Royal commentator reveals King Charles’ true feelings about his grandchildren
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For many grandparents, being apart from their grandchildren, especially when they're oceans away, can be really tough.
It's totally normal for them to want more time with their grandkids because they love them so much and miss them dearly.
One narrative that has captured the hearts and minds of people around the world is King Charles's longing to forge a meaningful connection with his grandchildren.
King Charles, at 75, reportedly expressed to close friends his deep desire to be more involved in the lives of five-year-old Archie and three-year-old Lilibet.
The distance between them is not merely geographical but emotional and familial, added by the well-documented tensions between the Sussexes and the Royal Family.
The monarch's yearning is not just for the occasional video call. Queen Camilla, too, is said to support Charles's efforts to bridge the gap, with reports of a 'heartfelt gift and card' sent to Lilibet on her birthday.
Royal commentator Michael Cole shed light on the situation, noting that Charles's childhood was marked by his parents' absence during their extensive Commonwealth tours.
According to the ex-BBC royal correspondent, the King appeared happy and content, with his sole regret being his inability to see Archie and Lilibet.
He further noted that the two children are maturing without interaction with the British Royal Family, especially as Charles receives cancer treatment.
‘Painfully aware that time is precious, the King regrets that he cannot be closer to his grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.’ Mr Cold said in an interview.
'It is not just the 5,000 miles between Clarence House and California that keeps the monarch far from his youngest grandchildren,’
‘The antipathy between Prince Harry and his wife Meghan and the Royal Family has created a deep divide that makes normal family relationships so fraught as to be almost impossible.’
‘And the tensions have only been increased by every harsh word written and cruel sentence uttered by Harry and Meghan about his brother Prince William, sister-in-law Catherine and his stepmother Queen Camilla.’
‘In the middle of this unedifying falling-out in the world's most famous family are two innocent young children who are growing up without any real contact with their royal cousins in Britain, not to mention their grandfather, the head of the family, the King, as he undergoes treatment for unspecified cancer and would welcome the pleasure and comfort of seeing his grandchildren,’ he added.
Mr Cole additionally highlighted Meghan's estrangement from the other grandfather of the children, Thomas Markle.
He expressed that the King finds immense joy and takes great pride in Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, the children of William and Kate.
‘He sees them as often as possible and is very much the hands-on grandpa, ready to take part in whatever it is that they are doing at the time. You cannot do that on a video call,’ he shared.
‘While the King welcomes any sort of contact, technology cannot compensate for the loss of propinquity.’
‘The King feels the lack of closeness with his California grandchildren acutely. His own childhood was affected by his parents' long absences on extensive Commonwealth tours - some lasting as much as six months.’
‘That is why he and Princess Diana took the baby Prince William with them on their first tour of Australia and New Zealand after his birth. But then, because of the gulf that developed between him and Diana as the years went by, his relationship with his own sons deteriorated.’
‘With every day precious, the King would like to see as much as possible of all his grandchildren, making use of every opportunity for them to get to know him - equally as important in family terms as for him to enjoy their company. This is very much the case for the King with the Waleses' trio of charming children,’ Mr Cole continued.
Mr Cole also highlighted that although Harry and Meghan are not actively preventing the King from seeing his grandchildren, they are also not facilitating the opportunity.
‘The King has seen Archie in person only a handful of times and Princess Lilbet only once. The Sussexes did not take the opportunity to have Lilibet christened at St George's Chapel, Windsor, on their last visit when there was an opportunity, and it could have been quite easily arranged,’ he explained.
He commented that the family dynamic has been severely strained and pushed to its limits, especially since Harry and Meghan departed from royal duties in 2020.
This was largely due to interviews, television appearances, and Harry's biography, Prince Harry: Being the Spare (2023).
‘Prince Harry says he loves his family and the country of his birth. He is said to be looking for a property to reestablish a home here.’ Mr Cole said.
