Though they (obviously) live their lives publicly, the royal family tends to keep their private lives … private. That means that personal Instagram accounts are off the table for many of them — minus a few members, like Princess Eugenie — and of course, they aren't filming any reality shows anytime soon. But once in a while, we do get a more intimate and personal look into the royals' lives when they decide to share never-before-seen photos of some of their most important moments, and we simply can't get enough of these peeks behind the curtain.
Over the years, some of the photos they've shared later on are from weddings or big events, while others are snaps of their families hanging out at home — like the ones that Kate Middleton and Prince William like to share of their children throughout the year. They've all given us a better understanding of who the royals are when they're not on duty, and it's so refreshing (and fascinating) to see.
Read on for all the times the royal family has shared never-before-seen photos publicly. Hopefully, more glimpses into their private lives are to come in the future, but for now, we're loving what they have shared so far.
Princess Eugenie & Jack Brooksbank's Wedding
When Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank got married in October 2018, the whole world tuned in for what would be one of the last big royal weddings for a while. But as gorgeous as the wedding photos were that the couple released right away, even more were in store for us in the future when Eugenie and Jack decided to share more snaps.
New Wedding Photos
In honor of their second wedding anniversary, in 2020, Eugenie shared brand-new wedding photos that had never been released before publicly with her Instagram followers. As part of a video set to London Grammar's song "Baby It's You," Eugenie shared not only personal pictures of their wedding, but also more casual pics from their time together.
Another Wedding Snap
Earlier in 2020, we also got another glimpse at what went on at Princess Eugenie's wedding — via her mom, Sarah Ferguson. As part of a birthday tribute to her sister, Jane, on Instagram, Sarah, Duchess of York, shared a pic of the two of them at Eugenie's wedding that had never been released before.
So sweet!
Meghan Markle & Prince Harry's Wedding
Much like Eugenie and Jack, Meghan and Harry's wedding was a very big deal in 2018, and that meant we were glued to the TV and our phones when they tied the knot, soaking in every detail. But of course, we didn't get to see every single moment of their wedding day.
Check out our Meghan Markle page for all the latest news about Meghan, Prince Harry, and their growing family.
The Sussexes in Action
When Meghan and Harry marked their first year of marriage in May 2019, it also came with a tribute that included some new wedding photos that had never been seen before. Many of the pictures were more behind-the-scenes looks at the happy couple and their families, sharing how special the day really was to everyone involved.
Kate Middleton's Country Home
Earlier this year, Kate Middleton and her family spent a lot of time at their country home, Anmer Hall, where it was a bit safer and easier for them to protect their health — rather than living in the heart of it all at Kensington Palace. This led to seeing some parts of the Duke and Duchess of Camrbidge's home we had never seen before.
Pretty fascinating stuff.
A Brand New Room
While introducing the judges for her #HoldStill photography contest, Kate shared a never-before-seen room at Anmer Hall, and it was decorated in Kate's signature classy style, of course. We couldn't see much of the room, but we could see the vintage vibes it was giving off, and those pretty decorative plates on the walls.
Princess Diana & Prince Charles' Wedding
It's been nearly 40 years since Prince Charles and Princess Diana's unforgettable royal wedding, and while a lot has happened since then — including their divorce and, later, Diana's tragic death — it's remained a very iconic moment in British history, as well as pop culture in general. But we haven't seen everything from that day…
Brand-New Wedding Pictures
Thanks to a 2015 auction, a bunch of never-before-seen photos of Charles and Diana's wedding surfaced, giving another breathtaking look at that moment in history. They included new snaps of Diana in her dress, Queen Elizabeth behind the scenes, the royal family gathering together — all such iconic moments.
It was quite a collection!
Kate & Will's Family
We've seen a lot of adorable photos of Will and Kate with their kids, Charlotte, Louis, and George over the years, but none of them compare to the ones that Kate takes of her kids herself. Once in awhile, the Cambridges let us in on a photo or two that comes from their personal family collection.
Brand-New Family Photo
In honor of Will's birthday in June 2020, the palace shared a never-before-seen photo of him and his kids playing outside together at Anmer Hall that had been snapped by the very talented Kate. This family couldn't have been more adorable, and it's awesome to see Will in such a laid back moment enjoying his children.
Meghan & Harry's Home
It's been months since Meghan and Harry walked away from their lives (and jobs) as senior royals in favor of a life in the US, and now that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have purchased a home in Santa Barbara (and have settled in), fans have been super curious about what that home looks like. Slowly, but surely, we've been given a glimpse here and there.
A New Room
During a video call for SmartWorks in September 2020, Meghan happened to be sitting in a different room of her home that we hadn't seen before, and what we did see was pretty impressive. There was a gorgeous stone fireplace behind her with a vintage print hanging above it, and it all screamed Meghan's style.
Kate Celebrates Mother's Day
Kate has always been all about the mom life. It's easy to see how much she loves her children and being their mother just by looking at photos of them. That's why when she shares new photos with her kids, we just can't get enough. There's something so special about all that genuine love.
Mother's Day Photos
In honor of the UK's Mother's Day 2020, Kate shared intimate family photos — which included photos of Will and Kate with their kids — one of Kate with her mom, Carole Middleton, and even a Mother's Day card that Prince George had so craftily made for his mother, featuring some pretty adorable artwork.
