PRINCES WILLIAM AND HARRY
The British royal family has long had a connection with the sea, with many naval officers among their ranks and a history of impressive royal yachts. Seen here with their parents Charles and Diana on HMY Britannia in Italy in 1985, Princes William and Harry began their seafaring careers at a very young age. While we have yet to see William’s own children, 2-year-old Prince George and the newly arrived Princess Charlotte, on board, we have a feeling it won’t be too long until they get to sample the delights of life at sea.
CHARLOTTE CASIRAGHI
As the granddaughter of yachting fans Prince Rainier and Princess Grace and the niece of the sovereign of Monaco, it is perhaps no surprise that Charlotte Casiraghi was introduced to sailing at a young age. Pictured in 1987 aged 18 months with her parents, Caroline, Princess of Hanover and the late Stefano Casiraghi, along with elder brother Andrea, Casiraghi still attends numerous yachting events including the recent opening of the new Yacht Club de Monaco.
PIERRE CASIRAGHI
Of course, Charlotte was not the only member of the Casiraghi family to find their sea legs while still in infancy. Photographed during a family holiday on Ponza Isle, Italy, Princess Caroline of Monaco gets ready to take youngest son Pierre for a ride in what is, admittedly, a somewhat smaller boat than most royals are used to.
PRINCESS LEONOR OF SPAIN
With a father who loves sailing and competing in regattas as much as King Felipe VI of Spain, it is no wonder his daughters have spent much of their lives surrounded by boats. A frequent sight at many of Spain’s racing fixtures, here his eldest child Princess Leonor, along with her mother Queen Letizia and grandmother Queen Sofia, gets her first glimpse at the thrill of sailing during the 2006 Copa del Rey regatta aged just 10 months.
PRINCE VINCENT AND PRINCESS JOSEPHINE OF DENMARK
Dannebrog, the impressive 78.43 metre yacht owned by the Danish royal family, has become such a home from home that Prince Frederik and Princess Mary prefer to use it as accommodation during foreign visits whenever possible. Seen here with their two youngest children, the then seven-month-old twins Vincent and Josephine, during a visit to Hanstholme in 2011, the couple’s two elder children, Christian and Isabella, are also often spotted enjoying time on board with their family.