The Unique World of Blue Ivy, Rumi and Sir Carter
Originally appeared on E! Online
Are there three children who've collectively logged more private air travel than Blue Ivy Carter, Rumi Carter and Sir Carter?
Not that Beyoncé and Jay-Z's kids need to be flying anywhere to achieve a certain level of elevation, riding in style being the whole family's default setting.
"One of my most satisfying moments as a mom is when I found Blue one day soaking in the bath with her eyes closed," Beyoncé, who's turning 43 on Sept. 4, told Harper's Bazaar in 2021, sharing a very rare detail about life behind the palace-reminiscent walls. "Using blends I created and taking time for herself to decompress and be at peace."
Pretty savvy for a child who hadn't yet reached double digits. But the 12-year-old's life has always boasted a certain je ne sais quois, even before she was a Grammy- and VMA-winning picture of precocity, effortlessly doing Renaissance Tour choreography with her mom's dancers in front of 70,000 people.
Meanwhile, her dancing gig was supposed to be a one-off. But as seen in the documentary Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, Blue successfully convinced her wary mom that she was ready to hit the road.
And we know how that turned out.
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"My beautiful first born," the duly impressed Beyoncé captioned a May 2023 video of her daughter on stage. "I'm so proud and thankful to be your mama. You bring us so much joy, my sweet angel."
And as benevolent eldest siblings do (Beyoncé is one too, after all), Blue has been amiably sharing the throne with 7-year-old Rumi and Sir.
"Rumi is a natural little star," Bey's mom Tina Knowles gushed to E! News' Francesca Amiker in August, and "will not be denied" should she seek the spotlight. (Needless to say, she added, "We got them all, raising them up right.")
And though Sir is "more into books and electronics," according to his doting grandma, both twins have dabbled in the family business. They made their recording debut at 4 when they joined forces with their mom and big sister to supply the vocals for Tina's 2021 Facebook Watch series Talks With Mama Tina.
And it was Rumi's spoken-word contribution to "Protector," from Cowboy Carter, that saw her breaking Blue's record for youngest-ever artist to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 when the track debuted at No. 42—though Blue remains the youngest to make it onto a Billboard chart.
Rumi is "an amazing artist," Tina told E! at the Kentucky Derby in May. "Painter and creator. So, I mean, how could they be anything else, growing up in that environment? That's all we talk about, is creativity and fashion and the whole thing."
Meanwhile, she continued, "Sir is very quiet and is very, very smart—and does all of the numbers stuff. So he's not into the fashion stuff as much."
Blue Ivy, Rumi and Sir Carter Make Cameos in Beyoncé's Black Is King
Tina has of course had a slew of reasons to be proud over the past decade—of her grandchildren and the daughter and son-in-law who are raising three little humans in their estimable image.
"It just gives you purpose," Beyoncé said of motherhood in 2012. She told CNN's Anderson Cooper that, after having Blue, "I realized why I was born and, more than anything, all of the things I want to pass onto my child. And the best way of doing that is not by preaching or telling her, but showing her by example."
Which, coincidentally, is how the 32-time Grammy winner has communicated with millions of people through her music and increasingly revelatory performance style, showing what she's about by doing.
"My 30s were about starting my family and my life becoming more than my career," Beyoncé reflected to Harper's Bazaar when she turned 40 in 2021. "I worked to heal generational trauma and turned my broken heart into art that would help move culture forward and hopefully live far beyond me. My 30s were about digging deeper."
As she entered her fifth decade, she continued, "My wish is for my 40s to be fun and full of freedom. I want to feel the same freedom I feel on stage every day of my life. I want to explore aspects of myself I haven't had time to discover and to enjoy my husband and my children. I want to travel without working. I want this next decade to be about celebration, joy, and giving and receiving love. I want to give all the love I have to the people who love me back."
As Jay-Z noted on a 2022 episode of pal Kevin Hart's Peacock show Hart to Heart, being "reckless" with his time was no longer an option once he became a dad.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z's Date Nights
"Time is all you have," the 54-year-old said. "That's the only thing we control, how you spend your time."
The Roc Nation mogul, who knows from busy, continued, "You're just all over the place and then you have to [ask yourself], 'What are you leaving your house for?' Every second that you spend, you're spending away from the development of these people that you brought here, that you love more than anything in the world. So what are you going to spend that time on? That changed a lot. That changed practically everything for me."
Still, even for the Carters, time is the currency that there never manages to be enough of, even when you know how you want to spend it.
"I think the most stressful thing for me is balancing work and life," Beyoncé told Elle toward the end of 2019. "Making sure I am present for my kids—dropping Blue off at school, taking Rumi and Sir to their activities, making time for date nights with my husband, and being home in time to have dinner with my family—all while running a company can be challenging. Juggling all of those roles can be stressful, but I think that's life for any working mom."
