171 Times the Royal Family Had to Suck it Up and Brave the Rain
With varying degrees of success.
Tea, double-decker buses, international boyband phenomenons—these are just a few of the things England is famous for. Two more? The royal family and rainy weather. Here, we bring you 171 photos of the overlap between the last two. Drizzly, gray weather is commonplace in the Commonwealth, which means the members of the royal family are very used to accessorizing with umbrellas. Here are some of the best pictures of royals getting caught in the rain, from the surprisingly joyous to the outright hilarious.
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Prince Charles
Trekking through a forest in Slovakia in 2000.
Prince Charles
Train day is rain day (in Snowdonia, Wales in 2003).
Prince Harry
Looking as joyous as he's ever looked, laughing in the rain during a polo match in Australia in 2003.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana
Looking happier than they usually did during a holiday in Nova Scoti in 1983.
Princess Margaret
During her tour of Shaw Park, being helped by police in 1955.
Prince William
Looking somber at the funeral of Earl Spencer's mother in 2004.
Prince William
Somber, but also kind of like a male model.
Prince Charles
Soaked to the bone and maybe holding his umbrella too far to the side at Tidworth Polo Club in Wiltshire, England in 2004.
Prince William and Zara Phillips
Sharing an umbrella at the Tidworth Polo Club in Wiltshire, England in 2004.
Prince William
Running through the rain, presumably in sexy slow motion, at Tidworth Polo Club in Wiltshire, England in 2004.
Prince Charles
Examining a piece of moss in the rain (as you do) in New Zealand in 1994.
Prince Charles
Looking ready to star in Singin' in the Rain during a trip to Australia in 1994.
Prince Charles, Prince Harry, and
Touring the Eton campus with Harry's Housemaster in 1998.
Prince Charles and Prince Harry
Finally sharing that umbrella during the Eton tour.
Prince Charles
Looking like a pensive umbrella model during his 1994 Australia trip.
Prince William and Prince Harry
Getting used to the rain early at Cirencester Polo Club in 1987.
Prince William and Prince Harry
Sloshing around in rain boots at Cirencester Polo Club in 1987.
Prince William
Looking dapper AF in his little pageboy hat at Cirencester Polo Club in 1987.
Prince Charles
Rocking a kilt while visiting the Isle Of Barra in the Western Isles, Scotland.
Prince William and Prince Charles
Attending the Millennium Church Service for Wales at Tabernacl, Cardiff, Wales in 2000.
Prince Charles
Meeting with be-ponchoed fans in front of the Albert Memorial in 2000.
The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret
Using a transparent umbrella so the public could still see them during a rainy Trooping the Colour in 1983.
Prince Charles
Grimacing a bit on the set of the TV series Coronation Street at Granada Studios in Manchester in 2000.
Prince Charles
Playing polo in the rain at Cirencester Polo Club in 2002.
Fergie and Princess Eugenie
On a casual movie date at the premiere of 102 Dalmatians in Leicester Square in 2000.
Prince Charles
Not sharing his umbrella with this other guy during a trip to Cornwall in 2004.
Fergie and Princess Eugenie
Sitting in basically empty stands in the rain during a charity tennis match in 2000.
Prince Harry
All smiles at Eton in 2003.
Prince Charles
Not holding his own umbrella because he's royal during a trip to Madrid.
Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Ronald Reagan, and Nancy Reagan
Hanging out with the Regans at their home north of Santa Barbara in 1983.
Princess Diana and Prince Charles
Decked out in rain gear during a trip to Barra in the Western Isles in 1985.
Prince William and Princess Diana
Watching polo in the rain in 1987.
Prince William
Looking more adorable than any human should with an umbrella in 1987.
Prince William
Playing polo in the rain in 2004.
Prince William and Zara Phillips
Sharing an umbrella and a laugh at the Tidworth Polo Club in Wiltshire, England in 2004.
Prince Charles
Braving the rain to give the keys of the 100th house built by the Guinness Trust to its new tenants in Poundbury, England in 2005.
Princess Diana, Prince William, and Prince Charles
Proof that even royal parents hog the umbrella, at Diana's brother's wedding at Althorp in 1989.
Princess Anne
Walking in the rain at the British Eventing Gatcombe Horse Trials at her home at Gatcombe Park in 2006.
Prince Harry
Going to church in the rain in Windsor, England in 2006.
Prince Harry
Playing polo in the rain in 2006 (and chatting with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy).
Prince Harry
Sticking it out in that rainy polo game.
Prince Harry
And looking so happy and so adorable in said rainy polo game.
Prince William and Princess Diana
Almost getting blown away by the wind and rain in 1985.
Princess Diana and Prince Charles
Arriving at Guildford Cathedral for a carol concert in December 1981.
Queen Elizabeth
Having the perfect reaction to rain during her birthday celebration at Trooping the Colour 2007.
The entire royal family
William looking up at the rain is perfection.
Princess Anne
Looking SO British in 2007.
Prince Harry and Prince William
Hanging out with Joss Stone at Wembley Stadium before the Concert for Diana in London in 2007.
