Pour the tea (and pass the tissues!) because today is a very sentimental day for the royal family. The beloved Queen Elizabeth II, who died peacefully at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Sept. 8, 2022, would have turned 97 years old today. In honor of the special occasion, the Prince and Princess of Wales shared a new portrait of Her Late Majesty, surrounded by 10 of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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“Today would have been Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s 97th birthday,” the photo was captioned on Instagram. “This photograph – showing her with some of her grandchildren and great grandchildren – was taken at Balmoral last summer.”
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They also credited “📸 The Princess” Kate Middleton for snapping the picture — an impressive feat given that almost all of the children are looking and smiling for the camera!
In the photo, Queen Elizabeth is front and center, sitting on a green couch. She’s wearing a navy blue button down shirt with a black cardigan, a pearl necklace, and a plaid skirt.
In the back row (L-R) are the Queen’s youngest grandchildren: Lady Louise, 19, and James, Viscount Severn, 15, whose parents are Prince Edward and Sophie. In the middle row (L-R) are some of her great-grandchildren: Lena Tindall, 4, (daughter of Prince Anne’s daughter Zara and her husband Mike Tindall), Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, Isla Phillips, 11, (daughter of Prince Anne’s son Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly), and Prince Louis, 4.
The front row includes more great-grandchildren next to the Queen: (L-R) Mia Tindall, 9, holding her younger brother Lucas Tindall, 2, Queen Elizabeth, and Savannah Phillips, 12. It’s a beautiful, happy family moment!
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Queen Elizabeth Was a Sweet Granny
Image Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage This heart-warming throwback photo is just a small glimpse of how amazing Queen Elizabeth was as a granny. She had eight grandchildren, including Prince William and Prince Harry, sons of King Charles III and the late Princess Diana; Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, children of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Philips; Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson; and Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn, children of Prince Edward and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex.
In addition, the Queen has 12 great-grandchildren! In addition to the ones pictures in Princess Kate’s photo, she is also a great-grandma to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children Prince Archie, 3, and Princess Lilibet, 1; Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s son August, 2, (and another on the way!); and Princess Beatrice and and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi’s daughter Sienna Elizabeth, 1.
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These Throwback Photos Show How Much the Great-Grandkids Have Grown!
Image Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images The Queen would often pose with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren at Balmoral Castle.
In honor of her 90th birthday in 2016, the Royal Family shared a portrait taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz, which you can see HERE. The Queen held Princess Charlotte on her lap in this one, as she was just a baby.
And in 2021, the palace shared a throwback photo from 2018 featuring the Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, with seven of their great-grandchildren, taken by Kate Middleton.
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The Queen Is Missed
Image Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images The Queen was beloved by people around the world, but none more than her closest family, including her grandkids and great-grandkids.
When she died, Prince William wrote a special tribute, including, “While I will grieve her loss, I also feel incredibly grateful. I have had the benefit of The Queen’s wisdom and reassurance into my fifth decade. My wife has had twenty years of her guidance and support. My three children have got to spend holidays with her and create memories that will last their whole lives.”
“She was by my side at my happiest moments,” he continued. “And she was by my side during the saddest days of my life. I knew this day would come, but it will be some time before the reality of life without Grannie will truly feel real.”
Prince Harry also wrote a heartfelt letter to the Queen. “I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings — from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren,” he wrote. “I cherish these times shared with you, and the many other special moments in between.”
“Thank you for your commitment to service. Thank you for your sound advice. Thank you for your infectious smile,” he continued. “We, too, smile knowing that you and grandpa are reunited now, and both together in peace.”
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