ROYALS

Have Kate Middleton, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte Actually Been Camping Out in a Park All Week?

How a Slinky-filled afternoon on a polo field turned out to be a case study in just how deep the micro royal news updates can get.


Maserati Royal Charity Polo Trophy
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

At this point on Wednesday afternoon, you may have gotten the impression that Kate Middleton and her children Prince George and Princess Charlotte have spent the entire week camping out in a park. Each day has been filled with micro news about the trio, all against a verdant backdrop that, upon closer inspection, has been the same in every story—quite naturally enough, given that each development has in fact stemmed from the one or two hours they spent on the same patch of grass this past Sunday in Gloucester, England.

What may have been an hour-or-two-long getaway to the royals, though, has turned out to be an endless bounty for the media, which are still feasting upon their outing three days later. That’s not exactly surprising in this year of nonstop royal coverage, though it’s definitely impressive that whereas Meghan Markle had to actually get married to Prince Harry to inspire such nonstop micro-news updates, Middleton has caused a similar whirlwind by simply bringing along her children to watch their father, Prince William, play in a charity polo match.

With photos of the royals deigning to sit on the grass, not to mention more adorable peeks at Prince George, his cheerleading squad was bound to end up in the news—though we didn’t exactly expect them to stay there for what’s going on half of a week. If you’re wondering how—sorry, there’s no word on how exactly why—we got this far, please find a timeline of all the tidbits we’ve gleaned since that fateful Sunday, here.

Sunday, June 10

Princess Charlotte Owns a Mini Pair of Sunglasses

Embedded in the initial news that Prince George and Princess Charlotte indeed watched their father play polo was the fact that Princess Charlotte looked adorable in a pink dress and matching miniature sunglasses, which caused some to see further similarities between her and the Queen. (Though she did remove them when it came time to practice headstands on the sidelines.)

Princess Charlotte at the Maserati Royal Charity Polo Trophy at the Beaufort Polo Club in Gloucester, England on June 10, 2018.

Samir Hussein/Getty Images

Monday, June 11

Kate Middleton’s Off-Duty Style Is Actually (Sometimes Briefly) Attainable

While she wore exactly the type of outfit we’ve come to expect from Middleton—a bespoke gown by Alexander McQueen—just the day before, at the Queen’s Trooping the Colour birthday celebration, she proved that there’s in fact much more to her wardrobe by switching it up, into a simple, blue-checkered, off-the-rack dress from Zara that costs $70. (At least before it then quite naturally sold out.)

Kate Middleton and Prince George at the Maserati Royal Charity Polo Trophy at the Beaufort Polo Club in Gloucester, England on June 10, 2018.

Samir Hussein/Getty Images

Tuesday, June 12

Prince George Suddenly Reignites the International Gun Debate

We’re two whole days past Prince George’s public playtime when it suddenly reverses on its track toward becoming old news when further scrutiny proves that the Prince is playing with a toy gun in the photos—and even daring to point it at his mom. Never mind that he’s just four years old: His choice in toys suddenly reignites the international debate about guns, and, more specifically, prompts a barrage of both attacks and defenses of Middleton for allowing her son to even own such a toy. (As well as the fact that he could do so openly in a park, whereas, for example, police shot and killed the black 12-year-old Tamir Rice for playing with a similar toy.)

Wednesday, June 13

Prince George Made His Grand Entrance by “Slid[ing] Down the Hill on His Bum”

Now that we’ve been allotted three days of investigation, we finally know how such an eventful afternoon kicked off in the first place: with Middleton and her two children exiting a car, and the Prince immediately getting on his “bum” to slide down a hill. After “messing around” with some like-minded others, he then retired from the field and rejoined his mom and sister, turning his attention instead to a Slinky. (Side note: The royals appear to be really, really into Slinkys.)

Kate Middleton, a Slinky, and Prince George at the Maserati Royal Charity Polo Trophy at the Beaufort Polo Club in Gloucester, England on June 10, 2018.

