Kate And William's Eldest Children Just Made A Huge Royal Debut

Most parents today are accustomed to going public with details of their children from pregnancy onward, chronicling every move and milestone on social media. The British royal family, however, has to follow certain rules regarding children, in the name of both decorum and privacy. For example, royals never announce a birth until they inform Queen Elizabeth first, after which a formal announcement is made, per Good Housekeeping. Gender reveal parties are unheard of, and the baby's name isn't released until some days after the birth, according to The Guardian.

The royal family is also circumspect about how often they allow their children to be seen and photographed in public. Formal portraits are the norm, with only occasional candids caught by quick paparazzi. In the case of Prince William and Kate Middleton, many of the best pictures of their three children have been taken by the Duchess of Cambridge herself, which satisfies fans' curiosity while still maintaining the privacy of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis (via Us Weekly). 

Unlike non-royal families, who are used to taking their children almost everywhere, palace parents usually leave their little ones in the care of their nannies while they perform their royal duties. For example, William and Kate traveled alone on their recent Caribbean tour to the Commonwealth nations of Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Belize. So when young princes and princesses make a public appearance at a major event for the first time, it's a pretty big deal. Such was the case for William and Kate's oldest two children on Easter morning of 2022.

For the first time in their young lives, Prince George and Princess Charlotte accompanied their parents, Prince William and Kate Middleton, to the annual Easter morning services at Windsor Castle, according to Us Weekly. Their younger brother, Louis, who will turn 4 on April 23, was presumably thought to be too young to appreciate a formal church ceremony. The future king and his sister, however, were the picture of dignity and cuteness as they walked with their parents, wearing outfits that complemented Kate's light blue dress coat and William's dark navy suit.

The older Cambridge children were also present at the March 29 memorial service for Prince Philip, per People. Although they may not have distinct memories of their great-grandfather, they seemed to understand the solemnity of the occasion, and conducted themselves, well, royally. Charlotte even spent a few moments talking with the Archbishop of Canterbury. At one point during the service, Charlotte was also seen turning to smile at her cousin Princess Beatrice, perhaps as a gesture of comfort, via The Guardian. 

These rare glimpses of William and Kate's family at formal events are a reminder of the important responsibilities the children will one day assume — particularly George, who, at almost 9 years old, is just beginning to understand that he is third in line to the throne. It's very likely that the entire household, including Louis, will be turning out to mark the queen's landmark Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.