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Charles laughing at George and Louis sitting on Charles's lap© Getty

King Charles's sweetest grandfather moments with George, Charlotte, Louis, Archie and Lilibet

See inside the monarch's bond with his five grandchildren

Ainhoa Barcelona
Content Managing Editor
October 6, 2024
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King Charles is not only the reigning monarch and husband to Queen Camilla but he is also a doting grandfather. 

His eldest son Prince William has previously described him as being "brilliant" in his familial role, and it's clear Charles takes his job as "Grandpa Wales" very seriously.

In honour of Grandparents' Day on 6 October 2024, HELLO! is taking a look back at the King's best grandfather moments with his grandchildren. 

Back in 2022, Charles shared a very sweet moment with Prince Louis at the Platinum Jubilee, where the young royal delighted viewers with his cheeky antics, take a look in the video below.

WATCH: King Charles shares sweet moment with Prince Louis at Platinum Jubilee

The King became a grandfather for the fifth time in June 2021 with the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's daughter, Princess Lilibet.

Charles spoke of his joy at becoming a grandpa again during a visit to the Mini Factory in Cowley just a few days later, saying: "The development of technology like electric vehicles, or green hydrogen for that matter for heavy transport, is vital for maintaining the health of our world for future generations, something I am only too aware of today, having recently become a grandfather for the fifth time."

He added: "Such happy news really does remind one of the necessity of continued innovation in this area – especially around sustainable battery technology – in view of the legacy we bequeath to our grandchildren."

As well as his five grandchildren, Charles also shares a close bond with his step-grandchildren from wife Camilla's first marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles - Lola Parker Bowles, Eliza Lopes, Louis Lopes, Gus Lopes, and Freddy Parker Bowles.

"He reads them Harry Potter. And he does all the voices, because he is a brilliant mimic … I always think they are going to be wriggling around in the bed, but they sit spellbound. He's extremely good with children. They love it," she revealed. 

Prince George

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Charles and Camilla leave Lindo Wing after George's birth© Getty

Do you remember this day? Shortly after Prince William and Kate welcomed their first child, Prince George, they received family visitors including King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla. It was Charles who told the press they didn't have to wait long - William and Kate would be making an appearance on the Lindo Wing steps soon.

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king charles crawling bbc documentary© Photo: BBC

Charles and baby George

The Queen gave an insight into Charles as a grandfather – and he sounds like the best! "He will get down on his knees and crawl about with them for hours, you know making funny noises and laughing," said Camilla during an appearance on BBC documentary, Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70.

William described Charles as being a "brilliant" grandfather, although he wished he could spend more time with his grandchildren. On whether Charles has time to be a granddad, William said at the time: "It's something I'm working more heavily on, put it that way. I think he does have time for it, but I would like him to have more time with the children.

"I think he's… now he's reached his 70th year it's a perfect time to consolidate a little bit because as most families would do, you are worried about having them around and making sure their health's okay. And he's the fittest man I know but equally I want him to be fit until he's 95. So, having more time with him at home would be lovely, and being able to you know, play with the grandchildren. Because when he's there, he's brilliant. But we need him there as much as possible."

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Prince George smiling at Charles at Trooping the Colour 2016© Max Mumby/Indigo

Sweet moments

We'd love to know what George said to his parents and grandad at Trooping the Colour!

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Kate with Charles and George at the polo© Getty

Charles and Kate look after George

Mum Kate is always on hand to cheer on George, but so is Grandpa Wales.

5/13

William comforting George at Charlotte's christening© Getty

Crying George

When George became tearful at his sister Princess Charlotte's christening, dad William was on hand to calm the youngster down. We love the expressions on Charles and Camilla's faces in the background, and Michael and Carole Middleton's too!

6/13

Prince George's first balcony moment at Trooping the Colour 2015© Getty

George's Trooping debut

Here, Charles is pictured at Trooping the Colour, showing his grandson George the royal ropes. The Daily Mail's royal author and correspondent, Robert Hardman, has previously revealed that the young Wales' call Charles call Charles 'Grandpa Wales'. The Queen used to call her grandfather, George V, 'Grandpa England'. Adorable!

Robert writes: "He [Charles] increasingly consults the [then] Duke of Cambridge in all major family decisions; about his hopes that, while his sons have created new charity networks, one of his grandchildren – maybe George – will one day take on the stewardship of his own."

Princess Charlotte

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Royals leave church on Xmas Day© Getty

Charles and Charlotte at Christmas

This sweet moment was captured between Charles, the Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte on Christmas Day 2019. The Prince appeared to be checking on a nervous George and Charlotte after the young royals made their public debut on the walk to church.

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King Charles and Queen Camilla at a wedding as Prince George wipes his eye by Princess Charlotte© WPA Pool

Charlotte at wedding

Charles and Camilla pictured after Harry and Meghan's joyous royal wedding, alongside pageboy George and bridesmaid Charlotte.

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Princess Charlotte talking to King Charles on palace balcony© Getty

Balcony moment

The young princess shared a sweet exchange with her grandpa as they watched the RAF flypast during Trooping the Colour 2024. It was a particularly moving occasion as it marked the first time the Princess of Wales had been seen publicly since her cancer diagnosis.  

Prince Louis

10/13

Prince Louis sat on the lap of King Charles© CHRIS JACKSON

Louis on the lap

During the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee Pageant, Prince Louis was seen sitting on his dad's lap, before spending some time cuddled with his doting grandfather, who helped to keep the youngster entertained.

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father holding waving son © Getty Images

Louis' Trooping the Colour debut

Charles beams at Prince Louis as he waves at his grandfather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. The youngest Wales child delighted the crowds as he made his debut at Trooping the Colour in 2019, and was spotted waving excitedly at the fly-past by the Royal Air Force.

Prince Archie

12/13

Prince Archie recently celebrated his fourth birthday© Getty

Charles and Archie

A week after Archie was born in May 2019, King Charles paid him a visit and went to see how his son Prince Harry and his daughter-in-law Meghan were coping as new parents. The meeting took place at the Sussexes' former Windsor-based home, Frogmore Cottage, which is located in the private Home Park.

About being a grandfather, the King has previously said: "It's a different part of your life. The great thing is to encourage them. Show them things to take their interest. My grandmother did that, she was wonderful." He added: "It is very important to create a bond when they are very young."

Princess Lilibet

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Princess Lilibet smiling on her first birthday© Misan Harriman

Princess Lilibet

Charles met his youngest grandchild Lilibet for the first time in 2022 when Harry and Meghan brought their children to the UK for the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee. The trip coincided with Lilibet's first birthday, and a senior source at the time described the meeting as "very emotional".  The King reportedly keeps in touch with his US-based grandchildren via video calls and phone calls, with Archie and Lilibet singing Happy Birthday to their grandpa in a recorded video message when he turned 75 in 2023. 

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