‘But will that be enough for his father to bond with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet before they start school in America, living there full-time and forever?’
‘Time is fleeting. The King, who looks as happy and as content as I have ever seen him in the 56 years since I filed my first television report about him, is clearly reconciled to his illness, bravely enduring the treatment and facing the future with commendable courage.’
‘His only regret is that he does not see Archie and Lilibet. If there were anything calculated to comfort and delight him, it would be for them to be with him regularly.’
‘Unless Harry and Meghan can find in their hearts the love they say they have for the world and then people in it, apart from her father and most of her family, that looks unlikely,’he continued.
Mr Cole's comments followed a report from a source stating, ‘The King is fully dedicated to being actively involved in the lives of all his grandchildren.’
‘He values family above everything, and whatever the course of his relationship with his son, he would never be content with just seeing his grandchildren on the odd video call.’
Following Harry's departure from the royal family and his relocation to California with Meghan and their family, his relationship with Charles became uneasy.
Their last encounter occurred shortly after the King announced his cancer diagnosis in February, prompting Harry to hastily travel to London to see his father.
Harry hinted that the shared concern over the cancer diagnosis could potentially mend their relationship, acknowledging the possibility of a reunion.
The Duke expressed affection for his family, stating, ‘I love my family,’ and conveyed gratitude for the opportunity to share time with his father, even if it was limited to around 45 minutes.
Harry had hoped to reconnect with Charles during a recent trip to the UK to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games.
However, a spokesperson for the Duke revealed that scheduling conflicts prevented a meeting ‘due to His Majesty's full programme’.
Despite this setback, Harry remains understanding of his father's commitments and priorities and expressed hope for a future reunion.
The British Royal Family has long captivated people, their lives often resembling a gripping real-life soap opera.
A noted expert has recently provided insight into the intricate relationships among the family members. Find out more about it here.
Have you felt the ache of missing out on your grandchildren's milestones or the frustration of complicated family dynamics? We invite you to share your stories and thoughts in the comments below.
It's totally normal for them to want more time with their grandkids because they love them so much and miss them dearly.
One narrative that has captured the hearts and minds of people around the world is King Charles's longing to forge a meaningful connection with his grandchildren.
King Charles, at 75, reportedly expressed to close friends his deep desire to be more involved in the lives of five-year-old Archie and three-year-old Lilibet.
The distance between them is not merely geographical but emotional and familial, added by the well-documented tensions between the Sussexes and the Royal Family.
The monarch's yearning is not just for the occasional video call. Queen Camilla, too, is said to support Charles's efforts to bridge the gap, with reports of a 'heartfelt gift and card' sent to Lilibet on her birthday.
King Charles shared how much he misses his two grandchildren who reside in America. Credit: Muhammad Aamir Sumsum / Shutterstock
Royal commentator Michael Cole shed light on the situation, noting that Charles's childhood was marked by his parents' absence during their extensive Commonwealth tours.
According to the ex-BBC royal correspondent, the King appeared happy and content, with his sole regret being his inability to see Archie and Lilibet.
He further noted that the two children are maturing without interaction with the British Royal Family, especially as Charles receives cancer treatment.
‘Painfully aware that time is precious, the King regrets that he cannot be closer to his grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.’ Mr Cold said in an interview.
'It is not just the 5,000 miles between Clarence House and California that keeps the monarch far from his youngest grandchildren,’
‘The antipathy between Prince Harry and his wife Meghan and the Royal Family has created a deep divide that makes normal family relationships so fraught as to be almost impossible.’
‘And the tensions have only been increased by every harsh word written and cruel sentence uttered by Harry and Meghan about his brother Prince William, sister-in-law Catherine and his stepmother Queen Camilla.’
‘In the middle of this unedifying falling-out in the world's most famous family are two innocent young children who are growing up without any real contact with their royal cousins in Britain, not to mention their grandfather, the head of the family, the King, as he undergoes treatment for unspecified cancer and would welcome the pleasure and comfort of seeing his grandchildren,’ he added.
