Say what you want about Prince Charles, there’s no denying that seeing the future King of England in the role of grandfather has shown a whole new side to the 68-year-old.
Even Charles admits he melts around Prince George, three, and Princess Charlotte, who turns two this week on May 2.
“[They’ll] look after me when I’m tottering about,” the royal has affectionately mused of Prince William and Duchess Catherine’s two little ones.
However, according the Mail On Sunday Prince Charles doesn’t get to spend as much time with George and Charlotte as a result of his royal duties – which can total around 600 public engagements a year – and the fact Kate’s parents live close by and can help out with babysitting duties.
Prince Charles with the Middleton clan at Princess Charlotte’s christening in 2015.
“William chose the Middletons as his surrogate family long ago, even before the children were born. He has nailed his colours to the mast in that respect,” an insider revealed to the publication of the dynamic.
“Let’s just say they [The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge] haven’t really done anything to make it easy for him. Charles does the best he can, but there are constraints.”
“Does every grandparent want to see more of their grandchildren? Of course they do. But the Prince understands that mothers naturally gravitate towards their own families. And he acknowledges that he is in a unique position which means his time is not often his own,” the source added.
The report also claims Prince Charles doesn’t want to rock the boat but often gets told about family events at the last minute and can’t attend them due to his royal duties, which are locked in months in advance.
“Charles does the best he can, but there are constraints,” an insider explained to the publication.
That’s not to say Charles hasn’t found his own ways to bond with George and Charlotte.
In fact, the loving grandfather is passing on his green thumb to the mini-Monarch.
Charles revealed he plants trees at his Gloucestershire home with the little Prince, telling Gardeners’ Question Time he hopes George will inherit his passion for gardening.
“I hope, you just never know what people are going to be interested in; the most important thing is that I got him planting a tree or two here.”
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“We planted it together and shovelled in the earth because that’s the way, I think, when you’re very small, and then each time you come you say ‘do you see how much the tree has grown?’ and you hope that they take an interest.”
The report also alleges Duchess Camilla, who has five grandkids of her own, doesn’t try and impose too much on her step-grandchildren.
“The truth is she doesn’t come into the equation much. If she’s asked to be there, she’ll be there, but otherwise she has her own family and does her best to support her husband,” the pal explained.
