40 Photos of Royals Doing Everyday Normal Things

the queen, duke of edinburgh, prince of wales duchess of cornwall visit poundbury

(Image credit: WPA Pool)

published 29 April 2021

Look, the members of the British royal family aren't your average Joes. But even royalty gets stuck riding the bus and accidentally burns a piece of toast every now and again. Don't believe us? We're giving you a peek at what the royal family does when they're left to their own devices — and you might be pleasantly surprised by what you see.

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Prince Philip unloading his trunk

We're certain there are a dozen staff members that could help Prince Philip unload his trunk from his day spent at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, but the then-93-year-old managed just fine.

Queen Elizabeth shopping at a grocery store

Can you imagine looking for the cheddar and finding Queen Elizabeth perusing the aisle next to you? Sure, maybe she wasn't shopping for her own fridge, but she did look very absorbed by the items on the shelves.

The Princes riding a roller coaster

Princess Diana tried to raise her boys as normal as possible, which meant going to the amusement park in 1993. "She made sure that they experienced things like going to the cinema, queuing up to buy a McDonald's, going to amusement parks, those sorts of things that were experiences that they could share with their friends," Diana's former chief of staff, Patrick Jephson, told ABC News.

The Duchess of Cornwall riding a bus

Camilla Parker Bowles ditched the chauffeur and saw London by bus in 2010. She climbed aboard an old double decker to get to the London Transport Museum for an engagement later that day.

Princess Diana shopping at a department store

Princess Diana browsed the merchandise in a department store in Germany in 1987. The Princess of Wales stopped by the store while in the country for an official royal visit.

The Princess playing at home

While they lived a lavish life growing up in Kensington Palace, every child enjoys a run-of-the-mill playset. The simple toy reminds us of our own childhood, proving that royals are just like us — really!

Kate Middleton pouring a pint

Harking back to their St. Andrews University days, Kate Middleton works the tap at a local pub in Ireland. Here's hoping she poured one for Prince William too.

Princess Beatrice riding with the top down

A young Princess Beatrice looks stylish, as she rides around London in her mother, Sarah Ferguson's, convertible in 1996. Shout out to those chic sunglasses.

Princess Diana jogging in London

Princess Diana, fitted in her running sneakers and bike shorts, jogged through the crowded London streets in 1997. The royal exercised about three times a week, doing everything from walking and jogging to aerobics.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex taking a sip

While at a cooking demonstration in Morocco in 2018, Prince Harry and a pregnant Meghan Markle proved that no one looks elegant while sipping from a big mug. The couple sampled a number of different cuisines throughout the day, which was part of their last tour before the birth of their son in May 2018.

Queen Elizabeth driving her car

The monarch isn't shy about hopping behind the wheel of her Land Rover — especially when visiting her country estates. But one normal thing you'll never spot her doing: taking a driving test. The Queen is the only person in the U.K. that can drive without a license.

Prince William testing out his culinary skills

Even though Prince William grew up being cooked for by the royal chef, in 2000 the future king showed off his skills in the kitchen. Her prepared chicken paella at his boarding school, Eton College.

Prince Philip making an impulse purchase

During an outing at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2006, Prince Philip bought a pair of gloves. Proving that the Prince apparently carries money on him, despite his wife only carrying cash on Sundays. We have to ask: What's it like paying cash when your wife's face is on the bill?

Duchess Camilla enjoying a sweet treat

While on a royal tour of Scandinavia, Prince Charles and Camilla stopped by the oldest ice cream store in Denmark, Brostræde Fløde-IS. Naturally, they had to sample the goods. Wouldn't you?

Queen Elizabeth taking the bus

The Queen may be royalty, but the monarch took the bus in 2013 with Prince Philip to an event in Cambridge, England. She had the Cambridgeshire Guided Bus Company to thank for her ride.

Princess Diana visiting the post office

Although the Princess didn't have to worry about running out stamps — Buckingham Palace has its own court postal service that handles all royal mail — she did receive a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the postal service on a trip to Cornwall in 1991.

Prince Harry toasting a slice of bread

During his days at boarding school, Prince Harry was forced to learn the basics to cooking — a.k.a. how to use the toaster. We suspect his skills have come a long way since, as he proposed to Meghan Markle while cooking a roast chicken.

Meghan Markle grocery shopping

During a tour of a recently opened village grocery store in Birkenhead, Meghan Markle took a peek at the store's refrigerated section. We're sure she was familiar with this aisle from her pre-royal days.

Prince William walking his dog

Looking casual in a Barbour jacket, jeans, and wellies, a young Prince William walks a pet dog while at the polo grounds in Cirencester in 1987.

