Men who want to spend more time with the children? More often than not, it’s Grandpa

When the men pushed out of high-profile jobs declare they “want to spend more time with the children”, it always gets a laugh – the silent punchline being: what man has ever wanted to spend more time with their children?

Grandchildren are a different matter. I’ve seen grown men reduced to goo-goo-ing imbeciles by their own progeny, and perhaps the King is no different. Because according to a royal source, Pappy Charles has been spending many more weekends than usual in Windsor with his three. Despite his packed schedule, the source said: “Charles wants to spend more time with his grandchildren. There’s so much love there.”

I can’t help but picture Queen Camilla smiling wryly as her husband goes into ecstasies over little Prince Louis’s rendition of the alphabet song and Princess Charlotte’s unicorn drawings. I remember my mother doing the same when, in awestruck tones, my father pointed out his grandchildren’s latest developmental milestones to her – as though living through them all for the first time.

Many grandfathers will be doing exactly that. They may not have had the time to revel in all those details the first time around, for one thing. And as we age children do become even more enchanting. There is also, inevitably, an awareness of the passing of time.

It’s all very touching. But I will never forget reading a survey, “the most dangerous babysitters within your family”, years ago. You know who came top, don’t you? The ones who gave four-year-olds archery sets and left bread knives lying on the counter? That’s right: grandfathers.