The Royal (funny) Family! From the Queen having a chuckle with Prince Philip to Prince William keeping Kate cool in the heat - the times the royals have let their hair down

By Rebekah Absalom 07:04 16 May 2024, updated 08:34 16 May 2024

READ MORE: How Princess Royal kept cool in kidnap attempt, won BBC Sports Personality of the Year and insisted on being a KNIGHT of the Garter

Traditionally, the Royal Family have adhered to a strict rule of not displaying emotion in public.

Queen Mary insisted that her granddaughter maintain a serious demeanor, as she believed it was inappropriate for monarchs to smile before their subjects.

Once in power, however, Queen Elizabeth challenged this custom and frequently displayed her sense of humour throughout her 70-year reign.

And the rest of her family have followed suit, as these pictures show.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip enjoy a chuckle at Windsor Castle in 2003 as she walks past him while he is dressed in traditional uniform. A swarm of bees had caused concern prior to the Queen's Company Review

At Trooping the Colour 2022, young Prince Louis was overwhelmed by the roaring flypast, covering his ears and screaming in response. And in the background, the Queen couldn't help but smile

Queen Elizabeth II caused a sensation worldwide by appearing alongside James Bond (portrayed by Daniel Craig) during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games

A grinning Camilla startles Charles by holding a sizeable knife in the air during a visit to a winery in Australia

Prince William demonstrated his considerate side as he fanned his wife during the sweltering conditions as the 2014 Commonwealth Games

A 10-year-old schoolboy couldn't contain his excitement when he met Queen Camilla earlier this month

Charles and Camilla crack up as they watch a performance of traditional Inuit throat singing in Canada in 2017

Prince Harry shares popcorn with a child while attending the sitting volleyball competition at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto

Prince Philip proves that he can still make the ladies leap by slinking up behind ITN royal correspondent Romilly Weeks as she delivers a live report to camera in Malta in 2007

Queen Elizabeth II and her son, Charles, crack up while watching the children's sack race at the 2012 Braemar Highland Gathering

An awkward encounter: Football manager Sam Allardyce stands in front of Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at the Cheltenham Festival, March 2024

Prince Harry seems to be full of enthusiasm during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as he gestures a thumbs-up to the camera

Prince George is caught gossiping with his cousin Savannah Phillips (left) at the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in 2018

Prince Harry emulates Usain Bolt's signature gesture following a 100-metre race against the world record holder in Jamaica in 2012

Prince William attempts to take a booking at an Indian restaurant in Birmingham, much to Catherine's amusement, 2023

Diana, Princess of Wales, enjoys a joyful moment with Prince Harry on the Depth Charge ride at Thorpe Park in 1992

Prince Harry fails to keep a straight face as his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, reviews him and his fellow officers during The Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst

The Queen smiles warmly at Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts student Julie Thompson (right) following her performance at Buckingham Palace, 1998

Charles hilariously reacts after a large lizard landed on his trousers during a visit to the Orokonui Eco sanctuary with Camilla in New Zealand, 2015

Queen Elizabeth photobombs a selfie taken by two players from the Australian women's hockey team on the first day of the Commonwealth Games in Scotland, 2014

23-month-old Fitzwilliam Corrie-Salmon steals the limelight from Queen Camilla during a visit to a bakery in Northern Ireland in March this year

Prince William Royals Queen Mary of Teck

1 / 21

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip enjoy a chuckle at Windsor Castle in 2003 as she walks past him while he is dressed in traditional uniform. A swarm of bees had caused concern prior to the Queen's Company Review

2 / 21

At Trooping the Colour 2022, young Prince Louis was overwhelmed by the roaring flypast, covering his ears and screaming in response. And in the background, the Queen couldn't help but smile

3 / 21

Queen Elizabeth II caused a sensation worldwide by appearing alongside James Bond (portrayed by Daniel Craig) during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games

4 / 21

A grinning Camilla startles Charles by holding a sizeable knife in the air during a visit to a winery in Australia

5 / 21

Prince William demonstrated his considerate side as he fanned his wife during the sweltering conditions as the 2014 Commonwealth Games

6 / 21

A 10-year-old schoolboy couldn't contain his excitement when he met Queen Camilla earlier this month

7 / 21

Charles and Camilla crack up as they watch a performance of traditional Inuit throat singing in Canada in 2017

8 / 21

Prince Harry shares popcorn with a child while attending the sitting volleyball competition at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto

9 / 21

Prince Philip proves that he can still make the ladies leap by slinking up behind ITN royal correspondent Romilly Weeks as she delivers a live report to camera in Malta in 2007

10 / 21

Queen Elizabeth II and her son, Charles, crack up while watching the children's sack race at the 2012 Braemar Highland Gathering

11 / 21

An awkward encounter: Football manager Sam Allardyce stands in front of Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at the Cheltenham Festival, March 2024

12 / 21

Prince Harry seems to be full of enthusiasm during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as he gestures a thumbs-up to the camera

13 / 21

Prince George is caught gossiping with his cousin Savannah Phillips (left) at the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in 2018

14 / 21

Prince Harry emulates Usain Bolt's signature gesture following a 100-metre race against the world record holder in Jamaica in 2012

15 / 21

Prince William attempts to take a booking at an Indian restaurant in Birmingham, much to Catherine's amusement, 2023

16 / 21

Diana, Princess of Wales, enjoys a joyful moment with Prince Harry on the Depth Charge ride at Thorpe Park in 1992

17 / 21

Prince Harry fails to keep a straight face as his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, reviews him and his fellow officers during The Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst

18 / 21

The Queen smiles warmly at Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts student Julie Thompson (right) following her performance at Buckingham Palace, 1998

19 / 21

Charles hilariously reacts after a large lizard landed on his trousers during a visit to the Orokonui Eco sanctuary with Camilla in New Zealand, 2015

20 / 21

Queen Elizabeth photobombs a selfie taken by two players from the Australian women's hockey team on the first day of the Commonwealth Games in Scotland, 2014

21 / 21

23-month-old Fitzwilliam Corrie-Salmon steals the limelight from Queen Camilla during a visit to a bakery in Northern Ireland in March this year

>