The Queen (94) boasts a group of eight great-grandchildren. As the longest reigning monarch in British history, she is truly blessed to see her family grow each year. With one of her granddaughters (Princess Eugenie) having just announced her pregnancy this week, the Queen will welcome her ninth great-grandchild next year. This is reason is enough to take a closer look at her great-grandkids. We will start with the eldest one and not with the one that ranks higher in the line of succession. Let’s go! But before we start, here is an overview of the adorable brood.

Savannah Phillips (9)

Savannah is the first great-grandchild of the Queen. Savannah was born December 29, 2010 in Gloucestershire to Peter Phillips and his Canadian-born wife Autumn Phillips. Peter is the Queen’s eldest grandchild and the only son of Princess Anne, the Queen’s daughter. Savannah is currently 16th in line to the throne, but doesn’t hold a royal title. Her grandmother Princess Anne decided to not bestow her children and grandchildren with royal titles for them to grow up without the restrictions of the British court.

Savannah and her younger sister are often seen on the traditional Trooping the Colour parade to celebrate the Queen’s birthday and in Sandringham when the whole British family traditionally walks to Christmas church mass. On these occasions, we can clearly see a young, feisty girl bursting with energy. She plays with her cousins and is clearly very self-confident. Last year, she covered her cousin’s mouth on the balcony of Buckingham Palace much to Prince William’s dismay. That cousin was no other than Prince George, one of the future kings of England.

Isla Phillips (8)

Isla Phillips is Savannah’s younger sister and the youngest child of Peter and Autumn Phillips. Like her sister, she doesn’t hold a title but is a regular at family events. Also playful and outgoing, Isla is much shyer than her elder sister. We see her often smile and happily engaging with her many cousins. In contrast to Savannah, however, she is not as boisterous, but appears rather a little apprehensive sometimes. As a bridesmaid on Princess Eugenie’s wedding she looked adorable in her white dress and amidst her cousins.

Isla’s full name is Isla Elizabeth Phillips, with her middle name a tribute to the Queen. She made her public debut in 2017 when she appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the Trooping the Colour Parade. She stood there alongside her cousins and observed the spectacular fly-over of the British air force. Isla and her family live a comparably low-key life in London often meeting their royal cousins for playdates. Age-wise she is close to Prince George, but she is often seen romping around with Mia Tindall, another cousin two years her junior.

Prince George (7)

Prince George is the most well-known of the Queen’s eight great-grandchildren. He is the eldest son of Prince William and his wife Catherine and the third in line to the throne. He will one day become king of England and continue the royal line and its many traditions. George was born on July 22, 2013 in London and from day in the public limelight. A few hours after his birth his parents showed the world the newborn prince on the steps of St. Mary’s hospital, where he was born.

Prince George seems to be quite aware of his unique role as he appears pensive at times and naturally shy. Photographers are intimidating for any child, for George it seems even more so. When the crowds are shouting his name and the whole scenery at public outings becomes too turbulent he turns to his parents for comfort. At his uncle’s Prince Harry’s wedding, he tried to hide behind his father on the steps of Windsor chapel because the whole festive situation became too overwhelming for the young prince.

When he feels comfortable und unobserved by the press, he is very playful and can be seen carrying toy swords or toy cars with him. He is curious and likes to explore his surroundings, like for example the grounds on Anmer Hall, his parents’s country home. Most recently he was was given a private “lecture” on dinosaurs by Sir David Attenborough, who visited the Cambridges and answered their children’s many questions on dinosaurs.

George is very close to all of his family members, but especially to his father. William takes George to soccer matches (preferably to his favorite club Aston Villa) and is standing very close to George when they appear in public. William adoringly appears to explain George what is going on. George attends Battersea School and is also on the creative program there. He takes part in drawing and dancing lessons and thus enjoys a wholesome education. His parents are keen for him to develop his own interests.

Princess Charlotte (5)

Princess Charlotte is the only daughter of William and Kate. Upon her birth, the Queen opted for a pink outfit to mark the arrival of a princess into the royal fold. Charlotte’s full name is a homage to her paternal family. Her full name, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, pays tribute to Charles as in Charlotte, the female version of the name. Her middle name credits her great-grandmother and her last name the grandmother she unfortunately never got to see, the late Princess Diana, who was William’s mother.

Like her brother, Charlotte attends the Battersea elementary school in London. Together the whole family lives in Kensington Palace in West London. There, Charlotte and her siblings can enjoy the vast grounds to play and explore. In contrast to George, Charlotte is more outgoing and less shy. She waved at photographers, i.e. when she, together with George, visited their newborn brother Prince Louis in hospital. On another occasion she was seen playfully walking next to her mother to her first day of school not the least bit intimidated by that new decisive step in her life.

Charlotte resembles her father a lot in photographs. She is all “Spencer” according to many royal fans. Spencer is William’s mother’s maiden name and that line of the family is credited for William and Harry’s good looks. Charlotte is an active and outdoorsy child and sometime a bit cheeky. On one outing she was seen poking out her tongue to photographers. On another time, however, she was seen crying quite dramatically on the tarmac at Tegel airport in Berlin. Her parents lovingly support her interests. Kate was overheard saying that Charlotte is interested in drawing and dancing but also likes to read books together with her parents.

To be continued