Queen Elizabeth II, known for her love and devotion to her family, always made sure to spend quality time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Despite having eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, the Queen showed her affection for each of them through special gestures.
When the youngest members of the royal family stayed overnight with the Queen, she would set aside her royal duties and embrace her cherished role as ‘Gan-gan’, a name given to her by Prince George.
The Queen, eager to maximize her time with her loved ones, was one of the first visitors to stay with Prince William and his wife Kate after the birth of their daughter, Charlotte.
According to Kate, “The Queen was really thrilled that it was a little girl.
I think as soon as we came back here to Kensington she was one of our first visitors here.
I think she’s very fond of Charlotte.
She’s always watching what she’s up to.”
Like any loving grandparent, the Queen enjoyed spoiling the young royals whenever possible, especially during their overnight stays at the palace.
In an ITV documentary titled ‘Our Queen at 90’, Kate revealed that the Queen would always leave a small gift or something special in their room when they visited.
This gesture was a clear expression of the Queen’s deep love for her family.
Royal expert Richard Price shared with The Sun, “The doting Queen takes time to select little presents that she leaves at the foot of George’s bed every time he stays over.
It is telling that the Queen, who is expert at not appearing to have any favorites, goes out of her way to spend time with young George.”
The Queen’s thoughtfulness extended to her great-grandson Archie as well.
On one Christmas, she gifted him a waffle maker, which was delivered to his home in Montecito, California, where he resides with his parents, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
However, the Queen’s acts of kindness were not limited to George and Archie alone.
She shared a close bond with all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Lady Louise and James Viscount, the children of Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex, often spent quality time with their grandmother at Bagshot Park, their residence just 11 miles away from Windsor Castle.
Zara and Mike Tindall, along with their daughters Mia and Lena, and son Lucas, also had a special connection with the Queen.
In February of last year, Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank welcomed their first child, August.
Just a few months later, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi celebrated the birth of their first child as well, shortly after their Covid-19 restricted wedding in 2020.
The Queen’s gestures of love and thoughtfulness towards her great-grandchildren will always be remembered.
If you would like to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, you can do so here.
