of not showing emotions in public.
Queen Mary insisted that her granddaughter behave seriously, because she felt it was inappropriate for monarchs to smile at their subjects.
Once in power, Queen Elizabeth challenged this habit and frequently displayed her sense of humor throughout her seventy-year reign.
And the rest of her family has followed suit, as these photos show.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip smile at Windsor Castle in 2003 as she walks past him while he is dressed in a traditional uniform. A swarm of bees had caused concern ahead of the Queen’s Company Review
At Trooping the Color 2022, young Prince Louis was overwhelmed by the roaring flypast, covering his ears and shouting in response. And in the background the queen couldn’t help but smile
Queen Elizabeth II caused a worldwide stir by appearing alongside James Bond (played by Daniel Craig) at the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics
A grinning Camilla scares Charles by holding a large knife in the air during a visit to a winery in Australia
Prince William showed his thoughtful side as he cheered on his wife during the sweltering conditions at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
A 10-year-old schoolboy couldn’t contain his excitement when he met Queen Camilla earlier this month
Charles and Camilla burst into tears as they watch a performance of traditional Inuit throat singing in Canada in 2017
Prince Harry shares popcorn with a child while attending the sitting volleyball competition at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto
Prince Philip proves he can still make the ladies jump by getting behind ITN Royal correspondent Romilly Weeks as she delivers a live on-camera report in Malta in 2007
Queen Elizabeth II and her son, Charles, burst into tears while watching the children’s sack race at the 2012 Braemar Highland Gathering
An awkward encounter: Football manager Sam Allardyce stands in front of Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at the Cheltenham Festival, March 2024
Prince Harry appears full of enthusiasm at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as he gestures a thumbs up to the camera
Prince George is caught gossiping with his cousin Savannah Phillips (left) during Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s wedding in 2018
Prince Harry imitates Usain Bolt’s signature gesture after a 100-metre race against the world record holder in Jamaica in 2012
Prince William tries to make a reservation at an Indian restaurant in Birmingham in 2023, much to Catherine’s amusement
Diana, Princess of Wales, enjoys a joyful moment with Prince Harry during the Depth Charge ride at Thorpe Park in 1992
Prince Harry fails to keep a straight face as his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, judges him and his fellow officers during The Sovereign’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst
The Queen smiles warmly at Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts student Julie Thompson (right) after her performance at Buckingham Palace, 1998
Charles has a hilarious reaction after a large lizard landed on his pants while visiting the Orokonui Eco Reserve with Camilla in New Zealand, 2015
Queen Elizabeth photobombs a selfie taken by two players from the Australian women’s hockey team on the first day of the Commonwealth Games in Scotland, 2014
23-month-old Fitzwilliam Corrie-Salmon steals the spotlight from Queen Camilla during a visit to a bakery in Northern Ireland in March this year