In The Spotlight Before They Knew It: 10 Precious Photos Of The Royal Family As Babies

Photography was still in its infancy when Queen Victoria started using this technology to capture her growing family. Back in those days, picture taking took longer, so it wasn't exactly the ideal fit for wiggly babies. In addition, the queen wasn't always happy with the results. In the absence of photo editing software, Victoria resorted to some more rudimentary methods, obliterating her face from an 1852 photo with her older kids. When writing about the photo, Victoria commented, "Mine was unfortunately horrid, but the children's were pretty" (via Royal Collection Trust).

Luckily, technology improved, leaving us with a treasure trove of pictures that showcase royal kids' earliest days, along with their proud parents. While formal occasions like christenings have long provided a photo op, shots outside of the hospital are an ongoing tradition, too. In addition to those newborn pics, we often get to see more recent generations of royal babies in candid shots. These photos can be pretty prescient, since they provide the earliest glimpses into these royal personalities. For instance, as an infant, Prince Louis was already delighting fans with his antics. Back in 2018, during an extended family photo op, Louis had no qualms about reaching out and grabbing King Charles' face. Fortunately, Charles, who later became king, emerged unscathed, closing his eyes while he laughed at his new grandson's boldness.

Take a trip through history with these generations of young royals. While the technology may have changed, the cuteness has definitely stayed the same.

King Edward VIII was just under a month old when this picture was taken at his July 1894 christening. The little baby only gets a fraction of the spotlight. He's held by his great-grandma, Queen Victoria, and two future kings, his dad, King George V, and his grandpa, King Edward VII, are in the photo, too. Little does Edward know that while he's napping, he's modeling the official royal christening gown. Made in 1841, this impressive silk and lace garment still exists and can be seen as part of a museum exhibit.

Queen Elizabeth's dad, King George VI, was just 1 year old when he posed for this adorable photo. George was out for a stroll with his big brother, Edward VIII. Enveloped in a super lacey blanket, George is wearing an impressive, elaborate bonnet. While this headgear was likely tricky to balance, that was nothing compared to the challenges that awaited him decades later. In December 1936, days before he turned 41, George became king after Edward abdicated. A few years later, George had to balance raising his family and holding the top royal job during WWII. 

In July 1927, Queen Elizabeth was about 14 months old, and she could enjoy the sights as she rode around. Unlike the previous picture of George VI, Elizabeth's bonnet is more practical, with more sun and wind protection. Although no one expected Elizabeth to be queen back then, she was still intent on studying her surroundings while Clara Knight, her nanny, held her. The two spent a lot of time together. A few months earlier, when Elizabeth's parents were traveling on royal business, Knight updated them on Elizabeth's milestones, like when she got new teeth.

When King Charles turned 1 in November 1949, he was already growing up fast: he'd more than tripled his birth weight and started walking and building his vocabulary. In other ways, however, he was still firmly anchored in babyhood, since he was still wearing a dress for easier diaper changes. To celebrate his first birthday, his family ordered a massive 40-pound cake. While the cake's whimsical animal decor was perfect for a 1-year-old, the rum-infused batter made it an adults-only treat. Fortunately, just like with modern celebrations, Charles had a separate smash cake. 

Princess Anne is known for her work ethic, no matter what else is going on in her personal life. Just days after her second child, Zara Tindall, was born in 1981, the Princess Royal posed for a picture with her swaddled infant before she went home from the hospital. Besides starting a trend of hospital births, Anne also started the practice of showing off royal babies super early, rather than waiting until their christening. However, despite this early entry into the spotlight, Zara and her brother, Peter Phillips, aren't working royals.

When Princess Diana became a mom, rather than being separated from William, Prince of Wales, she and King Charles took him along when they went to Australia and New Zealand in 1983. Since this marked a new era of traveling for royal babies, William got plenty of photo ops. The 10-month-old appeared to have weathered the long flight, with no issues reported when they arrived in Australia. Weeks later in New Zealand, William not only looked adorable in his romper – he made headlines by walking (with a little help from Diana).

Although their relationship has cooled in recent years, William, Prince of Wales, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, had a tight bond as kids. The brothers had an enviable playroom, each with their own rocking horses. In this photo from October 1985, Harry is 13 months old. Although another pic from the same day shows he could zoom around confidently, his big brother sweetly holds Harry's hand as he explores this newer skill. While William is sporting shorts instead of pants, which is traditional for a young royal, Harry's embraced '80s fashion trends by wearing overalls. 

Prince George was 9 months old when he finished his first trip in Australia in April 2014. George looked well rested at the end of a three-week trip with his parents, William and Catherine, Prince and Princess of Wales. Then again, George had a pretty light schedule, since he didn't appear at every event. Instead, George enjoyed kid-friendly events, hanging with other babies, and meeting some cool Australian animals during a zoo trip. George also got to explore new toys, including a stuffed animal that rivaled him in size.

Born in May 2015, Princess Charlotte was 10 months old when she donned a snowsuit and went on a ski trip to France with her parents, William and Catherine, Prince and Princess of Wales, and her big brother, Prince George. This was the first of many times she hit the slopes with her family, and Charlotte moved from exploring the snow to deftly maneuvering on her own skis. As she's grown, Charlotte has matched William and Kate's enthusiasm for all kinds of sports, from gymnastics to playing rugby at home with her family. 

While his great-grandma, Queen Elizabeth, was known for stoicism, Prince Louis has been unfiltered with his feelings from the start. Judging by his scrunched-up expression, Louis looks like he's not particularly impressed with the pageantry of Trooping the Colour, the monarch's annual birthday bash. Louis was 13 months old when he joined his family on the balcony in 2019. Due to COVID-19, it was three years before Louis' next balcony appearance, and he didn't disappoint with entertaining reactions, like when he closed his eyes and yelled during a noisy aerial display.