Mr Cole additionally highlighted Meghan's estrangement from the other grandfather of the children, Thomas Markle.
He expressed that the King finds immense joy and takes great pride in Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, the children of William and Kate.
‘He sees them as often as possible and is very much the hands-on grandpa, ready to take part in whatever it is that they are doing at the time. You cannot do that on a video call,’ he shared.
‘While the King welcomes any sort of contact, technology cannot compensate for the loss of propinquity.’
‘The King feels the lack of closeness with his California grandchildren acutely. His own childhood was affected by his parents' long absences on extensive Commonwealth tours - some lasting as much as six months.’
‘That is why he and Princess Diana took the baby Prince William with them on their first tour of Australia and New Zealand after his birth. But then, because of the gulf that developed between him and Diana as the years went by, his relationship with his own sons deteriorated.’
‘With every day precious, the King would like to see as much as possible of all his grandchildren, making use of every opportunity for them to get to know him - equally as important in family terms as for him to enjoy their company. This is very much the case for the King with the Waleses' trio of charming children,’ Mr Cole continued.
Mr Cole also highlighted that although Harry and Meghan are not actively preventing the King from seeing his grandchildren, they are also not facilitating the opportunity.
‘The King has seen Archie in person only a handful of times and Princess Lilbet only once. The Sussexes did not take the opportunity to have Lilibet christened at St George's Chapel, Windsor, on their last visit when there was an opportunity, and it could have been quite easily arranged,’ he explained.
He commented that the family dynamic has been severely strained and pushed to its limits, especially since Harry and Meghan departed from royal duties in 2020.
This was largely due to interviews, television appearances, and Harry's biography, Prince Harry: Being the Spare (2023).
Harry and Meghan reportedly weren't actively stopping the King from seeing his grandchildren, but they're also not making it easier. Credit: Heide Pinkall / Shutterstock
‘Prince Harry says he loves his family and the country of his birth. He is said to be looking for a property to reestablish a home here.’ Mr Cole said.
‘But will that be enough for his father to bond with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet before they start school in America, living there full-time and forever?’
‘Time is fleeting. The King, who looks as happy and as content as I have ever seen him in the 56 years since I filed my first television report about him, is clearly reconciled to his illness, bravely enduring the treatment and facing the future with commendable courage.’
‘His only regret is that he does not see Archie and Lilibet. If there were anything calculated to comfort and delight him, it would be for them to be with him regularly.’
‘Unless Harry and Meghan can find in their hearts the love they say they have for the world and then people in it, apart from her father and most of her family, that looks unlikely,’he continued.
Mr Cole's comments followed a report from a source stating, ‘The King is fully dedicated to being actively involved in the lives of all his grandchildren.’
‘He values family above everything, and whatever the course of his relationship with his son, he would never be content with just seeing his grandchildren on the odd video call.’
Following Harry's departure from the royal family and his relocation to California with Meghan and their family, his relationship with Charles became uneasy.
Their last encounter occurred shortly after the King announced his cancer diagnosis in February, prompting Harry to hastily travel to London to see his father.
Harry hinted that the shared concern over the cancer diagnosis could potentially mend their relationship, acknowledging the possibility of a reunion.
The Duke expressed affection for his family, stating, ‘I love my family,’ and conveyed gratitude for the opportunity to share time with his father, even if it was limited to around 45 minutes.
Harry had hoped to reconnect with Charles during a recent trip to the UK to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games.
However, a spokesperson for the Duke revealed that scheduling conflicts prevented a meeting ‘due to His Majesty's full programme’.
Despite this setback, Harry remains understanding of his father's commitments and priorities and expressed hope for a future reunion.
The British Royal Family has long captivated people, their lives often resembling a gripping real-life soap opera.
A noted expert has recently provided insight into the intricate relationships among the family members. Find out more about it here.
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