Karwai Tang/Getty Images

Kate Middleton Reminded Us of the “Ultimate Mom Hack”

Apparently, such an immediate kickoff was actually Middleton’s idea: According to an onlooker, she told her children that whoever made it to the polo field first would be a winner, clearly “trying to get them tired before they had to get back in the car to leave.” As it turned out, she wasn’t the only one to succeed in eventually stopping them from running around, seeing as…

Prince George Was Pushed Down a Hill

He may be the one headed for the throne, but that doesn’t mean Prince George shouldn’t still keep a serious eye on his cousins, who this weekend proved to be quite the troublemakers. The previous day, in a moment that’s of course since gone viral, his cousin Savannah, daughter of William’s cousin Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn, stole the spotlight at the Queen’s birthday by covering his mouth to stifle his giggles, in full public view on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. The next day, when he attempted to sit down next to Savannah, she simply pushed him down the hill.

Prince George, Kate Middleton, and Princess Charlotte at the Maserati Royal Charity Polo Trophy at the Beaufort Polo Club in Gloucester, England on June 10, 2018.

Antony Jones/Getty Images

Related: While Kate Middleton Gave Birth, Queen Elizabeth, 92, Was Riding a Horse Sans Helmet

The Definitive Guide to the Most Fashionable Royal Kids, Beyond Princes Louis and George and Princess Charlotte

Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella of Monaco, now 2-year-olds, are the children of Prince Albert II of Monaco and his wife, Princess Charlene. Although Princess Gabriella is the older twin, her brother, Prince Jacques, is the heir apparent. The twins are pictured here with their parents during the annual Christmas gifts distribution at Monaco Palace last December.

Pascal Le Segretain

Thirteen-year-old Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange, is the heir apparent to the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ throne. She and her younger sisters, Princess Alexia, age 12, and Princess Ariane, age 10, are the daughters of Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. The sisters are pictured here at Kagerplassen in Warmond, Netherlands.

Patrick van Katwijk

Countess Luana and Countess Zaria of Orange-Nassau with their mother, Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau. The young countesses are the daughter of the late Prince Frisco of Orange-Nassau, a younger brother of King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands.

Julian Parker

Leonor, Princess of Asturias, is 11 years old and the heir apparent to the Spanish throne. She and her younger sister, 10-year-old Infanta Sofía, are the daughters of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain. Here, the sisters attend Princess Sofía’s first communion.

Fotonoticias

HRH The Crown Prince of Morocco is 13 years old, and he is the oldest son of King Mohammed VI of Morocco and his wife, Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco. Here the young prince welcomes former French president Francois Hollande to Morocco, a former French colony, in 2013.

AFP

Fifteen-year-old Princess Elizabeth is the heir apparent to the Belgian throne and is the eldest child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. The young royal became next in line in succession only after her grandfather, King Albert II, abdicated his throne for health reasons in 2013.

Patrick van Katwijk

Prince Hisahito of Japan, a 10-year-old prince, is a dapper young man and often seen wearing a suit. He is the youngest child and only son of Fumihito, Prince Akishino and Kiko, Princess Akishino. The young royal is third in line to become Emperor, behind his uncle and father. Here, the young prince visits Nagasaki with his family in December of last year.

The Asahi Shimbun

Prince Hisahito’s eldest sister, Princess Mako, recently announced her engagement to a commoner, which will result in the young princess losing her royal status. Pre-1947, the decree that forbids women in the royal family to inherit the throne—or even remain a royal—if they marry a commoner did not exist.

Princess Estelle of Sweden, now 5 years old, is the elder child and only daughter of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her husband, Prince Daniel. She is the second in line of succession to the Swedish throne. Here she is attending the 40th birthday of her mother at Solliden Palace in Borgholm, Sweden.

