King Charles III: A Grandfather’s Love in the Royal Family

To many, King Charles III is the sovereign of the United Kingdom and 14 Commonwealth realms.

However, to his grandchildren, he's simply known as Grandpa.

The king has five grandchildren: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Archie, and Princess Lilibet.

His wife, Camilla, affectionately refers to him as “Grandpa Wales,” a name his grandkids adopted long before he ascended the throne.

Charles has a special way of connecting with his grandkids.

He's not just a king; he's a playful grandparent who loves to get down on the floor, crawl around, and make silly noises, all while sharing hearty laughs with them.

This season, there's a delightful surprise awaiting George, Charlotte, and Louis, as their grandfather is constructing something truly unique in one of his royal gardens.

The royal children can look forward to exploring a new maze at the King's Royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

This maze is inspired by a labyrinth that Charles cherished during his childhood.

Although it was removed decades ago, the king's dream of bringing back this special piece of his past is finally coming to fruition.

Work on the Lower Maze Garden commenced in 2023, and it officially opened to the public just last week.

Crafted from topiary and yew trees, the square maze sits on the west lawn and reflects Charles' fond memories of playing in the estate's gardens.

As an avid gardener, he views the intricate design not only as a nostalgic tribute but also as a celebration of formal geometry and cosmological symbolism.

It's hard not to imagine George, Charlotte, and Louis eagerly racing through the maze, creating joyful memories together.

Sandringham's head gardener, Jack Linfield, shared his enthusiasm about the project, describing the experience of designing the maze as thrilling.

He mentioned how visitors transition from the topiary garden into a traditional lower maze, enhancing the estate's charm.

Recent images show lush hedges already surrounding the fountain in the newly opened Low Maze Garden.

Historically, this area of Sandringham has seen its share of transformations.

In the 1800s, the west lawn featured a formal patière garden, which eventually became a simple lawn.

The new maze marks the third royal maze constructed in the last 300 years, following similar creations at Dumfries House in Ayrshire and Balmoral in Aberdeenshire.

George, Charlotte, and Louis are likely counting down the days until they can explore the maze together.

With their parents, William and Catherine, known for their hands-on parenting style, family outings in the maze could easily turn into friendly competitions to see who can find the center first.

Recently, Prince William expressed his desire for his father to spend more time with his grandchildren.

He remarked, “I would like him to have more time with the children.

Having more time with him at home would be lovely.” William emphasized how brilliant Charles is with the kids, highlighting the importance of those precious moments together.

In addition to bonding with William and Harry's children, Charles also plays a significant role in the lives of his five step-grandchildren.

Camilla shared that her grandchildren absolutely adore their grandfather, mentioning his talent for reading Harry Potter with different voices, which delights the little ones.

The king has often reflected on the strong connections he shares with his grandchildren.

He believes it's essential to foster these bonds from a young age, encouraging their interests and showing them the world around them.

With such a loving and engaging grandparent, it sounds like there's never a dull moment for the royal kids when they're with Grandpa Charles.