Dame Penny Mordaunt has revealed that King Charles 'sprung to life' during a surprise visit from his grandchildren while rehearsing for his Coronation, halting proceedings to show Prince Louis the Crown Jewels.
Speaking at Cheltenham Literature Festival, the former Defence Secretary, 53, recalled how the King was 'bored out of his mind' during rehearsals for the ceremony until Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis arrived unexpectedly.
Dame Penny, who played a key role in the 2023 coronation as Lord President of the Council, told the crowds that the King was particularly delighted at the sight of Prince Louis. She carried the 17th-century Sword of State made for Charles II into Westminster Abbey, and exchanged it for the Jewelled Sword of Offering, which she delivered to the archbishop.
A devoted grandfather
King Charles is a devoted grandfather to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, as well as to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, whom he has only been able to meet on a handful of occasions.
As well as George, Charlotte, Louis, Archie and Lilibet, the King is also the step-grandfather of Queen Camilla's five grandchildren: Lola and Freddie Parker-Bowles and Eliza, Gus and Louis Lopes.
By contrast, Prince Harry's memoir, Spare, painted a very different picture of King Charles. Harry wrote: "Pa didn't hug me," recalling they "mostly co-existed" after the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
A contrast in memories
Harry wrote: "Pa and I mostly co-existed. He had trouble communicating, trouble listening, trouble being intimate face-to-face. On occasion, after a long multi-course dinner, I'd walk upstairs and find a letter on my pillow. The letter would say how proud he was of me for something I'd done or accomplished. I'd smile, place it under my pillow, but also wonder why he hadn't said this moments ago, while seated directly across from me."
During a 2018 tour of Ghana, the then Prince of Wales told the crowd: "It does seem to me insanity if we are going to bequeath this completely polluted, damaged and destroyed world to them." He continued: "All grandchildren deserve a better future."
Demonstrating this commitment close to home, the King made a touching tribute to his eldest grandson, George, by naming a woodland after him. During an appearance on The One Show, the King revealed the story behind Prince George's Wood: "This was a rather empty field that the farm didn't need anymore. The great thing was that I managed to plant it the same year that my grandson was born, the eldest, George, so I thought I'd call it Prince George's wood."
A special bond
Royal expert and author Robert Jobson has suggested that George's relationship with his grandfather is being nurtured through regular "informal chats," hinting at a special bond similar to the one William had with Queen Elizabeth II. Mr Jobson noted: "You sense, just like William's relationship with the late Queen, Elizabeth II, when he was an Eton schoolboy, George's close bond with the King will be important in preparing for his future role."
Former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond also commented on the significance of these early experiences. She told OK! Magazine: "When you've had a wonderful experience in life, it's natural to want to replicate it for your children and grandchildren."
She added: "Charles had a magical relationship with his grandmother, the Queen Mother. And I'm sure his dearest wish is to give George and his other grandchildren a similar strong and loving relationship. For all his serious ponderings on the state of the world and in spite of his heavy workload, Charles is quite a soppy old thing really, and I'm sure he hugely values the time he has available to spend with his grandchildren."
