Prince William is opening up about one of the sweetest parts of his relationship with his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and it’s giving royal fans a rare peek behind palace walls.
As part of a new digital tribute honoring the beloved monarch ahead of what would have been her 100th birthday, the Prince of Wales reflected on the quiet family moments that meant the most to him. That’s right — rather than focusing on grand state occasions or historic (and very public!) milestones, William chose to remember something more personal: simple afternoons spent sharing tea, stories, and laughs with his grandparents at Windsor Castle.
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According to the tribute, William frequently visited Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip back in the day to have tea while he was attending nearby Eton College.
Awww.
Those casual visits over tea and cake clearly left a lasting impression on the future king, especially now that he and Princess Catherine are raising Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis on the Windsor estate themselves.
In the video tribute, William shared:
“Whilst I had the privilege to know the late Queen better than most, some of my fondest memories of my grandmother are from here in Windsor. I remember many a quiet afternoon, having tea with her and my grandfather at the castle, chatting, sharing stories, and seeing how completely at ease she was here, surrounded by family and her much-loved dogs and horses.”
It’s such a different image from the one the public usually saw. While Queen Elizabeth spent decades carrying the enormous responsibilities of the Crown, William says Windsor was where she could truly let her guard down and simply be “Granny.”
He went on to reveal that those afternoons even sparked an unexpected lifelong appreciation for one very British tradition:
“To this day, she’s given me a love of teatime that I never knew I needed. Watching her ride her horses in the Great Park, even well into her later years, showed a side of Granny the world didn’t often see — off-duty, relaxed and utterly at home.”
Love it!
Honestly, it’s hard not to smile picturing the famously dedicated monarch enjoying peaceful afternoons with family, her beloved dogs, and her horses away from the spotlight. Those are exactly the kinds of memories that don’t make history books but end up meaning the most.
William wrapped up his tribute with a simple but emotional sentiment:
“These moments with my grandmother are ones I’ll always hold dear.”
So touching!
The tribute is part of the ongoing celebrations marking what would have been Queen Elizabeth’s 100th birthday. The late monarch, who died in September 2022 at the age of 96 after an unprecedented 70-year reign, continues to be honored through a digital memorial launched earlier this year that invites both members of the public and prominent figures to reflect on her extraordinary life.
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And clearly, her own family — William included — continues to think a lot about the woman whose reign defined an era. Such a sweet gesture to share memories like this!
BTW, you can watch Wills’ tribute video HERE.
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[Image via WENN]