Princess Charlotte heads home from hospital with her parents. Photo / AP
Princess Charlotte heads home from hospital with her parents. Photo / AP
Kate’s mother set to be gatekeeper again for young royals.
Prince Charles couldn't hide his delight yesterday as he chatted happily about the arrival of his new granddaughter, Princess Charlotte, admitting: "I really was hoping for a girl."
Charles, now a grandfather twice over, was at his first public engagement since the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth last Saturday.
Prince Charles is ecstatic to have a newborn baby girl in the royal family. Photo / Getty Images
Charles made it clear while paying a visit to one of his model village developments in Poundbury, Dorset, that he intends to thoroughly spoil the baby princess - and admitted he hopes she, in turn, will spoil him.
He has been to see his granddaughter twice before William, Kate and their children left Kensington Palace to live in Norfolk, where they have a 10-bedroom mansion gifted to them by the Queen.
According to the Daily Mail, Kate's mother, Carole Middleton, has moved into Anmer Hall for a month to help with the new baby.
She runs the home, chooses the food and instructs nannies, the paper's sources say, but husband, Michael, is said to be uncomfortable with amount of time spent with the young family and believes William and Kate should manage their new life without intrusion.
Photos: Princess Charlotte welcomed into the world
Image 1 of 10: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge at the Lindo Wing with their newborn daughter at St Mary's Hospital. Photo / Getty Images
Carole, the Mail has been told, will be ensuring the transition of the Cambridge family from one to two children is as smooth as possible.
So dependent are the family on her that staff have nicknamed Carole "the Gatekeeper".
"She ensures the family never have to see or deal with anything unpleasant," a source told the Mail.
Carole may be in her element, but Michael is said to be "ill at ease at the negative attention Carole garners over her constant presence". The disagreement is said to be causing tension in their marriage.
There was speculation about why Carole arrived at Kensington Palace a week ago in her Range Rover with daughter Pippa rather than Michael, who came separately - all looking thunderous, in contrast to Charles' and Camilla's broad smiles.
