Queen Camilla 'frightened' over her grandchildren growing up

Queen Camilla and her husband continue their royal reign after a tough 2024 year. King Charles’ cancer changed their entire lives, and even though he’s reportedly still undergoing treatment, he seems determined to continue to serve the Crown in the best way possible. Meanwhile, Camilla has taken on a more prominent role in the monarchy, and her popularity is growing daily.

Charles and Camilla have many grandchildren, and they spend as much time with them as possible. But as the years go by, it appears that Camilla has grown sad that a particular era is over for her and her grandkids. Recently, she spoke out about her relationship with them, admitting that she had come to a heartbreaking realization.

Her first years as queen have likely been far from what Camilla thought they would be. There was plenty of optimism when Charles ascended the throne, but that quickly shifted last year when the king received his cancer diagnosis. The months that followed were all about his treatment, with Camilla having to step up, not only for herself but also to replace her husband at many engagements.

Camilla — once one of the Royal Family members most disliked by the public due to the affair she had with Charles while he was still married to Princess Diana — saw her popularity grow, and both members of the public and experts praised her.

At the same time as Camilla took on a hugely important role within the Royal Family, other things are equally important. The royals have a private life just like anyone else, and spending time with loved ones is crucial. For Camilla and Charles, that doesn’t just include spending time with their children but, of course, their grandchildren too.

Queen Camilla has two children. She shares son Tom Parker Bowles and daughter Laura Lopes with her ex-husband, Andrew Parker Bowles. Today, Camilla is a proud grandmother to give children. Tom has two children, teenagers Lola and Freddy, while Laura Lopes has a teenage daughter, Eliza, and teenage twins, Louis and Gus.

Camilla is said to have a strong bond with her grandchildren, and though they might not see each other daily, they have found ways to stay in touch besides talking on the phone. For example, in a 2022 Vogue interview, Camilla said she “do Wordle every day” with Lola.

Queen Camilla – grandchildren

“She’ll text me to say, ‘I’ve done it in three’, and I say, ‘Sorry, I’ve done it in two today.’ It’s very satisfactory when it tells you how brilliant you are!”

The fact that she texts with her grandchildren has a very positive impact on Camilla’s daily life.

“It’s very nice getting a text. We learn from very young people and they learn from us, too. That’s the way it’s always been,” she told Vogue.

Camilla has previously revealed that she babysat her beloved grandchildren many times. When they were younger, they were out playing in the garden and doing all sorts of things young children do, but now, times are different. Speaking with Vogue, Camilla shared a heartbreaking realization about her grandchildren growing up.

“You know the nice thing about being a grandmother is that you can spoil them occasionally, give them more of the things that their parents forbid them to have,” she said. “The girls are beginning to get into clothes and make-up and, you know, it’s rather frightening when you see them, coming out with pierced ears and a lot of new make-up and funny-coloured hair and stuff.”

“You can give them a wonderful time”

When appearing in the 2018 documentary The Real Camilla: HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla stated that it’s “wonderful” being a grandmother,

“Yes, I’d recommend it to everybody… It’s very nice because you haven’t got the full responsibility. You can give them a wonderful time, spoil them, give them all the things their parents won’t allow them to have, and then give them back again,” Camilla said, adding that they found it funny to see her on the television.

“They rather tend to wave, I don’t know if they expect me to wave back again,” the now-queen joked.

Camilla has five grandchildren of her own, but has, in a way, become a “step-grandmother” to the king’s many grandchildren, too: Prince William and Kate Middleton’s three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, and, even though they barely meet, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Camilla has been a part of the Royal Family for a very long time, and while she isn’t the biological grandmother of George, Charlotte, or Louis, she has assumed the role. However, with that said, she knows what boundaries she won’t cross. Speaking to People Magazine, Robert Hardman, the author of The Making of a King: King Charles III, said that Camilla knows what boundaries Charles expects regarding his grandchildren.

Queen Camilla’s relationship with George, Charlotte & Louis

“She wouldn’t want to be getting into the King’s space with his grandchildren. She’s not going to push herself. She’s still very keen to maintain. She’s still got her own family,” Hardman said. “That’s very important to her, and she appreciates how important it is for him.”

Although Camilla knows she isn’t George, Charlotte, or Louis’ real grandmother, that doesn’t really matter in the end. Over the years, the queen has built her relationship with the royals, including Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their children. While she is the step-grandmother, Prince William reportedly wants to ensure his children know that.

At the same time, royal expert Angela Levin explains in her book Camilla: From Outcast to Queen Consort that William has told Camilla she’s not a step-grandmother.

“Having them around is more like having a bonus. She loves children and the more the merrier,” Levin wrote.

“William has made it clear that Camilla is his father’s wife, but not a step-grandmother to his children,” she added, adding that the children have “two grandfathers but only one grandmother.”

Moreover, Levin states that Camilla has avoided getting too involved in George, Charlotte, and Louis’ lives.

“William and Harry were 23 and 20 respectively when Camilla officially became their stepmother in 2005. She was more of a friendly grown-up they saw occasionally at royal gatherings. She tried to be encouraging rather than influential,” Levin explained. “Nor has she tried to take over any responsibility as a step-grandmother to the Cambridges’ children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, especially as Catherine’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, are so close.”

“Becoming a stepmother to two grown boys was never going to be an easy task”

Camilla didn’t have an easy time of things upon first entering the Royal Family. Prince William and Prince Harry had just lost their mother in a tragic car accident in Paris, leaving their father with his “mistress.” Camilla became a stepmother, but it was difficult. Speaking to Express, Lucy Shrimpton, parenting expert and founder of The Sleep Nanny, explained how the now-queen navigated her new role.

“Becoming a stepmother to two grown boys was never going to be an easy task, made a lot more difficult by the fact that Camilla and William and Harry’s relationship is in the public eye – and of course, that the public adored Princess Diana so much,” Shrimpton said.

“However, Camilla seems to have taken the role of stepmother to the future King of England and his brother in her stride. Rather than wanting to replace their mother, she seems to want to be their friend.”

The parenting expert continued: “While Camilla has received her fair share of negative press, often perceived as an ‘interloper’, she appears to have dealt with it calmly and clearly shows a fondness for the boys and their children, tactile with George, Charlotte and Louis. Camilla looks as if she has worked hard to build a relationship with her stepsons without being too pushy. She has watched them grow up from teenagers to grown men with their own families so they must know each other very well by now.”

While Camilla might not be their real grandmother, she won’t accept that they behave poorly without telling them. During Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, TV cameras caught Prince George and Princess Charlotte having disagreements. Behind them, Camilla did not look happy.

Queen Camilla commanded Kate about Charlotte

Royal fans turned to social media and discussed what happened.

“Looks like Prince George and Princess Charlotte have a small disagreement. Look at The Queen Consort, Camilla,” one person wrote on X.

“What did Charlotte say when she turned back around? Was it wow? Ow? Cow?” a second added.

According to lip reader Jeremy Freeman, Charlotte was pinched by her older brother and said, “Ow,” loudly. While Meghan Markle, who stood behind the children, looked quite amused, Queen Camilla was not having it. She looked at Kate, saying, “Take her,” while pointing at Charlotte.

Camilla is a happy grandmother of five and has gotten five “extra” grandchildren. Whether she is the step-grandmother or not, the most important thing is that they enjoy spending time with her. That, if something, Camilla has practiced her entire life.

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