From Queen Camilla’s ‘Nokia Brick’ to King Charles’s phone-free life and Zara’s top-of-the-range iPhone: The royals’ take on tech

The Royal Family has to balance maintaining tradition while keeping up with the rest of the world. 

Mobile phones have become a key part of many people’s lives and the monarchy isn’t exempt, though their preferences vary when it comes to technology.

While Prince William, Princess Kate and Zara Tindall seem to have a preference for smartphones, Queen Camilla likes to stick to the basics.

Tom Parker Bowles recently revealed that his mother, Queen Camilla, uses an old ‘Nokia brick’ phone.

Speaking to Woman & Home magazine, he said: ‘We do [use a WhatsApp group], my children, my sister and cousins – but my mum still uses an old-fashioned Nokia telephone, so [she] can’t. I think it’s for security.’

Read on below as MailOnline looks back at the mobile phones royals have been seen with over the years.

Princess Kate 

The Princess of Wales has been seen with a mobile phone on multiple occasions over the years. 

Back in 2007, around the time Prince William had ended their relationship over the telephone, Kate was snapped enjoying a night out in London, leaving Mahiki Club. 

When paparazzi approached her taxi, Kate whipped out her mobile – which was a typical model of the time – and held it up near her face, appearing to take their photo. 

As technology has advanced, Kate seems to have kept her mobile phones up to date and has been seen with various smart phones.

After marrying William in 2011, Kate attended the London 2012 Olympics and was seen with an Apple iPhone.

Sitting next to her husband, Kate held up her phone and appeared to take a photo or video of the sporting events. 

Prince William 

Like his wife, William also has a smartphone, though his views regarding the technology isn’t all that positive. 

Earlier this year, during a visit to OnSide Youth Zone in Hammersmith and Fulham,  William urged people to spend less time on their phones.

He told one youngster who confessed to scrolling: ‘The grown-ups are guilty of it too.’

William added, ‘we have got to be better at it’, with people across the generations spending ‘ages on our phones’.

Despite this, the Prince of Wales is still seen using his smartphone occasionally. 

At the Invictus Games in London, 2014, William was seen holding a white iPhone while he smiled and looked at the screen. 

Two years earlier, while watching the swimming in the London Olympics, William, Kate and Sir Steve Redgrave all peered at the prince’s mobile, which appeared to be a black iPhone.

King Charles

As for the King, Charles doesn’t own a mobile phone according to Hello! magazine.

He also requests that staff turn off their phones when working within royal homes, unless their job requires the use of one. 

Mobiles were also banned at the Coronation to avoid pesky ringtones disrupting the ceremony, the Mirror reported.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

The Duchess of Edinburgh has been spotted holding various mobile phones over the years. 

Back in 2005, during a ski trip in  Meribel, France, Sophie took a break on the slopes to check her phone.

She was photographed as she held her ski poles in one hand and her small, silver mobile in another.

Sophie seems to have updated her mobile over the years and in 2014, she was seen using a black iPhone during visits to Rapanui, a sustainable fashion label on the Isle of Wight.

When the Duchess watched England vs India women’s hockey match during the Commonwealth Games in 2022, she was pictured taking a photo of the action with a blue iPhone.

Prince Edward

Prince Edward appears to have different tastes to his wife when it comes to mobile phones.

During an event at Ascot Racecourse in 2015, he was seen holding a black flip phone. 

Princess Anne 

Princess Anne, while she has been seen with a mobile phone, has previously shared her views on the rise of technology. 

The Princess Royal said she finds it ‘weird’ being greeted by crowds armed with phones and iPads.

In the new Queen Of Our World documentary, Anne said: ‘You had people to talk to, now you don’t really. Phones are bad enough, but the iPads – you can’t even see their heads. No idea who you’re talking to.

‘I either don’t bother or just say, “Look, if you want to ask me something… I suggest you put that down”.

‘It is weird. People don’t believe they’ve experienced the event unless they’ve taken a photograph.’

She has been seen with different types of mobiles over the years. Back in 2006 the princess was pictured talking on a flip phone at the Festival of British Eventing in Gatcombe Park, Gloucestershire.

Then in 2017, Anne was photographed taking a call from a white smartphone at the Whatley Manor Horse Trials.

Zara and Mike Tindall 

Both Zara and Mike Tindall have been seen carrying  mobile phones, and the former rugby player has previously spoken about their tech habits. 

Back in 2014, Mike told The Sunday Times that his biggest money weakness was buying gadgets.

He said: ‘I like TVs, sound systems, and a nice cinema room where it’s all wired in properly. We always upgrade quickly with tablets and smartphones.’

Zara and Mike have been photographed with different iPhones over the years.

At last year’s Royal Ascot, the late Queen’s granddaughter was seen carrying an Apple iPhone and clutch bag in one hand as she watched the racing event.

On another occasion, at Wimbledon in 2022, the couple were photographed looking at Zara’s phone together and smiling.

Prince Harry 

Like many of his royal relatives, Prince Harry has also been seen with an iPhone.

Back in 2016, during a video promotion for the Invictus Games, a clip showed him sitting with the Queen.

Her Majesty was holding his phone while a video call came through from former US president Barack Obama. 

In 2022, the prince released a Netflix series with his wife, Meghan Markle, and his phone featured again.

Footage showed him holding his phone towards Meghan, showing her a text he received from William after their Oprah interview.

Harry was also seen with a black iPhone back in 2012 where he was photographed holding it during the Olympics when he attended with Kate and William.

Meghan has also been seen with a mobile phone. 

When the couple were leaving Australia after visiting in 2018, the Duchess was pictured with a smartphone in her hand before they boarded their plane.

Prince Andrew 

Unlike his older brother Charles, Prince Andrew has been seen with a mobile phone before.

Back in 2015, at Royal Ascot, the Duke of York was pictured looking intently at a silver iPhone.

The following year he was seen again talking on the phone as he attends the King George VI Weekend at Ascot Racecourse.

Princess Eugenie

When Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle in 2018, she reportedly had a strict policy on mobile phones and social media snaps.

Guests were asked to ‘surrender mobile telephones, cameras, and any electronic devices used for image capture’, on arrival at the afternoon soiree, Vanity Fair reported.

She doesn’t seem to be completely against technology though and has been pictured with a phone before.

Back in 2022, the princess was seen taking a photograph on a blue iPhone during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant.