31 May 2024 , 10:47
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King Charles' softer side instantly came out when Princess Kate and Prince William welcomed their first child Prince George, according to a royal expert.
This included investing in some seriously thoughtful and incredibly lavish gifts for the young royal, all of which were without a doubt, fit for a future King.
Before becoming monarch, Charles long campaigned on heavyweight topics like the climate crisis - something he warned of long before it had been accepted into the mainstream consciousness - but this "soppy" side of the King shows just how sensitive he really is, the expert claimed.
And one of the incredible presents he sorted out for his oldest grandchild also had a touching meaning behind it.
One gift that Charles - then Prince of Wales - splashed out on came as little George turned one. The young royal was reportedly gifted a Shepherds Hut, said to be worth £18,000, OK Magazine reports.
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Charles installed the Victorian-inspired hut on the grounds of Highgrove House - his Gloucestershire residence, and it's been used as a playhouse for George, and his royal siblings Charlotte and Louis since.
Plankbridge - a Dorset based company - designed and installed the Shepherds Hut, which even features a day bed to crash out on and a wood-burning stove to keep things nice and toasty. However, this isn't the only elaborate place the royal children can play when they are visiting Charles - there is also an incredible treehouse on the grounds of the property, which was built for Harry and William to enjoy when they were kids.
"When you've had a wonderful experience in life, it's natural to want to replicate it for your children and grandchildren. 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," explained royal expert Jennie Bond.
She also said that in her view, Charles's sensitive nature may be another factor, adding: "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."
The playhouse isn't the only gift that Charles bestowed on his eldest grandchild. When George was born, Charles planted a wood in his name - nodding to the King's environmental interests, and his passion for creating a sustainable future for generations to come.
Charles said on the One Show about the 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."
While Charles's dedication as a grandparent is clear, William has previously said he wished his father would ease up on his workload, allowing him to spend more time with his grandchildren. In a documentary released in 2018, to mark Charles' 70th birthday, William said, "when he's there, he's brilliant" with his grandchildren, but noted he was "working heavily" on getting Charles to slow down and spend more time with them, noting "we need him there as much as possible".
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