Queen Elizabeth's Sweetest Moments with Her Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren
Queen Elizabeth's Sweetest Moments with Her Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren
Stephanie PetitTue, April 21, 2026 at 10:30 AM UTC
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Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth and Prince WilliamCredit: Tim Graham/Getty
Queen Elizabeth has left a lasting legacy with her extensive family tree.
The late monarch, who died in September 2022, shared four children with her lifelong love, Prince Philip. Through her four kids, King Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward, she was a grandmother to eight — including Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice — and a great-grandmother to 14. Over her seven decades on the throne, she reigned as the family's matriarch and role model. William once noted, "My grandmother, becoming Queen at a very young age in the days when it was a man’s world, it was very difficult for her to make a difference."
On April 21, 2026, which would have been the queen's 100th birthday, look back at her sweetest photos with her beloved grandchildren and great-grandkids.
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Queen Elizabeth with Her Great-Grandchildren
Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
The royal family — including Queen Elizabeth and her great-grandchildren Princess Charlotte, Savannah Phillips, Prince George of Cambridge and Isla Phillips — stood together at the 2018 Trooping the Colour.
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Queen Elizabeth with Peter Phillips
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Queen Elizabeth smiled down at baby Peter Phillips, her first grandchild, in this portrait from November 1977.
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Queen Elizabeth with Prince Harry and Prince William
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To them, she's just Grandma! Queen Elizabeth stood behind a young Prince William and Prince Harry in the Royal Box at Guards Polo Club.
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Queen Elizabeth with Prince George
Credit: Chris Jackson - WPA Pool / Getty
The Queen sweetly leaned down to chat with her great-grandson, Prince George, at Princess Charlotte's July 2015 christening.
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Queen Elizabeth with Princess Beatrice
PrincessCredit: Julian Parker/UK Press/Getty
The monarch was known for her love of horses, and she passed that trait down to her grandchildren. In addition to her granddaughter Zara being part of the British Equestrian team for the 2012 London Olympic Games (her mother, Princess Anne, also competed in 1976!), she took Princess Beatrice for a leisurely ride back in 1999.
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Queen Elizabeth with Zara Tindall
Credit: James Gray/Daily Mail/REX/Shutterstock
Queen Elizabeth was all smiles as a 3-year-old Zara Tindall sat on her lap to watch Princess Anne ride horses back in 1984.
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Queen Elizabeth with Princess Charlotte
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The Queen took in the 2016 Trooping the Colour on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside her great-granddaughter, Princess Charlotte, who was held by mom Kate Middleton.
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Queen Elizabeth with Prince Harry and Prince Wililam
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Prince William and Prince Harry also enjoyed the annual celebration with their grandmother, like in this shot from 1989's festivities.
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Queen Elizabeth with Princess Beatrice
Queen Elizabeth and Princess BeatriceCredit: Tim Graham/Getty
Queen Elizabeth pointed out something to a young Princess Beatrice at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
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Queen Elizabeth with Prince Harry
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The royal held hands with Prince William as a boy at the Easter Service at St. George's Chapel in 1989.
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Queen Elizabeth with Prince Harry
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Prince Harry also got a turn holding his grandmother's hand at the Easter service.
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Queen Elizabeth with Zara Tindall
Credit: Tim Graham/Getty
Zara Tindall adorably looked on as Queen Elizabeth read at the Windsor Horse Show in May 1987.
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Queen Elizabeth with Prince Harry
Credit: Anwar Hussein/Getty
Queen Elizabeth made a presentation to Prince Harry after a polo match during Royal Ascot on June 18, 2003, in Windsor, England.
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Queen Elizabeth with Prince William and Prince George
Prince George, Prince William, Queen Elizabeth and Kate Middleton at Trooping the Colour 2016Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
When your grandson has a son! Queen Elizabeth stood beside Prince William as he held Prince George at the 2015 Trooping the Colour.
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Queen Elizabeth with Prince William
Credit: Anwar Hussein/Getty
Here's William and the Queen sharing a laugh from the same spot at the Trooping the Colour in 2003.
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Queen Elizabeth with Prince Harry
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Why the face, Harry? Queen Elizabeth smiled at her grandson's silly face at the 2005 wedding of Prince Charles to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
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Queen Elizabeth with Princess Eugenie
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Princess Eugenie donned one of her over-the-top head toppers as Queen Elizabeth waved on.
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Queen Elizabeth with Prince William
Credit: Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock
Queen Elizabeth attended the Royal Military Academy graduation of Prince William in 2006, wearing a red jacket and hat that complemented his uniform.
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Queen Elizabeth with Prince Harry
Credit: Tim Graham/Getty
Queen Elizabeth was a proud grandmother! She was seen smiling at Prince Harry as she inspected soldiers at their passing-out Sovereign's Parade at Sandhurst Military Academy on April 12, 2006 in Surrey, England.
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Queen Elizabeth with Zara Tindall
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While both rocking amazing hats, Zara Tindall shared a smile with Queen Elizabeth at the 2007 Royal Ascot's Ladies Day.
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Queen Elizabeth with Prince Harry
Credit: Anwar Hussein Collection/WireImage
Prince Harry gave his grandmother a kiss following the May 2008 wedding of Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly at St. George's Chapel — where he would tie the knot with Meghan Markle a decade later!
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Queen Elizabeth with Prince William
Credit: Christopher Furlong-WPA-Pool/Getty
Queen Elizabeth was escorted by her grandson during a visit to RAF Valley where Prince William was stationed as a search and rescue helicopter pilot on April 1, 2011 in Holyhead, United Kingdom. She was given a guided tour of a Sea King search and rescue helicopter by Prince William.
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Queen Elizabeth with Zara Tindall
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Something caught the attention of Zara Tindall and Queen Elizabeth as they attend the QIPCO British Champions Day meet at Ascot Racecourse on October 20, 2012 in Ascot, England.
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Queen Elizabeth with Peter Phillips and Prince William
Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth shared a laugh with grandsons Peter Phillips and Prince William as they attended "The Patron's Lunch" celebrations to mark the monarch's 90th birthday in 2016.
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Queen Elizabeth with Princess Eugenie
Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
Give a wave, Gran! Eugenie was seen smiling as she posed with her grandmother at Day 1 of Royal Ascot on June 18, 2013.
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Queen Elizabeth with Princess Beatrice
Credit: Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock
Tea time! Queen Elizabeth II won the Hardwicke stakes with "Dartmouth" ridden by Olivier Peslier at the 2016 Royal Ascot, and was presented the cup by Princess Beatrice.
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Queen Elizabeth with Peter Phillips
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In a snapshot from November 1979, Queen Elizabeth could be seen enjoying a walk with daughter Princess Anne and grandson Peter Phillips.
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Queen Elizabeth with Prince William
Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty
Looking good! Queen Elizabeth and Prince William were seen leaving the Thistle Service at St. Giles Cathedral on July 6, 2018, in Edinburgh, Scotland.
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Queen Elizabeth with the Royal Family
The royal family in JuneCredit: Chris Jackson/Getty
The Queen joined many of her family members — Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte among them — at her Platinum Jubilee in June of 2022.
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Queen Elizabeth with Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis
Queen Elizabeth with Prince George, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Kate MiddletonCredit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
At the Platinum Pageant tailending her Platinum Jubilee celebration, Queen Elizabeth shared a smile with her granddaughter-in-law Kate Middleton as her three great-grandkids, George, Charlotte and Louis, looked on.
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