King Charles has always shown the public that he loves nature. Indeed, His Majesty often talks about his gardens at his various estates and how he has grown and nurtured them all over the years.
Discover our latest podcast
King Charles has previously revealed he is trying to get his eldest grandchild, Prince George interested in nature in the hopes that he develops the same love for it. In an interview dating back to 2016, King Charles explained how he tries to appeal to George, in a kid-friendly way.
As time goes on, King Charles will become more than just a grandfather to Prince George, indeed, His Majesty will eventually show him the ropes of how to be King. Here’s everything King Charles has done for his eldest grandson so far.
King Charles teaching Prince George gardening
As reported by The Telegraph, back in 2016, then-Prince Charles gave an interview with BBC Radio 4 and showed host, Eric Robson, the grounds of Highgrove. During the chat, then-Prince Charles revealed that he is trying to get Prince George - then two years old - interested in gardening.
He told Eric that he got his eldest grandson to plant ‘a tree or two here’ and that they did it together:
We planted it together and shovelled in the earth because that’s the way.
He explained that to get Prince George interested, he would ask him if he wanted to see how much the tree had grown:
I think, when you’re very small, and then each time you come you say ‘do you see how much the tree has grown?’ and you hope that they take an interest.
King Charles had also retold Eric Robson about how his own interest in gardening came to be. He reminisced about his many ‘happy memories’ of the garden in his grandmother’s house - Queen Elizabeth - and that he often views gardening from a ‘child’s point of view’.
So you think what would appeal to a child, it’s the paths and the interest, or a maze. You just put yourself in a child’s position and it works
Hopefully, all these efforts will pay off just like they did with his own sons. Indeed, both Prince William and Prince Harry are committed to work and support organisations that aim to preserve the environment.
King Charles built a garden just for Prince George
As per Mirror, King Charles has built many things for his grandchildren. When Prince George was born in 2013, the then-Prince Prince of Wales built a whole garden for him. At the time, His Majesty had an ‘empty field’ which he transformed into a gorgeous woodland area for the young prince.
The area is on the Birkhall Estate in Balmoral, Aberdeenshire. King Charles had told the BBC as per Mirror:
This was a rather empty field that the farm didn’t need anymore. The great thing was, 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.
King Charles added that he hoped Prince George would ‘appreciate it one day’. Moreover, a few years after Prince George’s birth, Charles renovated an old treehouse he had built for his own children, Prince William and Prince Harry in his country home, Highgrove House.
King Charles had also gifted Prince George a very expensive present for his first birthday. According to Mirror, the grandfather had given his eldest grandchild a Wendy House for his first birthday, which cost £18,000.
King Charles has also built things for other people’s children with the same intent. Indeed, according to Mirror, shortly after his eldest grandson’s birth, then-Prince Charles opened a playground in Dumfries House in Scotland, which has a treehouse inspired by the one he renovated for his grandchildren.
King Charles has a strong bond with Prince George
It isn’t uncommon for grandparents to have strong bonds with their grandchildren and it is the same for the Royal Family.
As many know, Prince George will one day become King, that is a lot of pressure for a young child to shoulder. King Charles, who went through the same as a child, is one person who understands what the young Prince is going through.
As per Mirror, an old video of King Charles has resurfaced from when young Prince George first started school. The video dates back to 2017 and during a public outing, then-Prince Charles was asked if he had given ‘any advice’ to his grandson.
The royal had joked and answered:
Of course not! He wouldn't take it from me, I don't think at that age. I shall be interested to hear how he got on.
Adding:
At that age you don't worry quite so much about going to school as you do when you get a bit older. It's all business of meeting new people and wondering, you know.
Queen Consort Camilla had previously given insight into King Charles’ life as a grandfather and revealed he is very hands-on with them, just like Prince William and Princess Kate are. As per Hello!, Camilla explained that King Charles would get down on his hands and knees and crawl with Prince George.
Camilla told the BBC:
He will get down on his knees and crawl about with them for hours, you know making funny noises and laughing.
Prince William has also described his father as a ‘brilliant’ grandfather but he does wish he could spend more time with them, naturally, as heir at the time and now King, he doesn’t have as much time as a regular grandfather.
As per Hello!, Prince William said:
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.
As mentioned above, Prince George will one day become King and will have to learn the correct protocols and ways to behave. Luckily for the young Prince, he will have an excellent mentor. As Prince George grows, King Charles will slowly become it and teach him the ways of being King.
Queen Elizabeth had done the same for Prince William when he was younger, indeed the Prince of Wales would go for afternoon tea with his grandmother and learn about being monarch.
Read more:
⋙ King Charles: Rare glimpse into Prince Louis' life reveals the one thing they have in common
⋙ King Charles liked getting his hands dirty with this favourite childhood hobby
Sources used:
Mirror: ‘Three ways doting King Charles has transformed his gardens for William and Kate's kids’
The Telegraph: ‘Prince Charles: I plant trees with Prince George to get him into gardening’
Mirror: ‘King Charles' touching response when asked about 'anxious' Prince George’
Hello!: ‘King Charles' best grandfather moments with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Archie and Lilibet’
