To wonder if the Queen is a real 'granny' grandma

[RunAwayWifey]

The answer to the AiBU is almost certainly yes.

AiBU to spend silly amounts of time wondering if the Queen is a lovely granny? Every time I see a news article about the Royal family all I end up wondering is if she gets/got to do the 'family stuff' we all take for granted like playing on the floor with the babies and sleepovers and baking and what not. And if not, does she think the trade off is worth it?

I'm not a royalist at all. It just strikes me every time.

I might have too much time on my hands...

Seems like she didn’t do much of that stuff when her own kids were small so I’d doubt it. And tbh she still have a full time roster of engagements.

I think it's unlikely for someone who was famously a very cold and distant mother. No criticism in that, she is of a different time and the aristocracy bring their children up very differently from others. I doubt she spends much time with any of her family members really.

She's 93 - I cannt see her spending much time on the floor. I think she was more the taking the dogs for a walk round the estate and the grandchildren can tag along sort when younger.

I reckon she prefers horses

If you are really interested in this I recommend watching The Crown which is absolutely brilliant.

You mean does she smell faintly of pee and oil of olay and polish their faces with a spit-soaked hanky? I doubt it.

For absolutely no reason I can explain, I imagine she absolutely dotes on her grand-children/great grand-children, because she couldn't be around for her children when they were small. It's something about the way she grins at her adult grandchildren - like 'thank fuck the pressure's off me as a parent now'

I doubt that extends to baking, play-doh, and rolling around on the floor though.

as an great gran, i doubt if she plays on the floor. her grand children are adults now.

She had an odd upbringing by anyone's standards and then was catapulted into a job that's been going on for 66 years or so, which although it comes with immense privilege and riches, also has huge constraints and responsibilities. It's got to have an impact on how she lives her life compared to the rest of us.

But if you look at some of the photos you can definitely see a warmth and a close relationship
www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/g22506128/queen-elizabeth-with-grandchildren-photos/?slide=1

She seems to have a soft spot for Harry and also for the women in the family. Anne, Zara, Sophie and Lady Louise with their love of horses; the York sisters and the next generation too, I loved the photo where Mia Tindall had taken possession of the royal handbag
www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/little-mia-tindall-holding-queens-7804558

I'm not so sure she has the time for baking and sleepovers but I think she enjoys the relaxed company of her grandchildren and great grandchildren more than she had the time and was able to enjoy her own children. That's not so unusual for a lot of families, but so much more pronounced for her role.

her grand children are adults now.

Not all of them. James and Louise are 11 and 15. But past the playing on the floor stage, certainly.

oops sorry.
but as you say.....past the playing on floor stage

I think I remember reading that she likes to make drop scones (scotch pancakes) herself.

My mum is a much better grandmother than she was mum so it’s entirely possible the queen has embraced grandmother/great grandmotherhood.

Yes. She definitely has butterscotch sweeties in her handbag.

Princes William and Harry (and her other grandchildren for all I know) call the Queen Garry. I guess that they couldn't quite pronounce 'granny' as babies.

@wherethewildthingis my mother was quite a distant mother. As a grandmother she is the most enthusiastic and hands on grandparent - the two don’t always go hand in hand....

rosegoldwatcher how interesting, do you have insider knowledge on that?

Skittles - no, I am, sadly, a commoner!
I saw it on some TV programme a couple of years ago.
Just googled and there are a few web-pages confirming that it wasn't a weird dream!!
graziadaily.co.uk/celebrity/news/prince-william-queen-elizabeth-nickname-gary/

She seems to have a great relationship with Zara they always look like they are having a great time, Zara doesn't seem to be as stiff with her as william and harry are.

She's in her 90s, so probably not rolling round on the floor.

But many accounts say she has a wicked sense of humour, so I bet she's a fantastic great-granny, at least in the summer when she's pretty much off duty. Especially if they like dogs and horses

"She definitely has butterscotch sweeties in her handbag"

You reckon? I'd have expected pony nuts and polo mints

I thought the video of her with Prince Harry when they were having a bit of banter with Barack and Michelle Obama was really sweet. "Oh, really... please!"

I don’t think she is. She never raised her own kids so probably doesn’t get involved with grandkids. Don’t forget they all get sent away to boarding school. She probably doesn’t miss what she doesn’t know so the trade off is probably good to her.

Mind you she is a MIL so really being MN and all that shouldn't you be wondering if she is NC or LC with her families.

I think I see her as the 'gran you can talk to' type of gran rather than the silly faces, rolling on the floor type of gran. Fine with the DGC when they are little, but really 'coming into her own' when they are old enough to carry on conversations. Can you imagine the stories she has to tell (that we will never hear)? I also think of her as being the kind of gran you can take your troubles to and get sensible advice (or a talking to, if needed).