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.