Left-handed royals - Duchess Sophie and Prince William© Getty

Prince William, Duchess Sophie and more left-handed royals revealed

There are a handful of royals who write with their left hand

Online Digital News Director
Online Royal CorrespondentLondon
Updated: August 13, 2024

Although writing with your right hand is more common, it's thought that between ten and 12 per cent of the world's population are left-handed – including a number of prominent leaders, such as former US presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

Over in the UK, famous wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill was left-handed, as is David Cameron. But what about the monarchy? 

It's no secret that Prince William is on the list of those who use their left hand, along with the Duchess of Edinburgh. Take a look in the video below...

WATCH: Left-handed royals

Here at HELLO!, we take a look at the members of the royal family who are left-handed… 

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© Anwar Hussein

Prince William

Britain's future king Prince William is famously a leftie, and has been seen on a number of occasions signing guest books using his left hand. He has even joked in the past about it, stating that "left-handers have better brains" than right-handers.  

One of the first times his trait became public knowledge was when he signed a book on his first day of school at Eton, where he was photographed alongside parents King Charles and Princess Diana and younger brother Prince Harry.

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© Getty

The Duchess of Edinburgh

Duchess Sophie is another famous left-hander. The wife of Prince Edward is frequently photographed using her left hand to sign her name.

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© Samir Hussein

Prince George

It has been widely reported that Prince George is left-handed. But in some photos, William and Kate's eldest child seems to have a dominant right hand. While attending the polo in June 2019, he was pictured swinging a mallet with his right hand, and famously used the same hand to stir the Christmas pudding mixture in December 2019, along with the late Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William.

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© Getty

King George VI

It's highly likely that Prince William inherited the left-handed gene from his great-grandfather, George VI. The Queen's father was said to be naturally left-handed; although he would write with his right hand, he was frequently seen playing tennis with his left hand, such as in this snapshot.

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© Getty

Queen Victoria

King George VI, meanwhile, seems to have inherited the distinctive trait from his great-grandmother, Queen Victoria! The monarch was often seen writing with her right hand, but would paint with her left hand, suggesting she may have been encouraged to write with the right instead – something that was common practice at the time.

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© Getty

Princess Leonor of Spain

The future Spanish Queen confirmed she is left-handed as she signed the Congress book of honour during a ceremony to swear loyalty to the constitution, on her 18th birthday in October 2023.

LISTEN: Inside Prince William and Kate's bond

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