Seven-year-old Princess Charlotte at her great-grandmother’s funeral on Monday directed her older brother Prince George, 9, on protocol when the casket of Queen Elizabeth II passed them by at Wellington Arch.
The longest-reigning monarch in British history died peacefully at age 96 on September 8, surrounded by family.
“You need to bow,” the 7-year-old gently instructs her brother, video from the funeral shows.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte chatting to each other🥺 pic.twitter.com/VeeVqToZVL
— Belle (@RoyallyBelle_) September 19, 2022
The young princess and her brother curtsied and bowed as the queen’s casket passed.
Meghan Markle, Queen Consort Camila, Princess Kate, and Princess Charlotte curtsy and Prince George bows before departing the queen’s funeral at Westminster Abbey.
📹: Mark Case/Getty Images pic.twitter.com/Jb9eExi7fl
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) September 19, 2022
Princess Charlotte has directed her brothers on other occasions, too.
At the late monarch’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Charlotte nudged her brother when he had his hand on the balcony ledge while “God Save the Queen” was being played, People magazine reported, adding that George quickly fixed his posture and removed his hand.
On another occasion, the princess stopped her little brother Prince Louis from waving past the appropriate time by taking his hand and placing it in his lap, the magazine noted.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the funeral, too, but were sitting in the second row behind the new King Charles III, Queen Consort Camilla, Princess Anne and her husband Sir Tim Laurence, William the Prince of Wales, Kate Middleton, and two of the couple’s children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Prince Louis, only four years old, did not attend the funeral.
The seating arrangement sparked headlines since even disgraced royal Prince Andrew got a front-row seat, as did Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, and Princess Anne’s children, who were not working royals at any point, The Daily Wire reported.
Prince Harry and Markle have attracted much attention since distancing themselves from the royal family, engaging in leftist politics, and throwing out accusations of racism.
Notably, rumors about Markle bullying royal aides popped up in the media last year.
In July, an investigation into the allegations concluded, but findings are being kept under wraps, allegedly because Buckingham Palace is “terrified” of antagonizing Markle and Prince Harry, who’ve routinely trashed all things royal.
“Considering those who participated [in the investigation] did so at great personal and reputational risk to themselves, the fact that they haven’t even been told what the findings are is unfathomable,” a source explained. “I am sure they will be deeply distressed, but perhaps not entirely surprised given how things have been handled. The household seems to be terrified of upsetting or provoking Harry and Meghan.”
Amanda Harding contributed to this report.