Photographs Highlight The Relationship The Queen Shared With Her Grandchildren

Sep 15, 2022 by apost team

Before her death on Sept. 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II was a mother of four, a grandmother of eight, and a great-grandmother of 12. While she ruled as Britain’s monarch, she also presided as a very loving grandmother and great-grandmother to her family members. Over the years, many royal family members have found sweet ways to pay tribute to the queen — even before her passing — and do their part to make sure her legacy would forever be carried on and remembered.

The queen was a mother to King Charles III, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Anne, Princess Royal. Between them, she was also a grandmother of eight to: Prince William, Prince Harry, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor, James, Viscount Severn, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Elizabeth II’s grandchildren had always known her as the queen and grew up under her reign.

The late queen was sure to show off her at times cheeky personality, love for horses and adoration for her family. She was a guiding force for her grandchildren and proved to have a soft place in her heart for her great-grandchildren.

It’s not surprising that members of the royal family were moved by the queen’s personality. And just like any other family, the royal family has endearing nicknames for almost all members. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s daughter has taken on the late queen’s old nickname Lilibet. The name was coined during her childhood and was even still used by her late husband, Prince Philip.

Let’s take a look at some of the heartwarming moments the queen shared with her family over the course of her impressive life.

Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth, many royal family members gathered together to honor her life and grieve their heartbreaking loss. It’s clear that the queen left a strong mark on the family as they were all together during the difficult time.

During her life, the queen was surrounded by loved ones who spoke highly of her — and to her, as she had quite a few nicknames. Lilibet was not the queen’s only nickname. William also had his own endearing nickname for the queen when he was a child. “The queen plays a very special dual role in William’s life,” said Katie Nicholl, the author of books such as “The Making of a Royal Romance,” in an April 2021 interview with OK! Magazine. “She is his sovereign, but also a very loving grandmother who wants to prepare him for the future.”

apost.com

According to OK!, the queen began to prepare William for the role of king from a young age, pulling him out of Eton College, his boarding school, every Sunday. At the time, the 13-year-old student would reportedly tell a white lie and say that he was going to the bathroom when, in fact, he would visit Elizabeth at Windsor Castle.

“They became incredibly close and as his respect for her grew he began to embrace his destiny,” Nicholl added.

According to OK! and the royal expert, the queen had a strong bond with her grandchildren in part due to the aftermath of their mother’s death. When Princess Diana tragically died in a car crash in Paris, France, in 1997, Elizabeth took special care to look after William and Harry.

“That was one of the few times that the Queen has put family above duty,” Nicholl told OK!. “She made a decision to stay in Scotland, at Balmoral, and be there for William and Harry, rather than come back and address a nation in grief. She was heavily criticized, but she felt her grandsons needed her, and that meant a great deal to them.”

Considering their closeness, it makes sense that Prince William would have a special nickname for his late grandmother. According to the Daily Mail’s royal expert, Richard Kay, William once fell over as a child at Buckingham Palace and started crying out, “Gary, Gary.” According to him, a guest then asked about who Gary was, to which the queen replied: “I’m Gary. He hasn’t learned to say Granny yet.” This nickname is honestly too cute.

William’s children also followed suit in having their own nicknames for the queen. According to Her Magazine, Prince George and Princess Charlotte called their great-grandmother “Gan Gan.” Many people have also pointed out how similar Charlotte looks to pictures of the queen from when she was a child.

Harry also had a nickname for his grandmother. He referred to her as “granny” in a statement published on the Archewell website following the queen’s passing. During a past interview, Harry had said, “Behind closed doors, she's our grandmother, it's as simple as that.”

Although Elizabeth II is no longer with us, it’s clear that her legacy will live on through her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as she worked diligently to have a strong bond with all of them.

What was your favorite memory of Queen Elizabeth with her family? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to any royal family fan you know.