Princess Charlotte has grown in confidence over the years and will look after both her brothers during family outings – even making sure that they follow royal protocol

Prince George might be the eldest of the three Wales children, but according to the late Queen, it’s Princess Charlotte who’s the boss.

Charlotte, who celebrated her 10th birthday on 2 May, is a confident and self-assured little girl, something that has been apparent from an early age to those closest to her. Her great-grandmother remarked on the Princess’s protective personality back in January 2018, when Charlotte was just two-years-old and her older brother George was four.

At the time, she was presenting a book to ten-year-old school student, Emily Clay. Per Town & Country, when the Queen asked the student if she looked after her younger sister, Emily’s mother replied, “It’s the other way around,” to which the monarch responded, “It’s like that with Charlotte and George”.

Charlotte is also known to look after both her brothers while on royal outings – and has even been seen making sure they are following royal protocol. She is especially protective of her younger sibling, little Prince Louis. In a photo released by William and Kate for Charlotte’s third birthday, she was seen cradling baby Louis in her lap and placing a sweet kiss on her sleeping brother’s head.

Princess Charlotte is known to be a protective sister to both George and little Louis (Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)

The young princess also doted on her baby brother in pictures from Louis’ christening in 2018. While everyone else looks at the camera and smiles, proud big sister Charlotte is focused only on Louis as she lovingly looks at him and holds his hand. And Louis clearly looks up to his sister. In 2021, Prince William revealed that the family of five loves to play music in the morning and the kids dance around the house.

“Charlotte, particularly, is running around the kitchen in her dresses and ballet stuff and everything,” the proud dad said. “She goes completely crazy with Louis following her around trying to do the same thing.” Their sweet bond was particularly evident at their grandfather King Charles’s Coronation in May 2023. Charlotte and Louis sweetly held hands as they processed down the Abbey, where they sat side by side in the front row.

Charlotte and Louis arrived without their older brother Prince George, nine, who was a Page of Honour for his grandfather. They were immaculately behaved during the service, with Charlotte proving to be a reassuring presence for her lively younger brother, who was seen stifling a few yawns during the historic ceremony.

On family engagements, Charlotte is seen to take on a leading role over her siblings – and that self-confidence will continue to grow, according to one expert. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK, “Charlotte strikes me as quite a confident young lady but, with two brothers, she will no doubt be looking to her mother and other women in the family as role models – from her great-grandmother the Queen to her own mum.

“All three children have a claim to think of themselves as pretty special to their parents: George because he is the heir, Charlotte because she’s the only girl, and Louis because he’s the youngest. “Charlotte is reaching the age when she can really appreciate her mother’s sense of style and they can share ‘girlie’ moments together. Catherine also provides the perfect role model for how to behave as a senior member of the royal family.”