Queen Elizabeth's 'Favorite' Great-Grandchild Was 'Pony-Mad Charlotte' – As Kate Middleton Said She Regularly Watched Her

May 25, 2021 by apost team

Queen Elizabeth II created quite the royal family for herself, as she had four children, eight grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren. The family continued to grow thanks to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcoming their second child, and Princess Beatrice had her first child in 2021.

The queen had a unique bond with each of her family members, although she had shown a keen interest in one of her great-grandchildren, Princess Charlotte. Charlotte is one of Prince William and Kate Middleton's three adorable children, with her older brother George and younger brother Louis being the other two.

Being a member of the royal family comes with many perks, such as access to many resources and also access to a number of fun and exciting activities. One of those activities that many members of the family love to do is ride horses. Over the years, the queen showed an extreme love and interest in horses, and Charlotte has adopted a similar fondness for the animals, bringing them closer together.

While it is common for middle children to feel left out or like they aren't getting as much attention as their older and younger siblings, this has not been the case for Charlotte. The queen's ever-growing love and admiration for her great-granddaughter only got stronger as Charlotte got older and became more interested in the same hobbies and interests as the queen. The pair had spent more time together over the years. 

However, tragically, Queen Elizabeth II passed away on Sept. 8th, 2022. She passed away while at her home in Balmoral after Buckingham Palace had earlier announced that she was under medical attention. 

Prince William and Kate have been making headlines since their marriage in 2011, and their children are also no strangers to the public eye. George, 9, is seen as the most well-known child out of the three. According to Insider, the young boy was referred to as "George Cambridge" while he attended Thomas' Battersea school in London, England. The insider also reported that he has been sure to make his presence known when out and about with his parents on royal engagements, thanks to the funny faces he pulls in front of the cameras.

Prince Louis is an absolutely precious young boy who has also shown his face when out in public with his famous family. He has made several appearances, including an outing at Trooping the Colour and on the royal family's official Instagram page. Even though he is still young, Louis has a strong impact on the family as he is fifth in line for the throne.

Middle child Princess Charlotte attended Willcocks Nursery School in Kensington, according to Insider. However, she later moved to Lambrook School in Windsor in 2022. The Insider reported that Charlotte is the first royal female in the family to her current spot in line for the throne due to the Succession to the Crown Act of 2013. The act replaced the male-preference primogeniture with absolute primogeniture, meaning that girls could now be ahead of their brothers in line for the crown if they were born before them. Charlotte is currently third in line to the throne, one place behind George and one place in front of Louis.

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As of May 23, 2021, Inside Express reported that Charlotte was the queen's favorite great-grandchild due to her incredible fondness and love for horses and horseback riding. Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, gave more details about their flourishing relationship and how the queen has grown to love her great-granddaughter even more.

"While Prince Philip loved babies, the queen has always preferred being around children when they are a bit older, especially if it involves teaching them to sit astride a horse," Ingrid revealed. "Princess Charlotte – who is pony-mad – has always been a favorite."

Ever since Charlotte was born and it was revealed that there was a new royal girl in the family, the queen was "thrilled," according to Inside Express. Since growing up a little more, Charlotte has found a fascination with horses, which has only brought her closer to her great-grandmother. 

Inside Express reported that Kate said the queen enjoyed "making the children feel special." According to Ingrid, she continued to make them feel welcomed and important to the family by including them in her day-to-day conversations and royal speeches. "She is close to them all, mentioning them in her Christmas speeches, in her letters and in conversation," Ingrid said. "In fact, her family of eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren is what keeps her going."

While the queen showed an immense amount of care for her family, her fondness for Charlotte had definitely been noted. "I think she is very fond of Charlotte, always watching what she's up to," Kate explained.

What do you think about the queen's love for Charlotte while she was alive? If you love learning about the royal family — be sure to pass this along to your friends and family to find out what they think, too.