The Queen Performed A Sweet Routine Gesture When Great-Grandkids Slept Over

Sep 19, 2022 by apost team

Queen Elizabeth II created quite the royal family for herself, as she had four children, eight grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren. The family continued to grow thanks to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcoming their second child, and Princess Beatrice had her first child in 2021.

The queen had a unique bond with each of her family members, although she had shown a keen interest in one of her great-grandchildren, Princess Charlotte. Charlotte is one of Prince William and Kate Middleton's three adorable children, with her older brother Prince George and younger brother Prince Louis being the other two.

Being a member of the royal family comes with many perks, such as access to many resources and also access to a number of fun and exciting activities. One of those activities that many members of the family love to do is ride horses. 

Over the years, the queen showed an extreme love and interest in horses, and Charlotte has adopted a similar fondness for the animals, bringing them closer together.

While it is common for middle children to feel left out or like they aren't getting as much attention as their older and younger siblings, this has not been the case for Charlotte. 

The queen's ever-growing love and admiration for her great-granddaughter only got stronger as Charlotte got older and became more interested in the same hobbies and interests as the queen. The pair had spent more time together over the years. 

However, tragically, Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022. She passed away while at her home in Balmoral after Buckingham Palace had earlier announced that she was under medical attention.

Prince William and Kate have been making headlines since their marriage in 2011, and their children are also no strangers to the public eye. George, 9, is seen as the most well-known child out of the three. According to Insider, the young boy was referred to as "George Cambridge" while he attended Thomas' Battersea school in London, England. The insider also reported that he has been sure to make his presence known when out and about with his parents on royal engagements, thanks to the funny faces he pulls in front of the cameras.

Prince Louis is an absolutely precious young boy who has also shown his face when out in public with his famous family. He has made several appearances, including an outing at Trooping the Colour and on the royal family's official Instagram page. Even though he is still young, Louis has a strong impact on the family as he is fifth in line for the throne.

Middle child Princess Charlotte attended Willcocks Nursery School in Kensington, according to Insider. However, she later moved to Lambrook School in Windsor in 2022. 

The Insider reported that Charlotte is the first royal female in the family to her current spot in line for the throne due to the Succession to the Crown Act of 2013. 

The act replaced the male-preference primogeniture with absolute primogeniture, meaning that girls could now be ahead of their brothers in line for the crown if they were born before them. Charlotte is currently third in line to the throne, one place behind George and one place in front of Louis.

apost.com

While Queen Elizabeth II may have seemed like a stern woman considering the discipline she had instilled in herself throughout her reign, she was the exact opposite of it and was the sweetest, too, especially when it came to her family. 

Apparently, the queen played the role of the most doting great-grandmother and left special treats for her great-grandchildren whenever she saw them as a way of showing her love for them.

The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, made the revelation during an interview in an ITV documentary. "[The Queen] always leaves a little gift or something in their room when we go and stay. And that just shows her love for her family," Middleton was quoted by Mirror as saying in the documentary. 

Although Middleton did not give further details, the queen's great-grandkids will surely remember her for going out of her way and making them happy while growing up as kids within the royal family. 

While the queen seemed to have loved all of her grandkids, she apparently also had her favorite: the second in line to the throne, Prince George. In fact, she even had a nickname for him: Gan Gan. 

Royal expert Richard Price told Fabulous Digital that the queen tailored the treats she would leave at Prince George's foot whenever the son of Prince William and Kate Middleton would stay over. 

"The doting Queen, meanwhile, takes time to select little presents that she leaves at the foot of George's bed every time he stays over," Price said. "It is telling that the Queen, who is expert at not appearing to have any favourites, goes out of her way to spend time with young George," he added.

Price noted, however, that while Prince George may be shyer than his little sister Princess Charlotte he can also be playful. 

"Those lucky enough to know him well say that while he may appear shy at first, once George is comfortable in your company he is an open, chatty, and deeply inquisitive little boy," Price said. 

However, it seemed the queen's favorite changed two years later. 

In May 2021, Inside Express reported that Charlotte was the queen's favorite great-grandchild due to her incredible fondness and love for horses and horseback riding. Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, gave more details about their flourishing relationship and how the queen has grown to love her great-granddaughter even more.

"While Prince Philip loved babies, the queen has always preferred being around children when they are a bit older, especially if it involves teaching them to sit astride a horse," Ingrid revealed. "Princess Charlotte – who is pony-mad – has always been a favorite."

Ever since Charlotte was born and it was revealed that there was a new royal girl in the family, the queen was "thrilled," according to Inside Express. Since growing up a little more, Charlotte has found a fascination with horses, which has only brought her closer to her great-grandmother. 

In a way, it could also be Her Majesty's way of making up for not having been able to spend time with her great-grandchildren, considering she spent most of her time fulfilling her duties as monarch. Either way, the queen proved she was just like any grandmother or great-grandmother, regardless of her status as royal.

How do you feel about the queen's sweet gesture towards her great-grandkids? Do you also have the same experience with your grandparents or great-grandparents? Let us know your thoughts, and don't forget to pass this on to your family members!