The times royals have been a hit - and miss - with babies (2024)

As a part of their duties, members of the Royal Family are often tasked with the job of meeting with the public, even little ones who are oblivious as to what all the fuss is about.

Whether they're shaking their tiny hands, making funny faces or even going in for a cuddle - the royals have done it all.

However, some amused babies have proved to be the harshest of critics.

Here, we take a look at the heartwarming and hilarious times royals have met with babies over the years...

Prince William

Last year, Prince William was greeted by hundreds of eager royal fans - including an eight-month-old who gently bit his finger - as he arrived in Singapore for a four-day visit.

William took the time to greet a number of those who had gathered near the airport - including eight-month-old Albane Costa.

The Prince of Wales was animated as he spoke to the youngster and their mother, and the baby took an instant interest in William's hands.

After biting his finger, the little girl continued to grasp his hand and smile at the future king.

This wasn't the first time a young one had taken a shine to the father-of-three.

Back in2006,newborn baby Sina Nuru slept peacefully as a beaming Prince William held her.

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales

The Princess of Wales has often demonstrated her effortless ability with youngsters since becoming a royal, including with her own children Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis.

But she has charmed other children too.

In 2014, she was smitten withbaby twins Oscar and Alyssa McCabe at the Royal Australian Airforce Base in Brisbane during her royal tour of Australia with Prince William.

And in 2019, she shared a heartwarming moment with a mother and her daughter at an engagement in Surrey.

Kate put her hands on 15-month-old Matilda's head and playfully rubbed her hair as she relaxed with families invited to the opening of her Back to Nature play garden, at the RHS Garden Wisley.

King Charles

Nowadays, King Charles is a doting grandfather, but over the years, we have witnessed theroyal share endearing moments with other youngsters.

During a walkabout as a part of his and Camilla's annual summer tour of Cornwall in 2015, a baby held onto the then Prince of Wales' finger as he shook her little hand.

Charles, who first became a father at the age of 33, couldn't help but chuckle at the interaction.

Queen Elizabeth II

As a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth often had a smile on her face when she met little ones at official engagements.

However, two-year-old Frederik Azzopardi wasn't very impressed to meet Her Majesty in 1999.

The young boy cried and refused to give the Queen a posy of flowers as she visited University CollegeOxford in May 1999.

Sophie, duch*ess of Edinburgh

The duch*ess of Edinburgh looked the picture of joy as she cuddled adorable babies at a local parenting group in Woking in February 2022.

Sophie beamed in delight as she met with local new mothers and their babies as she opened the new Jigsaw Hub at The Lighthouse in Woking, Surrey which is just a few miles from her Bagshot Park home.

And while it's been a few years since her two children were crawling and playing with toys on the floor, Sophie proved that she's lost none of her skills with babies as she visited a Musical Minis class during a visit to RAF Wittering.

The royal was totally a natural, getting down on the floor for a cuddle with an adorable baby called Rowan Wilson-Jones, who happily chewed on the royal's thumb.

Queen Maxima of The Netherlands

In 2013, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands was given quite a fright when she was handed a baby from the crowd during an engagement in her home country.

But while the mother-of-three appeared startled initially, she happily took the young child into her arms.

Queen Máxima later proved that she really is a natural as she cooed over babies in a children's hospital in Tanzania in October 2022.

Showcasing her warmth as she bonded with the infant, theroyal gasped in faux shock as the young baby mimicked her expression andclutched at her water bottle in a sweet display of affection.

Queen Letizia of Spain

She already has two daughters and a doting husband, but Queen Letizia of Spain couldn't help cooing over a baby during a trip to Valencia back in November 2016.

The Spanish royal, 51, was visiting the city's Mercado Centrale when she took a moment to greet passersby who came armed with cameras.

During her rounds, Letizia was seen fussing over a tot in his mother's arms.

She is no stranger to cuddling babies and is famously approachable, often plucking children out of crowds for a hug during official visits.

Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla has often shown off her motherly flair with babies over the years.

During a visit to a supported housing scheme in Bromley in 2006, she looked particularly taken by a young baby as it smiled up at her.

And again in 2008, Camilla was a natural as she met with mothers and toddlers in the children's unit of a newly opened surgery inWorcestershire.

One of the youngsters even waved her little hands at the then duch*ess of Cornwall.

Prince Harry

During an event promoting his bombshell memoir Spare, Harry said that when it comes to his two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, he makes sure to 'smother them with love and affection.'

Over the years, the Duke of Sussex has had plenty of adorable moments with kids during engagements.

He appeared especially at ease when holding baby Jean-Luc Jordan at the children's ward of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados, in 2010.

Princess Diana

Princess Diana shared many sweet moments with her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, but she had just as many heartwarming encounters with babies during her royal appearances across the globe.

As part of her humanitarian work, Diana had no qualms about cuddling up to young children as she visited hospitals, schools, and orphanages.

In 1981, in the weeks before she married Prince Charles, Diana held more than one baby as she spoke with adoring crowds during a visit to Broadlands, the former home of Lord Mountbatten.

And when thePrincess visited a hostel for abandoned children in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1991, she warmly held a little girl in her arms as she played with her necklace.

Later, in 1997, she cradled a baby during a visit to a Red Cross unit in Angola that had been set up to help victims of land mines.