Growing pool of great-grandchildren helps bring comfort

THEY are the two great-grandchildren that Prince Philip never got to meet.

Born just 40 days apart, Princess Eugenie and her cousin, Zara Tindall, paid special tribute to their grandfather before his death by naming their newborn sons after him. Eugenie’s firstborn, August Philip Hawke Brooksbank, born on Feb 9, and Zara’s third child, Lucas Philip Tindall, born on March 21, will forever bear the Duke of Edinburgh’s hallmark.

Yet for the Queen, as she faces life as a widow at nearly 95, the babies will bring welcome joy at a time of great sorrow. Having not seen much of her elder grandchildren because she spent so much time overseas when the likes of William and Harry were little, the sovereign now relishes family time.

Over recent years, she has grown especially close to her youngest grandchildren, the Earl and Countess of Wessex’s children, Lady Louise Windsor, and James, Viscount Severn, who are regular visitors to Windsor Castle, live just 10 miles away at Bagshot Park.

Royal aides used to speak of stepping over tricycles and roller skates as the youngsters would spend precious weekends with “Granny and Grandpa”.

However, the arrival of no less than 10 great-grandchildren over the past decade has delighted the Queen – not least when many are showing signs of sharing her passion for dogs and horses.

Her eldest grandchildren – Peter Phillips’s daughters Savannah, 10, and Isla, eight – are already keen amateur riders along with his sister Zara Tindall’s eldest daughter Mia, seven (her other daughter Lena is only two).

Meanwhile, Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five, Prince Louis, two and the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes’ son, Archie, have all been brought up with dogs – with the Cambridge children said to enjoy spending time outdoors with “Gan Gan”.

Although the Queen is sad to be separated from Archie, who she has not seen since autumn 2019, they remain in regular contact, with Her Majesty sending the two-year-old a waffle maker for Christmas. Royal watchers believe it is only a matter of time before Princess Beatrice starts a family – giving the Queen the prospect of an 11th greatgrandchild to look forward to.