While that uncommon glimpse inside her private world sounds pretty darn relatable, credit to Beyoncé and Jay-Z for not bothering to pretend that their lives are actually just like everyone else's. From the backstage pics with Madonna, music video cameos and award show shout-outs to helicopter rides, yachts and breakdowns of size-6x designer style, Blue, Rumi and Sir are not having an average childhood.
And why should they be?
If you pay attention only to the material side of things (even the clothes alone), it could look as if Jay-Z's humorous 2012 prediction to Oprah Winfrey that Blue would turn out to be the "worst, spoiled little kid ever" had come to fruition. But it's not the kids' fault that their parents are worth upward of $1 billion.
More than anything, the rapper and business mogul born Shawn Carter and his bride of 15 years have strived to raise useful citizens of the world. And so far... so good.
"Everyone imagines they'll be a great dad," Jay-Z mused on Oprah's Master Class: Special Edition when he was a new father. "Until they're teenagers saying, 'Get away from me, Dad. You're embarrassing me!' Right? Everyone imagines that, right?"
More than a few of their fellow famous parents will assure Jay-Z that's exactly what's going to happen in a few years. But until then, the plan remains to shower the kids with enough love and support that a few fallow years of eye-rolls and slamming doors won't affect the overall dynamic.
"Feeling loved is the most important thing a child needs, you know?" Jay-Z told the U.K.'s Times in 2021. "Not 'here's this business that I'm going to hand over to you, that I'm creating for you.'"
Though he and Bey have so many irons in the investment fire there's seemingly something for everyone, the Carter children will be under no pressure to follow in either of their parents' vast footsteps, according to their dad.
His and Beyoncé's main purpose was to "make sure we provide a loving environment, be very attentive to who they want to be," he explained. "It's easy for us, as human beings, to want our children to do certain things, but we have no idea. We're just guides."
And whether they're flying private or commercial, the sky's the limit.
Scroll on for scenes from Blue, Rumi and Sir's family world:
A Sweet Feature
Beyoncé featured daughter Rumi Carter on her new country album Cowboy Carter.
"Protector," the fourth song on the project, begins with Rumi asking, "Mom, can I hear the lullaby, please?" The clip leads into an acoustic ballad reflecting on her deep love for her children.
Gilded in Gold
While pregnant with her twins, the award-winning singer gave an incredible performance at the 2017 Grammys. It's safe to say Rumi and Sir Carter had the best seats in the house!
One-Month Milestone
A month after welcoming her twins, the proud mom took to Instagram to gush over the babies. She wrote, "Sir Carter and Rumi 1 month today."
Cuddles
In July 2022, Beyoncé thanked her kids ahead of her Renaissance album release.
"I want to give a special thank you to Rumi, Sir and Blue for allowing me the space, creativity, and inspiration," she wrote on her website alongside this photo. "And a special thanks to my husband and muse, who held me down during those late nights in the studio."
The Proud Family
The group posed together as The Proud Family for Halloween 2023.
All Smiles
The Houston native flashed a huge smile as she carried her babies.
Renaissance Tour
Rumi joined Bey and Madonna for a backstage tour photo in July 2023 alongside Madonna's daughters Mercy, Stella and Estere.
Splashing Around
The twins adorably took a dip in the ocean in matching outfits.
Daddy's Girl
The father-daughter duo looked at the amazing views as they enjoyed a boat ride together.
New Year, New Footage
The "Spirit" singer kicked off 2021 with a sweet video that captured heartwarming moments with her family. "Cheers to a New Year Beyhive," she captioned her Instagram. "2020 divided us and united us. Most could not see loved ones and we felt too many losses, but we were united by our humanity."
Birthday Beauty
To celebrate her 38th birthday, the award-winning singer shared behind-the-scenes pics of how she rang in her special day. In one photo, her kids help her blow out her candles.
Sweet Shout-Out
The "Black Parade" singer honored her son during the Black Is King visual album, writing, "And to all our sons and daughters, the sun and the moon. Bow for you. You are the keys to the kingdom."
Black Is King Cameo
A family affair! Beyoncé struck a pose with her daughters, as well as her mother, Tina Knowles, during the "Brown Skin Girl" music video in Black Is King.
Mini-Me
A moment that was too cute for words!
Life's a Beach!
In March 2021, The Lion King actress shared rare photos of her little ones enjoying a beach day in Malibu, Calif.
Honoring Dad
In October 2021, Blue Ivy, 9, mom Beyoncé and more than 30 other celebs took part in a tribute video to Jay-Z that was played during his 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction.
BET Award Winner
Back in June 2020, Blue Ivy won her first BET award at the 2020 BET Awards for her work on "Brown Skin Girl." Other nominees included Alicia Keys for "Underdog;" Ciara, Lupita Nyong'o, Ester Dean, City Girls and LaLa for "Melanin;" Layton Greene for "I Choose;" Lizzo and Missy Elliot for "Tempo;" and Rapsody and PJ Morton for "Afeni."