Prince Harry
Beaming in the rain at the Concert for Diana in 2007.
Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice
Before church service on Christmas in 2007.
Prince Philip
Looking like he actually loves the rain at that same Christmas service in 2007.
Queen Elizabeth
Meeting with kids at church in Sandringham on Christmas Day in. 2007.
Princess Anne
Being a dedicated spectator at the Windsor Horse Trials in 1984.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
Getting off a plane in the rain in Canada in 2010.
Prince Philip
Looking like the lead in a production of A Christmas Carol in Windsor in 1985.
Kate Middleton
Quasi sharing her umbrella with a desperate aide in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 2011.
Prince William and Kate Middleton
Trudging through the rain in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 2011.
Kate Middleton
Looking like a model during that Belfast trip.
Kate Middleton
Looking like everyone who has ever struggled with an umbrella in 2011.
Kate Middleton
Over her confusion and loving that rainy day life.
Prince William
Proving that he needs no umbrella.
Prince Charles
Soaked at the airport in Brisbane, Australia in 1994.
Kate Middleton and Prince William
Once again, Kate used an umbrella and Will passed during a rainy trip to Darwen, England in 2011.
Kate Middleton
Looking sassy and happy during that trip.
Prince Harry
Looking ready to shake off so much rain at a 2006 polo game.
Prince William
Using an umbrella for once in Canada in 2011.
Kate Middleton
Meeting with fans in Canada in 2011.
Kate Middleton
Beaming under her transparent umbrella in Canada in 2011.
Kate Middleton and Prince William
Giving each other loving eyes from under their respective umbrellas.
Prince William and Kate Middleton
Sharing an umbrella at the War Horse premiere in 2012.
Queen Elizabeth
Meeting rain-braving fans in Canada in 1977.
Prince William and Kate Middleton
Possibly doing a rain dance in 2011.
Prince William and Kate Middleton
Proving they share umbrellas on red carpets at the African Cats premiere in 2012.
Prince Philip
Proving he needs no umbrella during a. stroll in Windsor in 2012.
The royal family
Sitting in the rain and not loving it at the Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince Harry
Will and Kate having a blast (and Harry...not) at the Olympics in 2012.
Kate Middleton
Walking with volunteers at the Paralympic Games in 2012.
Kate Middleton
Looking like a Disney princess in the rain during her Diamond Jubilee tour in 2012.
Prince Harry
Looking less happy than usual to be playing polo in the rain.
Prince William
In his full military uniform in the rain in 2013.
Prince Charles
And now, for a series of picture of Prince Charles looking like an alien who has never seen rain before (but in the best/cutest way).
Prince Charles
These glorious shots are all from 2014.
Prince Charles
They're amazing. Every last one.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles
At the Olympic games in 1976.
Prince William and Prince Harry
Helping with flood defenses around a school in Datchet in 2014.
Kate Middleton
In not just rain, but wind, in Ealing, England in 2014.
Prince Harry
Meeting with fans who waited in the rain to see him in New Zealand in 2015.
Queen Elizabeth
Carrying the royals' signature "transparent-s0-you-can-still-see-me" umbrella at Lancaster Castle in 2015.
Prince William
Shaking out his umbrella just like the rest of us at America's Cup World Series event in 2015.
Kate Middleton
Thanking her umbrella-holder at America's Cup World Series event in 2015.
Prince William and Kate Middleton
Romantically sharing an umbrella in Auckland, New Zealand in 2014.
Kate Middleton
Looking like a rain sprite during that Auckland trip.
Queen Elizabeth
On her Silver Jubilee Tour in New Zealand in 1977.
The Queen Mother
In New York City in 1954.
Queen Elizabeth
On a two day tour of Lancashire in 1954.
Queen Elizabeth
Looking overjoyed while meeting fans in Canada in 1973.
Kate Middleton and the Obamas
Barack Obama trying to will his umbrella to split in two and cover both Michelle and Kate in 2016.
Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother
In Canada in 1958.
Queen Elizabeth
Looking less than pleased in Canada in 1976.
Prince Philip
Looking dapper in a top hat at Buckingham Palace in 2016.
Princess Margaret
Looking ICONIC in the rain after her tour of Canada in 1958.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
At Ascot with Philip in 1998.
Queen Elizabeth
On the bridge at Marple in 1968.
Prince William and Kate Middleton
Here's another series: Will struggling hard to get off a plane in the rain in Canada in 2016.
Prince William and Kate Middleton
Here, moments before he opened the umbrella and already looking adorably awkward.
Prince William
And a close-up.
Prince Charles
Looking very dapper in the rain in Australia in 1974.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
Together in Edinburgh to mark her Golden Jubilee.
Prince William
Grinning and bearing the rain in London in 2016.
Prince Harry
Yet another series of rain shots, perhaps the best yet: Harry being exasperated by the rain in 2017.
Prince Harry
Running
Prince Harry
But not loving it.
Prince Harry
He did, however, love meeting the fans who also braved the rain for the day.
Prince Harry
Especially this sweet old woman.