Patrick van Katwijk

One-and-a-half-year-old Prince Oscar, Duke of Skåne, is the youngest child and only son of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her husband, Prince Daniel. He is the third in line of succession, after his mother and sister, to the Swedish throne. Here he is attending the 40th birthday of his mother at Solliden Palace in Borgholm, Sweden.

Andreas Rentz

Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden welcomed Prince Gabriel into the world just this last August. The baby prince is sixth in line to the Swedish throne, after his older brother, Prince Carl Philip.

photo@royalcourt.se

Prince Carl Philip of Sweden carries his 18-month-old son, Prince Alexander, to the royal palace in Stockholm as they prepared for Crown Princess Victoria’s birthday festivities this past July.

Patrick van Katwijk

Prince Christian of Denmark is the eldest child of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary. He is the grandson of Queen Margrethe II and the second in line to the Danish throne, after his father. Here the young prince attends an equestrian event in July in Denmark.

Patrick van Katwijk

Ten-year-old Princess Isabella is the eldest child of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary. She is the granddaughter of Queen Margrethe II and third in line to the Danish throne, after her father and brother. Here the young princess attends her grandmother’s 77th birthday celebration in Denmark with her mother.

Patrick van Katwijk

Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine of Denmark are 6-year-old twins. Prince Vincent is the elder of the two, and he is fourth in line to the Danish throne; Princess Josephine is sixth. The twins are pictured last summer at the Grasten Castle in Denmark.

Luca Teuchmann

Prince Nikolai of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, climbs aboard the royal ship Dannebrog for his 18th-birthday celebrations in Copenhagen. He is the first son of Prince Joachim of Denmark and his ex-wife, the Countess of Frederiksborg. Here he is being tailed by step-sister Princess Athena.

Patrick van Katwijk

Prince Philip of Serbia and his wife, Danica Marinkovic, debuted their new son in early March. Prince Stefan is held close by his mother in the Royal Palace of Belgrade, Serbia. Crown Prince of Serbia, Alexander Karadjordjevic, announced the news of his grandson’s birth on social media on February 28.

Srdjan Stevanovic

Crown Prince of Haakon of Norway and the Crown Princess Mette Marit of Norway attend the Nordic World Ski Championshop with their two children, heir apparent Prinvess Ingrid Alexander, age 13, and Prince Sverre Magnus, age 11.

Trond Tandberg

Thailand’s Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, pictured center, is the son of Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkunis, better known as King Rama X, and his third wife, Princess Srirasmi Suwadee. The young heir to the throne is now 12 years old.

AFP

Princess Amalia of Luxembourg is now 3 years old, but here she is the day her parents, Prince Felix of Luxembourg and Princess Claire of Luxembourg, left the hospital and presented her to the world. She is third in line of succession for the crown of Luxembourg and has a younger brother, Prince Liam, born in 2016.

Hannelore Foerster

Princess Madeleine of Sweden and her husband welcomed their third baby, Princess Adrienne Josephine Alice, Princess of Sweden and Duchess of Blekinge, in March. The royal mom Instagrammed this candid shot of Princess Leonore and Prince Nicolas cuddling with their new baby sister, in Stockholm.

The 4-year-old prince is the eldest child of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. He is third in line for the British throne, behind his father and then grandfather, Charles, Prince of Wales. Here he departs the Berlin military office in 2017 after an official tour of Poland and Germany.

Chris Jackson

The 2-year-old princess is the younger child and only daughter of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. She is fourth in line for the British throne, behind her brother, Prince George; her father; and her grandfather, Charles, Prince of Wales. Here she departs the Berlin military office in 2017 after an official tour of Poland and Germany.

Pool/Samir Hussein

Meet Prince Louis Arthur Charles, the third child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The newborn prince is currently fifth in line for the throne, after his grandfather, Prince Charles; his father; and both his older siblings. Here he is pictured outside the famed Lindo Wing, on his way home for the first time.

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