King Charles III, the grandfather of Prince Archie, reportedly felt “uncomfortable” about making a video call to greet his grandson on his fifth birthday. According to royal author Tom Quinn, King Charles prefers traditional methods of communication, such as letters, over modern technology.
Despite his discomfort, King Charles is determined to maintain a connection with his grandchildren, who live in California. Quinn revealed that the king is “desperate to keep in touch with his grandchildren on the other side of the Atlantic,” even if it means overcoming his aversion to new technology.
The significance of May 6 is bittersweet for King Charles, as it marks not only Archie’s birthday but also the anniversary of his own coronation. Royal author Phil Dampier expressed that the king feels a sense of heartache over his limited relationship with his grandchildren, who are growing up with American accents on the West Coast.
The contrast between King Charles’s close bond with Prince William and Kate Middleton’s children and the distance with Archie and Lilibet is evident. The last in-person meeting between King Charles and his grandchildren was in June 2022, with occasional Zoom calls maintaining the relationship since then.
While King Charles may compensate by showering love on Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, the desire for normal family relations to resume is evident. The challenges of maintaining a connection across continents highlight the complexities of modern royal family dynamics.