Duchess: I get away with a lot as a grandmother

THE Duchess of Cornwall has spoken of the mischievous joy she takes in being a grandmother, admitting it allows her to “spoil them, give them all the things their parents won’t allow them to have and then give them back again”.

The Duchess, who provides an insight into family life as part of a documentary, said she would recommend grandparenthood to everybody, admitting it is wonderful because “you haven’t got the full responsibility”.

Asked whether she enjoyed being a grandmother of five, taking on the name of “Gan Gan”, she said: “Wonderful. Yes, I’d recommend it to everybody.”

In the programme, which followed her through the year of her 70th birthday, the Duchess welcomes elderly victims of crime into Clarence House. Over tea with siblings Alice, Mary and George Dowling, she heard how they had been victim of a violent burglary, with one of the women punching an intruder who terrorised her.

“Oh quite right!” the Duchess told her warmly. “You gave, you gave as good as you got.”

The Real Camilla: HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, airs