Princes Charles makes heartbreaking admission about his father Prince Philip

The Prince of Wales has concerns about his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, amid the global pandemic

Prince Charles and Prince Philip
(Image credit: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)

Prince Charles has found it hard being separated from his family during lockdown - especially his father, Prince Philip. 

Like most of us, Prince Charles was unable to see his father and other members of his close family much last year to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. But while we may see some light at the end of the tunnel with restrictions easing, not seeing his family has been weighing heavy on the Prince. 

While the heir would usually celebrate special occasions such as the festive season or birthdays with his mother and father at Sandringham, plans changed when the Queen and Prince Philip broke tradition by announcing they'd be staying at Windsor Castle for the first time in 32 years.

This change meant Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla remained at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire for the Christmas period.

Since then, Charles has visited his father while he was recovering in King Edward VII's hospital in London but the heir apparent revealed to Sky News that one of the part of lockdown that he found most difficult was not seeing his family, particularly his father, Prince Philip, and his four grandchildren.

Giving a rare personal insight into their family, Prince Charles said, "Well I haven't seen my father for a long time, or my grandchildren or anything. I've been doing the Facetime, it's all very well but…"

prince charles heartbreaking admission father prince philip lockdown

Prince Charles misses spending time with his family 

Responding to how he has been feeling while being disconnected from his family, the Prince Charles added, "Well it's terribly sad, let alone one's friends.

"But fortunately at least you can speak to them on telephones and occasionally do this sort of thing. But it isn't the same, is it? You really just want to give people a hug."

Prince Charles’ eldest son Prince William has been spending lockdown with his wife Duchess Catherine and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in their Anmer Hall home in Norfolk, while his youngest son Prince Harry is isolating across the pond with wife Duchess Meghan Markle and their son Master Archie Harrison in their Santa Barbara mansion.

prince charles heartbreaking admission father prince philip lockdown

Prince Charles is close with his grandchildren

The Prince of Wales, who previously tested positive for the virus, also revealed that he felt “lucky” to get “away with it quite lightly".

Prince Charles also acknowledged that he thinks the coronavirus pandemic has made people think more about what matters in life, adding, "I do totally understand so many people's frustrations, difficulties, grief and anguish and I mean I'm just trying to do my best to find and help and encourage ways to enable people to go on doing that, but in a way that doesn't wreck everything at the same time around us."

Many of us have felt the strain over the lockdown period, with lockdown anger and frustration, as well as anxiety and depression, common emotions among the public.

Thankfully restrictions are beginning to ease with family gatherings now being allowed outside. Hopefully, Charles will get more time to spend with his beloved father in the coming months.   

Aleesha Badkar
Digital Beauty Editor, woman&home

Aleesha is Digital Beauty Editor at woman&home, where she gets to share her expertise into all the best techniques, sharpest tools and newest products—with a particular savvy in skincare and fragrance.

Previously, she was Deputy Editor and Beauty & Fashion Editor for My Imperfect Life, where she headed up the beauty, fashion and eCommerce pages. In the past, she has worked as Shopping Writer at woman&home, gained an AOP awards nomination after working on their news team, contributed to Women's Health, Stylist and Goodto and earned an MA in Magazine Journalism from City, University of London.