King Charles is a proud grandfather with a unique bond with each of his five grandchildren. Since ascending the throne, his role as a grandfather has highlighted a more personal side of the monarch, showcasing his deep affection and commitment to his family. Undergoing cancer treatment since February, King Charles is keener than ever to focus on his family, his duties, and making up for lost time.
The monarch sees more of the Wales children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—who all live in the UK at Adelaide Cottage, Windsor. Among his grandchildren, the five-year-old Prince Louis shares a particularly special bond with his granddad, the King. King Charles often wears a special tie, reportedly gifted to him by young Prince Louis, to show his cheerful spirit. One royal fan tweeted, "Prince Charles and Prince Louis have the best bond," when the 75-year-old monarch wore a pink T-Rex tie, a gift from his dinosaur-enthusiast grandson.
The tie, which King Charles first wore in January 2023 during a visit to Nor Community College and Bolton Town Hall to mark 100 years of Kellogg’s, is thought to be a Christmas gift from Prince Louis. The young royal, like many children his age, loves the patterns and colors on the tie. Their close relationship is evident as Prince Louis refers to his grandfather as "Grandpa Wales." During the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, well-wishers saw a clear snapshot of their relationship when Prince Louis asked to sit on his grandpa’s knee, and pictures showed the youngster being bounced up and down by the now King.
King Charles last wore the tie during his visit to the McMillan Cancer Center at University College Hospital on April 30th, highlighting the importance of early cancer diagnosis. The choice of gift from the young royals signifies a deep personal connection with their grandfather, emphasizing qualities King Charles holds dear. These gifts are not just tokens of affection but are emblematic of the unique interests of each child, showcasing their growing personalities and their understanding of the King’s passion and life's work.
However, King Charles has spent less time with his younger grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, who live in California. Their last meeting with Archie was in 2022 during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration. The coronation in May 2023 coincided with Archie’s fourth birthday, and he stayed in California with his mother, Meghan. King Charles has seemingly spent the least amount of time with his youngest grandchild, Princess Lilibet, meeting her only once during a 2022 visit to the UK. He did not attend Lilibet’s christening, which took place at Harry and Meghan’s home in California.
A source close to the King stated that he is keen to make up for lost time, emphasizing that he is absolutely committed to being present in all his grandchildren’s lives. King Charles values family above everything and would never be content with just seeing his grandchildren on the odd video call. As the royal family navigates through their challenges, they do so with the knowledge that they are surrounded by love, both within the palace walls and beyond.