The royals show off their ironing skills

Kate Middleton and Prince Charles prove that they have what it takes to rival the housekeepers at Buckingham Palace, as they both man an iron in 2012. They're not ironing clothes though. They're making crafts with kids at a charity event.

Prince Charles browsing magazines

Something catch your eye, Charles? The Prince stopped for a moment to examine the magazine stand at a post office in Cumbria, England. He's just like us and can't resist the goodies in the checkout line.

The Queen Mother enjoying a quiet beach walk

The Queen Mother took a tranquil walk in Norfolk. While visiting friends in the country, the royal matriarch bundled up for the casual outing with her pet corgi.

Queen Elizabeth enjoying a ride

As an avid horseback rider, it isn't rare for the Queen to enjoy a ride in the saddle — even at the age of 96. At the end of the day, she's just your normal horse lover. Here, she rides at Windsor Castle in 2006.

Kate Middleton petting a dog

Forget royal duties. Kate Middleton knows there's nothing more important than stopping to pet a cute dog. The Duchess gave a Domhnall the Irish Wolfhound a pat at a St. Patrick's Day ceremony in 2019.

Prince William celebrating a victory

The amount of genuine joy that exists in this photo is melting our hearts. Prince William gives an elated response when winning a game of foosball in February 2020.

Princess Diana buying bananas

The People's Princess even joined people in line at the grocery store. While it may seem like the royal was just putting on a show here in 1990, it's since been revealed that she often did her own grocery shopping — frequenting the Marks & Spencer on Kensington High Street in London.

Princess Charlotte getting cheeky

Even royal children can be a bit naughty every now and then. The young royal stuck her tongue out at photographers while attending the King's Cup Regatta with her parents and grand-parents in 2019.

Princess Anne waiting for a cup of coffee

Princess Anne skipped the tea and instead picked up a cup of joe in 2019. She waited at a kiosk for her order to be ready with her husband, Timothy Laurence.

Queen Elizabeth fixing her scarf

The Queen is rarely seen in public or on a casual outing without a headscarf — they are an essential item in her wardrobe. And she needs no help fastening them, as demonstrated here at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2005.

The Cambridges reacting at Wimbledon

Okay, so maybe it isn't considered "normal" to attend Wimbledon in the royal box. However, if their reaction is any indication, Kate and Will clearly cared about the match just as much as your average tennis fan.

Sarah Ferguson pumping her car with gas

Even on the brink of marrying into the royal family, Sarah Ferguson remained true to her roots, and that meant filling her own tank with fuel. The soon-to-be royal was spotted in Hampshire, England at a roadside gas station in 1986.

Queen Elizabeth snapping a picture

Although she is the most photographed woman in the world, the Queen has been a lifelong fan of photography. Here, she captures a photo with her camera at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 1982.

Queen Elizabeth taking a selfie

Selfies are seen as a breach in royal protocol, but that doesn't stop fans from taking them. Queen Elizabeth graciously joined the bandwagon of the digital trend, as she greets her fans in 2014.

Prince Philip riding a motorcycle

File this under things we never thought we'd see: Prince Philip riding a mini motorcycle. Nonetheless, the Prince enjoyed a ride on a sunny day in Windsor in 2002.

Queen Elizabeth checking the time

Of course, Queen Elizabeth has to keep to a very busy schedule, but there's still something novel about seeing her check her watch. Here, she does just that in an off-duty look at a horse show in 1985.

Prince William and Kate Middleton taking a sip

Didn't anyone tell you it's rude to refuse a beer in Ireland? Well, apparently William and Kate are privy to this custom, as they both took big gulps of the pint they were offered during a St. Patrick's Day celebration in 2019.

Prince Charles slicing bread in his apartment

While living on his own at Trinity College in 1969, Prince Charles no longer had the royal chef to cook for him. That means, yep, Charles had to learn how to slice bread just like the rest of us.

Prince George cheering on his football team

You'd think being the future Kings would mean better seats for a match in Norwich in 2019, but apparently not. Prince William and Kate Middleton revealed that Prince George is a huge football fan, so they probably knew he'd be happy with any seat in the stadium.

Prince William cuddling his dog

Whether you're royal or not, one fact remains: Everyone loves their dog. Prince William showed that he has a soft spot for his family pup, Lupo, after picking her up for a cuddle post-polo match in 2012.

Peter Phillips enjoying a family outing

Princess Anne chose to forgo royal titles for her two children, Peter and Zara Phillips, but they're still technically part of the royal family. Here, Peter Phillips and his wife, Autumn, prove on a day out at the Gatcombe Horse Trials that they are just like any other family.