An Audiobook Narrator
In 2020, Blue Ivy added another impressive job to her resume: an audiobook narrator. Beyoncé and Jay-Z's oldest child narrated the New York Times bestseller Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry.
A Surprise Cameo
Beyoncé fans were buzzing after Blue Ivy hilariously crashed grandmother Tina Lawson's 2020 Mother's Day video on Instagram. Specifically, after Tina wished all mothers a happy Mother's Day, a tiny voice chimed in and said: "And don't forget all the beautiful daughters out there, which I am one of."
An Important PSA
The coronavirus pandemic is no joke! Thus, Blue Ivy appeared on grandmother Tina's Instagram to teach everyone the importance of hand-washing. "This is why it's very important to wash your hands," the youngster noted after a demonstration. "Because if you wash your hands, it will stay clean, but if you keep your hands dirty, you might get sick."
Game Meets Game
During a father-daughter outing to the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Los Angeles Clippers, back in March 2020, Blue Ivy became adorably starstruck when she met NBA legend LeBron James. Specifically, after some encouragement from dad Jay-Z, Blue Ivy built up the courage to ask the basketball pro for a signed ball.
"You got school on Monday?" the Los Angeles Lakers player asked. "By the time you get out of school on Monday, you'll have it."
First NAACP Win
Blue Ivy continued her winning streak as she, along with mom Beyoncé, SAINt JHN and Wizkid won the 2020 NAACP Image Award, Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration, for their song "Brown Skin Girl."
The song is featured on the Lion King: The Gift album and also won the Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award at the 2019 BET Soul Train Awards.
Super Bowl Scene-Stealer
A pop culture icon! The oldest Carter kid had dad Jay-Z art direct her pic while at the 2020 Super Bowl in Miami.
The Lion Princess
Blue Ivy made a note-worthy cameo in mom Beyoncé's "Spirit" music video. The vibrant visual for The Lion King remake's anthem featured Blue twinning with her A-list mother in lavender dresses and red hair. Clearly, Blue is already following in mom's famous footsteps.
Cultural Icon
Blue Ivy received the highest of compliments as her name became the center of a trademark battle. Namely, in a brief submitted by attorneys for Beyoncé's limited liability company, the youngster was referred to as "a cultural icon."
The brief declared, "Blue Ivy Carter is a cultural icon who has been described as a 'mini style star' and has been celebrated for her 'fashion moments' overs [sic] the years…Her life and activities are followed extensively by the media and the public."
Dripping in Diamonds
The mother-daughter duo literally dripped in diamonds for The Lion King world premiere in July 2019. Looking like royalty, Beyoncé and Blue walked the red carpet dressed to the nines.
Budding Comedian
Blue Ivy had her grandmother in stitches over a "corny" joke in March 2019. "Hey! So, how many petals—I mean, how many lips does a flower have?" The Carters' firstborn asked the audience.
"Well, how many?" Tina replied.
"Two lips," Blue Ivy responded. "You get it? There's a kind of flower that's called a tulip."
Travel Icon
At 9-years-old, Blue Ivy is already a seasoned travel. In fact, during summer 2018, the oldest Carter child enjoyed the sights and sounds of Europe as her parents completed their On The Run II performances.
Thanks to a stylist, Blue dressed to impress while abroad.
Uh Oh!
Busted! Back in 2018, Blue Ivy reprimanded grandmother Tina for filming in a Paris theater ahead of a ballet performance.
"You're not supposed to take videos grandma," the bold kid informed Tina.
Bidding War
At the 2018 Wearable Art Gala, Blue Ivy and Tyler Perry went toe-to-toe over one auction item, a painting by Tiffanie Anderson. As the prolific producer detailed on TODAY, Blue kept "taking the paddle out of Jay's hand and Beyoncé's hand" in order to keep bidding. Determined to not be outbid by a child, Perry made a final bid of $20,000, $1,000 more than Blue's final bid.
Shutting Down Mom & Dad
Back in 2018, Blue Ivy had the Internet thoroughly impressed after she seemingly shut down her famous parents amid Camila Cabello's 2018 Grammys speech about Dreamers and immigration reform.
In fact, while seated in between her parents, Blue made a gesture to Bey and Jay, which appeared to say "shut it down" or "calm down" while the Cuban-American singer spoke.
Best Dressed
Blue Ivy is the epitome of Black girl magic! This is thanks to the beautifully curated closet her parents have arranged for her.
In 2018, it was revealed that Manuel A. Mendez, an executive-assistant-turned-stylist, is the brains behind the famous kid's iconic wardrobe.
(E! and Peacock are both members of the NBCUniversal family)
(Originally published Sept. 4, 2023, at 5 a.m. PT)
