Charles' very different bonds with grandkids from huge title to christening snub

14 November 2023 , 11:39

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Charles' very different bonds with grandkids from huge title to christening snub

Birthdays are usually a time for celebrating with family - but that might be difficult for King Charles, who turns 75 today. The monarch has spoken of his pride in his youngest relatives - his five grandchildren -however, despite his clear love for each and every one of his five grandkids, it appears that his bond with each of them differs greatly.

Of course, he sees more of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who all live in the UK with their parents the Prince and Princess of Wales, who are close to the King. While Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who live in California, have less opportunity to bond with their grandfather, who has had a somewhat frosty relationship with their parents, his youngest son Prince Harry and daughter-in-law Meghan Markle. Here we look at Charles' bond with all of the youngsters...

Prince George

No doubt holding a special place in Charles' heart is 10-year-old Prince George, the oldest of his grandchildren. When George was born in July 2013, the King spoke of how he was "overjoyed" to have become a grandfather. He explained: "Grandparenthood is a unique moment in anyone's life, as countless kind people have told me in recent months, so I am enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time."

George with his grandfather King Charles and late great grandmother Elizabeth II (Getty Images)

And in a tribute to his eldest grandson, at the time of his birth, Charles built an arboretum and planted trees at Balmoral in his name, calling it Prince George's Wood. He told the BBC in 2021: "The great thing was that I managed to plant it the same year that my grandson was born, the eldest, George, so I thought I'd call it Prince George's wood."

However, in 2015, it was reported by the Daily Mail that Charles had become "increasingly perplexed" about the peripheral role he felt he played in the life of George. And several years later, William spoke in a documentary to mark his father's 70th birthday, where he revealed his wish for his children to spend more time with their granddad. He said: "I would like him to have more time with the children… to, you know, play around with the grandchildren. When he's there, he's brilliant, but we need him there as much as possible."

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George with his grandfather and the Queen Consort at Christmas (UK Press via Getty Images)

But the Princess of Wales helped smooth relations when she is said to have persuaded Charles to visit their Norfolk home Amner Hall in the summer of 2020 and took on the logistical challenge of getting her family back home from a holiday on the Isles of Scilly to coincide with his visit. In doing so, it was reported that the heir to the throne was able to give his grandson George a seventh birthday present in person.

Earlier this year at his Coronation, Charles has handed George a plum role in the ceremony - he was one of his pages of honour. George and seven other boys named Pages of Honour "attended their majesties", the King and Queen, during the service. They were primarily responsible for carrying their long, heavy robes. The honour is usually granted to teenage sons of members of the nobility and gentry, and especially of senior Royal Household members.

Princess Charlotte

Second oldest grandchild and his first granddaughter is Princess Charlotte, whose name pays a direct tribute to her grandfather, with Charlotte the feminine version of the name Charles.

Princess Charlotte is the King's oldest granddaughter (UK Press via Getty Images)

Charles is a proud grandfather of five (Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)

In May 2015, Charles, who was then Prince of Wales, was on a visit to his model town, Poundbury, in Dorset a few days after Charlotte's birth. He told well-wishers he had been really hoping for a girl and described her as "beautiful". And he added: "I am thrilled. I was hoping for a granddaughter – someone to look after me when I am very old."

Now, it seems Charlotte has firmly been in Charles' plans for the future, according to a new book, after he is claimed to have reserved one of the "grandest" royal titles

Royal author Robert Jobson writes in his new book Our King Charles III: the Man and the Monarch that Charlotte is in line to become the future Duchess of Edinburgh. He explains: "Sensitive to the fact that Prince George's future is already mapped out, Charles has been careful to reserve one of the grandest titles for Princess Charlotte – currently called Lottie by her mother and Mignonette (French for cute little thing) by her father.

"Although the King has made his brother Edward the new Duke of Edinburgh, the title is only for life. After Edward dies, Charles has made it clear Charlotte (now aged seven) should become Duchess of Edinburgh."

Prince Louis

The third of his five grandchildren, Prince Louis, who is five, clearly has a special bond with his grandad the King. The first glimpse of their close relationship came in 2020 on Louis' second birthday when Charles marked the day by releasing a touching photo of him hugging the then-toddler.

Prince Louis enjoys a cuddle with his grandad

But it was at the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations when the heartwarming grandad-grandson relationship was clear to see. As the royals all watched the Jubilee Pageant at Buckingham Palace, a restless Louis asked to sit on his grandpa's knee and sweet pictures show the youngster being bounced up and down by the now-King.

One royal fan tweeted: "Prince Charles and Prince Louis have the best bond." "Lovely to see Prince Charles in grandpa mode with Prince Louis today!," wrote another.

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Prince Archie

The King's youngest grandson is Prince Archie with Charles saying he "couldn't be more delighted" when he was born in May 2019. Archie is the oldest son of Charles' youngest child Harry and his wife Meghan and when he was christened, the King's former Clarence House Instagram account shared a touching photo of Charles proudly gazing at Archie.

Harry and Meghan with their children Archie and Lilibet (alexilubomirski/Instagram)

Archie as a baby with his parents (Getty Images)

However, as Harry and Meghan decided to quit as working royals and up sticks from the UK and move to the United States, the King has spent little time with his young grandson. Their last meeting was last year, when Archie came to the UK with his parents during the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

However, when it came to the Coronation earlier this year, which coincided with Archie's fourth birthday, the youngster stayed in California with his mum Meghan.

But it seems Archie wasn't far from the King's thoughts on his big day. At a special lunch after the Coronation, a well-placed source said the monarch thanked everyone for their hard work and reportedly raised a glass to his three grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

But he wanted to remember "those that weren't there" and wished Archie a very happy birthday "wherever he was". "It was apparently a very sweet moment," the source told Daily Mail.

Princess Lilibet

The grandchild that Charles has seemingly spent the least amount of time with is his youngest Princess Lilibet. In fact, it appears they have only met the once - when she came to the UK with her parents and brother Archie last year.

Lilibet has only met her grandfather once (PA)

The King's Coronation takes place in less than two weeks (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

At that point, she was rapidly approaching her first birthday and it was her first visit to the country, having been born in California. And speaking about this meeting, a source said: "The prince, of course, hasn’t seen his grandson Archie for a bit of time and so it was very, very, very special to have some time with him.

"He hadn’t met Lili, his granddaughter, and so to meet her was very emotional, a very, very wonderful thing." Unfortunately, Charles did not attend Lilibet's christening earlier this year as it took place at Harry and Meghan's home in California. However, it did emerge that both Lilibet and Archie would now be known as Princess and Prince - titles they are now entitled to given their grandfather is King.

Jennifer Newton