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Queen Elizabeth was a devoted great-grandmother to her 13 great-grandchildren, often speaking fondly of them. She was especially delighted by the birth of Princess Charlotte in May 2015, even hoping Prince George would look after his new younger sister. However, during a church service at Sandringham, the late monarch revealed that the opposite was actually true. In a conversation with a local parishioner, Ellen Clay, the Queen remarked that Charlotte was the one looking out for George—offering a rare, charming glimpse into the young Princess's caring personality.
As reported by HELLO!, during a church service at Sandringham in 2018, the Queen presented a Bible to Clay’s 10-year-old daughter, Emily. When the monarch asked if Emily "looked after" her younger sister, Clay replied that it was actually the "other way around." The late Queen smiled and noted, "It's like that with Charlotte and George." Her comments closely echoed Princess Kate's statement made in March 2017 during a memorial unveiling in London, where she quipped to attendee Samantha Burge, "Charlotte is growing up really fast. She is the one in charge."
After her conversation with the Queen, Clay said at the time, "She [the Queen] asked if Emily looked after Hadleigh, and I said it was more the other way round. She said it was like that with Princess Charlotte and Prince George." Her husband Tom added, "The Queen was implying that Charlotte keeps an eye out for George rather than the other way around. It is often the case that a younger child is more confident. It is second child syndrome." This protective streak extends to her youngest sibling too, as Charlotte has frequently been caught on camera nudging Prince Louis to mind his manners during public events.
In a similar vein, body language expert Judi James also claimed that George and Charlotte were 'partners in crime' and that the future king allowed his little sister to take the lead. She told the Daily Express, "When they [George and Charlotte] appear together, it is often Charlotte taking the initiative in terms of walking ahead, walking alone, and instigating gestures like waving or picking out the cameras." According to James, George isn't jealous when Charlotte steals the spotlight. He never tries to protect, copy, or correct her, further suggesting he views her as an equal.
On that note, Charlotte has been seen in public looking out for George. One such incident occurred at Queen Elizabeth's 2022 funeral when she quietly told George, "You need to bow," as the Queen's coffin passed by. During the Platinum Jubilee balcony appearance the same year, the young Princess noticed her older brother resting his arms on the balcony and nudged him, saying, "Arms down, George." Parenting expert Jo Frost has gushed that Charlotte "knows the rules" and often keeps her two brothers in line at public events.
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