King Charles has received a heartwarming nickname from the grandchildren of Queen Camilla. Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and six-year-old Prince Louis affectionately call King Charles “grandpa Wales”.
But Camilla’s grandchildren have adopted their own unique term of endearment for the monarch, referring to him as “Uppa”.
Tom Parker Bowles, a renowned food critic and Camilla’s son, prefers to address his stepfather more formally as “Sir” in public. Tom, the Queen’s child from her earlier marriage to ex-military man Andrew Parker Bowles, has even revealed that he still bows to King Charles whenever they meet.
On the Times Royals podcast, Kate Mansey revealed: “Tom Parker Bowles stated he still refers to Charles as ‘sir’, a practice he’s had for years that he doesn’t intend to change. He uses ‘sir’ when talking about his stepdad, but his kids simply call him ‘Uppa’. It began as an adorable, toddler-esque nickname and it’s remained ever since. They greet him with ‘hi Uppa’ while he reciprocates with a bow.”
King Charles and his approach to family was further illuminated as Tom shared that his children Lola, 16, and Freddy, 14, alongside Laura Lopes’ offspring—the sister of Tom—call the Queen “Gaga”. Praising the King’s connection to the children, Tom remarked on how “wonderful” he has been with them.
In an exclusive chat with People magazine, Tom shared an intimate glimpse into the Royal family dynamics: “All of our children – my sister’s children too – have grown up with Gaga and Uppa. They’ve grown up from an early age knowing no different. [They know] Gaga as Gaga, and that she’s a really great grandmother who occasionally spoils them in a good way.
“They adore the King because he is such a good, nice man. He has been a wonderful step-grandfather too; he has his own grandchildren, obviously. The children utterly adore him. From an early age, he’s read them stories, been there, and swung them around.”
Tom recounted his initial thoughts that his children would need to bow upon meeting the King, with himself and his sister being sticklers for Royal etiquette. However, it turned out to be a relaxed affair, referring to the King as “such a good man”.
He went on to spill that the children “]didn’t know any difference” regarding the King’s Royal status for “the first 10, 12 years of their lives”. To them, Charles was simply “the most kind, funny, sweet, step-grandfather”.
It was in 1999 when the King and Queen Consort went public with their relationship, leading to Camilla taking up residence in Clarence House in 2003, and their union being solidified in marriage in 2005.