The Queen and the younger generations of royals tend to rank well in polls with the public. In a recent Express.co.uk poll, the Queen was voted the most popular member of the Royal Family, while Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Camilla were named the least popular. But in terms of the Queen’s personal favourites within her family, who is her least favourite grandchild?

Queen Elizabeth II has reigned for 68 years this year.

Throughout that time, she has seen her family grow enormously welcoming four children of her own and subsequently eight grandchildren and eight grandchildren.

According to royal insiders the Queen adores all of her grandchildren dearly, but she reportedly does have her favourites, and by extension, her least favourites.

The Queen’s oldest Peter Phillips is actually referred to as “the Queen’s favourite grandchild”.

He is the son of Princess Anne and was, due to a long-standing tradition, born without a royal title.

In a show of her love for Peter, the Queen offered to break with tradition and gave him a courtesy title, but his parents declined the offer.

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Another contender for the Queen’s favourite grandchild is Zara Tindall.

Speaking to Fabulous Digital, Majesty Magazine editor Ingrid Seward said the Queen enjoys Zara and her family’s down-to-earth personalities and often seeks out their company.

She said: “They are certainly light relief. She can be herself around them.”

The Queen allegedly likes the Tindalls because they are “normal” and free of the “royal dramas”.

Ms Seward added she also relates to Zara well because of her love of horses.

The love of horses is another reason for the speculation that Lady Louise Windsor, the Queen’s youngest granddaughter is her favourite.

A royal insider told The Sun: “The Queen loves the fact that Louise and James relish their time at Balmoral, and she has become particularly close to Louise, who seems to have become her favourite grandchild, closely followed by James.”

But one of the Queen’s favourites has always been Prince Harry.

The pair are often photographed laughing and joking together at royal events.

During her recent statements about the royal exit, the Queen has repeatedly expressed her love and support of the Sussex couple, offering unprecedented insight into how deeply she cares for them.

Many royal experts have expressed shock in how personal and emotional the Queen’s messages about the couple have been in recent weeks.

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The Queen has a reputation for placing duty above sentiment throughout her life.

In fact in the past, the Queen said: “There is a motto which has been borne by many of my ancestors – a noble motto, ‘I serve’.”

That mandate has been transferred to the royals highest in the line of succession, meaning Prince Charles, Prince William and ultimately Prince George, have stricter rules to follow to secure the monarchy’s future.

Many would assume Prince Wiliam to be the Queen’s favourite, but in fact, this is far from the case.

Although he works very closely with his grandmother, and the Queen has spent much of her life mentoring him for the day he will take the throne, the Duke of Cambridge has missed out on being labelled her favourite.

The mentoring has reportedly made the nature of their relationship much more serious than it is with her other grandchildren.

E! News royal correspondent Melanie Bromley said Prince William and the Queen’s relationship is “half family and half business”.

In a similar vein to her relationship with Prince Charles, she has reportedly also seen Prince William as belonging to Britain.

This “business” edge to their relationship was felt in the ITV documentary Our Queen at Ninety which whereby Wiliam, alongside his cousins paid tribute to his grandmother.

In the documentary William said: “Growing up, having this figurehead, having this stability above me has been incredible. I have been able to explore, understand, slightly carve my own path.

“I greatly appreciate and value that protection.”

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