Queen Elizabeth And Her Children's Complicated Relationships, Explained

Queen Elizabeth's first son: Charles, Prince of Wales

The Queen was just 22 when she gave birth to Prince Philips first son and heir to the throne, Charles. He was born on November 14, 1948, which meant he was only 3 years old when his mother ascended the throne, according to the BBC .

Prince Charles became the longest-serving heir apparent in 2011 (surpassing the previous record of 59 years, two months and 13 days, set by his great-great-grandfather, King Edward VII). For those keeping track at home, Queen Elizabeth has reigned for more than six decadesand shes still got it. (Sorry, Charlie.)

While most kids were practicing multiplication at age 9, Prince Charles was busy becoming Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester. Charles didnt attend Eton College (a boys boarding school founded by King Henry VI) like most British royals. Instead, he went to Prince Philips alma mater, Gordonstoun, in Scotland, after transferring from Cheam School. He didnt have the easiest time at boarding school, especially with his royal blood, per Vanity Fair .

After secondary school, Charles went to Trinity College, where he became the first royal heir apparent to get a degree, according to Times Higher Education . He studied anthropology, archaeology, and history and even spent time studying at archaeological sites in France.

Take a rare look inside the Queen's complicated relationship with her four children:

Once he was done living the bachelor life, Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer, who was 13 years his junior. The wedding came with much media attention, but Queen Elizabeth wasnt particularly fond of the famous princess, says Good Housekeeping . Princess Di and Prince Charles divorced in 1996, just a year before her death in 1997. Charles remarried in 2005 to Camilla Parker Bowles, who is now Duchess of Cornwall.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles werent close while he was growing up. The Queen left most of her parenting to the nannies, according to Prince Charles. In his 1994 authorized biography by Jonathan Dimbleby, Charles said that it was "inevitably the nursery staff" who watched the young royal take his first steps and taught him life lessons, per Town & Country .

But the heir apparent was close with Queen Elizabeths mother, aptly given the title The Queen Mother, until she died in 2002. Speaking at her funeral, Prince Charles said that his grandmother "meant everything" to him and that he had "adored her" since childhood.

Queen Elizabeth's only daughter: Anne, Princess Royal

Less than two years after Prince Charles was born, Queen Elizabeth gave birth to Anne, Princess Royal. She was born on August 15, 1950, when QE II was 24. Anne is the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. She is currently 14th in line to the throne (due to the patriarchal ascension system...ugh), behind her three brothers plus their children and grandchildren.

Unlike Prince Charles, Princess Anne rejects the notion that Queen Elizabeth was an uncaring mother. Sure, the nursery staff did some of the heavy lifting, but according to her, the Queen made sure to spend quality time with her children. "I simply dont believe there is any evidence whatsoever to suggest that she wasnt caring. Its just beggars belief," Princess Anne told the BBC in 2002. Anne and Queen Elizabeth bonded over their love for horses, and Anne became the first royal to participate in the Olympics, according to the organization's website .

Theres reason to believe Queen Elizabeth didnt fully approve of her daughters actions, especially her divorce from Captain Mark Phillips, with whom she shared two children, Zara and Peter, per The Telegraph . The divorce was finalized in 1992 after it was revealed Phillips fathered a child outside their marriage. (His paternity was confirmed in 1991.)

That gave the Princess Royal an out, so she married once-rumored love Royal Navy Commanding Officer Timothy Laurence, per E! News . Now, Princess Anne helps more than 300 charities, according to the Royal Family's official website, and makes roughly 500 appearances a year, Woman magazine reported.

Queen Elizabeth's second son: Prince Andrew, Duke of York

Nearly 10 years separate Anne and Prince Andrew, who was born February 19, 1960, when Queen Elizabeth was 33. As the third childbut second sonof Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Prince Andrew is eighth in line to the crown, directly behind Archie Mountbatten-Windsor (a.k.a. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's son ). Prince Andrews older brother and sister were born before the Queens ascension, making him the first child born to a sitting monarch in 103 years, according to Biography .

By the time Prince Andrew was born, Queen Elizabeth had reigned for eight years. That made her more comfortable in her role, so she became a more hands-on mother, per Robert Lacey's biography of the queen, Monarch: The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II . The Queen even spent time "cycling and chasing" her younger children through Buckingham Palace.

Andrew has been wrapped up in several scandals over the years, starting with his almost marriage to Koo Stark, who won a libel suit against Viacom for being described as a porn star in 2018, per the Press Gazette . The prince was introduced to his future wife, Sarah Ferguson, by Princess Diana, according to Hello! . The couple wed in 1986, and they had two children before divorcing in 1996 (which, like her other children's divorces, likely didn't please the Queen).

But the biggest scandal of Prince Andrews royal career is happening right now. According to the BBC, in 1999, Andrew started palling around with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in prison earlier this year.

Beyond that, one woman, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, has accused Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her when she was 17 (and that all this happened with Epstein), People reported. Buckingham Palace has formally said that those allegations are false.

Queen Elizabeth's third son: Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex

Prince Edward is the youngest of Queen Elizabeths children, making him 11th in line for the throne. He was born March 10, 1964, when the Queen was 37. People say the youngest child gets the most love, and it definitely seems that holds true for Edward.

Prince Edward and his wife, Countess Sophie Rhys-Jones, are said to be the Queen and Prince Philips favorites, according to Town & Country . Maybe its because Prince Edward is the only child of theirs not to divorce. The couple married in 1999 and have two children together.

Edward also has a seemingly clean record and is a full-time royal. He holds two titles, the other being Earl of Forfar, to use in Scotlandwhich he received for his birthday in 2018. (Now, thats a bday gift.)

If the favoritism wasnt already apparent, there are rumors Prince Edward will assume Prince Philips Duke of Edinburgh title when he dies, per Town & Country .

As The Crown gets further into dramatizing the present-day life of the Royals, fans will get a front-row seat to see how these relationships will play out on screen. Already, its safe to say that the family might not be too happy with their portrayals. (Looking at you, Charles.)