Prince Harry
Watch out, Meghan.
Prince William and Princess Diana
At Diana's brother's wedding in 1989.
Queen Elizabeth
Walking faster than her umbrella guy in Nova Scotia in 1951.
Prince Philip
Looking posed at Buckingham Palace in 2017.
Prince Wiliam and Zara Phillips
Zara, making good use of having both hands free while sharing an umbrella with Will at the Tidworth Polo Club in Wiltshire, England in 2004.
Prince William
Caught in a less-than-flattering moment at the Tidworth Polo Club in Wiltshire, England in 2004.
Queen Elizabeth
With fans at the Centennial Celebration of Edmonton in 2005.
Queen Elizabeth
During the procession at the Royal Ascot at York racecourse in 2005.
The Queen Mother
Arriving at Royal Ascot races in 1998.
Queen Elizabeth
At the Sydney Opera House in Australia in 2000.
The Queen Mother
On St. Patrick's Day in 1980.
Queen Elizabeth
Looking totally over her umbrella at the Trooping the Colour parade in 2001.
Queen Elizabeth
Holding flowers and her umbrella after planting a sweet chestnut tree on behalf of The Prince of Wales Royal Parks Tree Appeal, in Rotten Row, Hyde Park in 2002.
Queen Elizabeth
Meeting fans during her Golden Jubilee tour of Scotland.
Queen Elizabeth
Shooting daggers at someone while watching the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in 2002.
Queen Elizabeth
Looking gleeful at the Archbishop's Royal Garden Party in 2002.
Prince William and Princess Diana
At Diana's brother's wedding in 1989.
Queen Elizabeth
Channeling her inner Mary Poppins at the opening of the Lawn Tennis Association's (LTA) state of the art training facility in 2007.
Queen Elizabeth
During a visit to Haddington, East Lothian in 2007.
Queen Elizabeth
Arriving for a tour of The Shore in 2007.
Kate Middleton
Finally, a series of K-Midd rain photos. Here she is, looking thorough meh about the rain during a visit to The Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace in 2017.
Kate Middleton and Prince William
Kate and Will, sharing one of their personal cutest moments at the visit to The Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace.
Kate Middleton, Prince William, and Prince Harry
And with Harry at the same event.
Kate Middleton, Prince William, and Prince Harry
All walking together, probably talking about how great it will be once Harry has an awesome wife to round out their future Fab Four.
Kate Middleton and Prince William
Looking beautiful while Will hilariously hunches over to get through a walkway in the background.
Kate Middleton
Looking like a grown up, real-life Alice in Wonderland in a magical garden.
Kate Middleton
Shooting a real look at someone in the rain (probably Will).
Prince Harry and Prince William
Laying flowers at a memorial for their mother in 2017.
Prince Harry
Meeting with fans during his visit to The Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace in 2017.
Prince Harry and Prince William
Having some brother bonding time during their visit to The Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace in 2017.
Queen Elizabeth
Giving people the first glimpse of. Prince Edward in 1964.
Queen Elizabeth
Hosting a Garden Party in 2011.
Prince William and Kate Middleton
Having a blast at the 2012 Olympics.
Queen Elizabeth
Greeting kids who waited for her to arrive in Windsor in 1974.
Queen Elizabeth
Leaning out of the protection of her umbrella to talk to Prince Edward in 1974.
Prince William
Reaching for a much-needed drink in Belfast in 2017.
Princess Diana
Waving to fans in Suffolk in 1986.
Princess Diana and Prince William
Arriving at Aberdeen in 1984.
Princess Diana and Prince Charles
Meeting Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti in Hyde Park in 1991.
Princess Diana and Prince Charles
Diana looking like a supermodel and Charles looking over it in Hyde Park in 1991.
Princess Diana
Meeting fans at Edward's Trust in Edgbaston in 1993.
Queen Elizabeth
Making presentations in 1957.
Kate Middleton
Holding a King's College London umbrella in 2018.
Kate Middleton
Visiting Kings College in 2018.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
Attending the Endeavour Fund Awards ceremony at Goldsmiths' Hall in London in 2018.
Queen Elizabeth
Riding in the rain in the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London in 1982.
Meghan Markle
Waving to fans in Belfast in 2018.
Meghan Markle
Losing it over an adorable baby in Belfast in 2018.
Queen Elizabeth
Arrives at the Durban, South Africa, airport in 1995, after being named Motlalepula ("she who comes with rain") at an earlier event.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Meghan, adorably holding the umbrella for Harry during a speech in Australia in 2018.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Cuddling under an umbrella in the Australian rain.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Harry, reaching out to feel for rain during their Australian tour.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Looking more in love than we knew humans could on a rainy Australian day.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
Chatting with other audience members in the rain, while one shields Meghan with his umbrella.
Queen Elizabeth
In Canada in 1983.
Kate Middleton
Looking absolutely lovely in the rain in in Blackpool, England in 2019.
Kate Middleton
Absolutely. Lovely.
Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with over 10 years of professional experience covering entertainment of all genres, from new movie and TV releases to nostalgia, and celebrity news. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
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