20 Ways Prince Charles Is a Loving Grandpa to His Royal Grandkids

Charles doesn’t have a model to go by when it comes to being a grandpa. His father’s father died before he was born, and his mother’s father (King George VI) died when Charles was just a few years old. But despite not having anyone to base his actions on, Charles is an adoring grandpa to all of his royal grandkids.

After George’s birth in 2013, King Charles was the first family member to visit the Lindo Wing of the hospital where Kate had given birth. Grandpa was just so excited he couldn’t wait any longer to meet his very first royal grandson. It must have been a special moment for Charles, because the Lindo Wing is where Charles’ children were also born.

This image of Charles playing with Prince Louis is so precious. Charles is making effort to make eye contact with his young grandson and really engage with him. Louis wasn’t very old when this photo was taken, but we’re sure it’ll be an image that the young prince will look at fondly.

In a speech a couple of years ago, King Charles mentioned that he’s fearful about what kind of world will be left for his grandkids as they get older. “It does seem to me insanity if we are going to bequeath this completely polluted, damaged and destroyed world to [our grandkids]. All grandchildren deserve a better future.”

One way that Charles is helping make the world a better place for his grandchildren is through taking care of the environment the best he can. That included planting trees with Prince George when he was old enough to help out. The two of them reportedly love gardening together, which is so sweet and also a great way to teach George about conservation.

Charles’ wife Camilla has grandchildren from her first marriage, and Charles is very kind and sweet to them as well. He even apparently reads from the Harry Potter books. “And he does all the voices, because he is a brilliant mimic,” Camilla told the Daily Mail. If he does that with Camilla’s grandkids, he probably also reads to his own grandkids.

A portrait of Queen Elizabeth and the future kings was released at the start of 2020, and we just love how proud Charles seems of George. He has his hand protectively on George’s shoulder, and Charles is probably going to help guide his grandson as much as he can before George one day also takes the throne.

Charles has never missed a christening for any of his grandkids. He’s always in attendance, beaming away as each new grandchild gets baptized. He even held Prince George for one of the official christening portraits back in 2013. Charles knows it’s a big milestone in his grandchildren’s lives, so he makes sure to always be there.

On the surface, this seems like a totally normal family group picture. But look closer to see Prince Louis totally treating his grandpa like a jungle gym. But even though Louis is nearly gouging Charles’ eye out, Grandpa Wales couldn’t look any happier. He just loves his grandkids that much.

For one Christmas, George helped make some holiday desserts with his dad and grandpa. Charles watched in admiration as George stirred in the ingredients. It’s not like George was doing something overly complicated, but Charles is, like any grandparent, absolutely in awe of basically everything grandkids do.

When Kate Middleton and Prince William announced that they were pregnant again back in 2017, Charles and Camilla posted a sweet message of congratulations on their Instagram page saying that they were “delighted that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their third child.”

Speaking of being excited to have more grandkids, it should come as no surprise that Prince Charles was also thrilled to meet Prince Harry’s son, Archie. This photo is from Archie’s christening, and Harry posted it to wish his dad a happy birthday. Just check out that adoring look Charles has for his family’s new addition.

Sometimes when King Charles tours other places as part of his royal duties, people give him gifts for his grandchildren. He always graciously accepts, and we just have a feeling that he brings everything home to happily bestow upon the little ones.

After Princess Charlotte’s birth, Charles admitted that he was hoping she would be a girl that he could spoil. The bond between a grandparent and their grandchildren is such a special one, usually built on gifts and treats and fond memories that parents on a daily basis can’t give because it would spoil the children too much. But there’s no harm in occasional spoiling from a proud grandpa.

During a video address from King Charles in 2015, viewers noticed that he kept a sweet photo of him and Prince George framed on the table beside him. Grandparents’ homes are usually covered in pictures of their grandchildren — their prides and joys — and King Charles’ palace is no different.

At the 2016 Trooping the Colour event, George leaned a little too far over the balcony ledge, startling his parents who quickly reached out to pull him back. And the look on Charles’ face shows his own concern at the moment. He understandably wants to make sure his grandchildren are always safe.

Charles is a totally hands-on grandpa. He doesn’t just say hello to the kids while at public events or for pictures. When they come over, he actually plays with them. According to the Independent, King Charles has had tea parties with Prince George when he comes over. They even used plastic cups like us non-royals did as kids.

King Charles kept a little treehouse on his property from the time that William and Harry were boys, and he had it restored and updated for his grandchildren. It was first built in 1989, and after William and Harry grew up, it sat there waiting for new kids to come play in it. Charles made sure it was all spiffy for the grandchildren when they were old enough to use it.

When Louis was born, he became Charles’ third royal grandchild. At the time, Charles posted to Instagram a statement on the new birth, saying, “It is a great joy to have another grandchild, the only trouble is I don’t know how I am going to keep up with them.” Little did he know he’d soon have two more to keep up with! But we love that he makes an effort to even do so at all.

The king turned 70 in 2018, and he celebrated the landmark birthday with those closest to him — including all of his grandchildren at the time. He could have chosen to have an adult birthday party with esteemed members of society, but he instead wanted to be with the ones he loved the most. Even the youngest ones who poke him in the eye and run him ragged. That’s true grandparent love.