The Royal Kid’s First Instagram Post Is So Touching

It’s not unusual to see Prince William and Kate Middleton sign off on their social media posts with their initials—”W” and “C” for William and Catherine, for anyone who hasn’t seen the royal posts—but over the weekend, for the very first time, one of the posts from the official Prince and Princess of Wales Instagram account got a very special sign off: “G, C & L.” Those three initials stand for George, Charlotte, and Louis, and the post marks the first time that the royal children have ever posted on social media, which insiders say is a major step for the kids.

Rebecca English, a royal expert writing for The Daily Mail, explained that while it made for a very special moment—the post was a celebratory Father’s Day message—fans shouldn’t expect it to become a normal occurrence.

“While many will be excited to see the young royals dip their toes into social media, sources are at pains to stress that this should not be seen as anything more than a delightful one-off,” she said. “The children—who also looked ecstatic to be out with their parents in public at Trooping the Colour at the weekend—simply wanted to show their love for William on a special day after what has undoubtedly been a difficult time for them all.”

The full caption reads: “We love you, Papa. Happy Father’s Day 💕 G, C & L.”

The photo has layers of meaning, as does the gesture from the children. English adds that the photo (which shows the beach near Anmer Hall) was taken by Kate, who has been open about her love of photography in the past, and the message shows a “maturity” from the royal kids.

“The message does, however, mark the first time the children have been given such a platform to make a public statement like this to a global audience, and is a sign of their growing maturity as young royals,” English added. She went on to say that the “wide-open spaces, countryside, and beaches of Norfolk have always been balm for the family’s soul” as they handle Kate’s health issues and added another tidbit: “friends have long told me that they would move there permanently if they could.”

The Father’s Day post came just a day after Kate made her return to the public eye at this year’s Trooping the Colour alongside her husband and children. The kids joined the royal family on the palace balcony, keeping the annual tradition going even as Kate continues her cancer treatments alongside King Charles, who is also receiving treatment for cancer.