As King Charles III undergoes treatment for an unspecified cancer, he has reportedly expressed a strong desire to spend more time with his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, according to royal experts. The monarch, who has only met the children of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle a handful of times, is said to be frustrated with the limited contact he has with them, currently restricted to occasional video calls.
Former BBC royal correspondent Michael Cole told the Daily Mail that King Charles is feeling the "lack of closeness with his California grandchildren acutely." Cole explained that while the King "looks as happy and as content as I have ever seen him," his "only regret is that he does not see Archie and Lilibet."
The royal expert emphasized the challenges faced by the two "innocent young children" who are growing up without "real contact" with the Royal Family. Cole stated, "Painfully aware that time is precious, the King regrets that he cannot be closer to his grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. It is not just the 5,000 miles between Clarence House and California that keeps the monarch at a distance from his youngest grandchildren."
The estrangement between Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and the Royal Family has created a deep divide that makes maintaining normal family relationships extremely difficult. Cole noted that "tensions have only been increased by every harsh word written and cruel sentence uttered by the Harry and Meghan about his brother Prince William, sister-in-law Catherine and his stepmother Queen Camilla."
In contrast to his relationship with Archie and Lilibet, King Charles reportedly enjoys a much closer bond with his other grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Cole described the monarch as a "hands-on grandpa, ready to take part in whatever it is that they are doing at the time," adding that "you cannot do that on a video call."
Despite the challenges, King Charles has reportedly made efforts to connect with his youngest grandchildren, including sending a "heartfelt gift and card" to Lilibet for her recent third birthday. Queen Camilla is said to be encouraging these efforts to strengthen the bond between the King and Prince Harry's children.
However, royal expert Tom Quinn revealed to The Mirror that there may be a caveat to the birthday present. "King Charles gave Prince George a beautiful handmade wooden swing with George's name carved on it, and he has plans to give something similar to Lilibet, but not this year," Quinn said. "And not unless and until the family feud dies down."
As King Charles continues his cancer treatment, the desire to spend time with his grandchildren and "welcome the pleasure and comfort of seeing" them has become increasingly important. The monarch's hopes for a closer relationship with Archie and Lilibet are a poignant reminder of the ongoing tensions within the Royal Family and the challenges they face in maintaining familial bonds across continents and in the face of public scrutiny.
