King Charles feels his lack of closeness to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet 'acutely' and 'would like to see them as much as possible'
King Charles III wants to spend more time with his grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet after meeting them just a handful of times, an expert claimed today.
The 75-year-old monarch is understood to have told friends that he is keener than ever to build a relationship with five-year-old Archie and three-year-old Lilibet.
Charles is believed to be dissatisfied with just seeing his grandchildren on the occasional video call and now hopes to be more present in their lives.
Queen Camilla is also said to be encouraging his increased efforts, and he reportedly sent Lilibet a 'heartfelt gift and card' to celebrate her birthday last week.
Sources claimed the King now wants to make up for lost time, following years of tension between his son and the rest of the Royal Family which has exacerbated since the Sussexes stepped down as senior royals and moved to the US in 2020.
Royal commentator Michael Cole told MailOnline today that Charles feels the 'lack of closeness with his California grandchildren acutely', given his own childhood was affected by his parents' long absences on extensive tours of the Commonwealth.
The former BBC royal correspondent said the King 'looks as happy and as content as I have ever seen him' but his 'only regret is that he does not see Archie and Lilibet'.
He added that the two 'innocent young children' are growing up without any 'real contact' with the Royal Family in Britain while Charles undergoes treatment for cancer and 'would welcome the pleasure and comfort of seeing his grandchildren'.
Prince Harry and Charles at an event at the Natural History Museum in London in April 2019
Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Cole said: 'Painfully aware that time is precious, the King regrets that he cannot be closer to his grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
'It is not just the 5,000 miles between Clarence House and California that keeps the monarch at a distance from his youngest grandchildren.
'The antipathy between Prince Harry and his wife Meghan and the Royal Family has created a deep divide that makes normal family relationships so fraught as to be almost impossible.
'And the tensions have only been increased by every harsh word written and cruel sentence uttered by the Harry and Meghan about his brother Prince William, sister-in-law Catherine and his stepmother Queen Camilla.
'In the middle of this unedifying falling-out in the world's most famous family are two innocent young children who are growing up without any real contact with their royal cousins in Britain, not to mention their grandfather, the head of the family, the King, as he undergoes treatment for an unspecified cancer and would welcome the pleasure and comfort of seeing his grandchildren.'
Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet are seen in a Christmas card released on December 23, 2021
Mr Cole also pointed out that Meghan is estranged from the children's other grandfather, Thomas Markle.
He said the King 'takes pride and great delight' in William and Kate's children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Mr Cole continued: 'He sees them as often as possible and is very much the hands-on grandpa, ready to take part in whatever it is that they are doing at the time. You cannot do that on a video call.
'While the King welcomes any sort of contact, technology cannot compensate for the loss of propinquity.
'The King feels the lack of closeness with his California grandchildren acutely. His own childhood was affected by his parents long absences on extensive Commonwealth tours - some lasting as much as six months.
'That is why he and Princess Diana took the baby Prince William with them on their first tour of Australia and New Zealand after his birth. But then, because of the gulf that developed between him and Diana as the years went by, his relationship with his own sons deteriorated.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with their son Archie, and (left to right) the Queen Consort, the King, Ms Doria Ragland, Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and the Prince and Princess of Wales at Windsor Castle after his christening in July 2019
'With every day precious, the King would like to see as much as possible of all his grandchildren, making use of every opportunity for them to get to know him - equally as important in family terms as for him to enjoy their company. This is very much the case for the King with the Waleses' trio of charming children.'
He pointed out that while Harry and Meghan are not denying the King access to his grandchildren, 'neither are they making it possible'.
Mr Cole added: 'The King has seen Archie in person only a handful of time and Princess Lilbet only once. The Sussexes did not take the opportunity to have Lilibet christened at St George's Chapel, Windsor on their last visit when there was an opportunity and it could have been quite easily arranged.'
And he said the family relationship has been 'tested to breaking point' following Harry and Meghan's exit from royal life in 2020 thanks to interviews, TV programmes and Harry's biography Spare.
Mr Cole continued: 'Prince Harry says he loves his family and the country of his birth. He is said to be looking for a property to reestablish a home here.
William, Harry, Meghan and Charles at a Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in 2019
'But will that be soon enough for his father to bond with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet before they start school in America, living there full-time and for ever?
'Time is fleeting. The King, who looks as happy and as content as I have ever seen him in the 56 years since I filed my first television report about him, is clearly reconciled to his illness, bravely enduring the treatment and facing the future with commendable courage.
'His only regret is that he does not see Archie and Lilibet. If there was anything calculated to comfort and delight him, it would be for them to be with him on a regular basis.
'Unless Harry and Meghan can find in their hearts the love that they say they have for the world and then people in it, apart from her father and most of her family, that looks unlikely.'
Mr Cole spoke after a source told the Daily Mirror yesterday: 'The King is absolutely committed to being present in all of his grandchildren's lives.
The Duke of Sussex speaks to Good Morning America in February. Harry suggested during the interview that the cancer diagnosis could lead to a reconciliation with Charles
'He values family above everything and whatever the course of his relationship with his son he would never be content with just seeing his grandchildren on the odd video call.'
Harry and Charles's relationship had become strained after the Duke stepped down as a working royal and moved to California with Meghan and their family.
They last met soon after the King announced his cancer diagnosis in February, when Harry rushed from his home to see his father in London .
After this meeting, Harry suggested in an interview that the cancer diagnosis could lead to a reconciliation with Charles.
Speaking to Good Morning America at the time, it was suggested a family illness could have a 'reunifying effect', and when Harry was asked 'Is that possible in this case?' he replied: 'Yeah, I'm sure.'
The Duke also said 'I love my family' and that he was 'grateful' to be able to spend time with his father – despite it only being for around 45 minutes
Then, last month Harry made a trip to the UK trip to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games, and had hoped to see Charles.
But a spokesman for the Duke then revealed it 'unfortunately will not be possible' to have a meeting 'due to His Majesty's full programme'.
The spokesman added that Harry 'is understanding of his father's diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon'.
