Prince Edward shares sweet moment with his great-niece, Princess Charlotte, at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow - Tatler

The House of Windsor is famously tight-knit. But a family outing on Saturday allowed royal watchers to catch a glimpse of a close, but rarely, seen relationship: Prince Edward's bond with his great-niece and great-nephews, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince Louis. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh joined the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in Saturday in their latest appearance at the 11-day sporting extravaganza. Preparing to take in the action at the velodrome, the Wales family shuffled along a single row in the stands behind Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, who were joined by British cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy. Edward, 62, was seated in front of Prince George, 13, and Princess Charlotte, 11, and was photographed sharing a light-hearted moment with the two eldest Wales children. Separately, Prince Edward was seen leaning across to pass something to Prince Louis, prompting speculation that he had been handing the eight-year-old something to eat. Royal commenters were particularly taken by the apparent bond between Princess Charlotte and Prince Edward. ‘She clearly adores her great uncle. So lovely to see,’ wrote one. Another added, ‘Sweet photo of Princess Charlotte and uncle Edward’. A third agreed, ‘Cute photo of Charlotte looking at her Uncle Edward.’ The Prince and Princess of Wales enjoy an excellent relationship with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Owing to their senior positions within the family, the two couples are often seated near each other at high-profile engagements. They have also made a number of joint appearances with their children, including to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022. On that occasion, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were joined by their children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex, although both skipped the outing in Glasgow. It is a milestone summer for Prince Edward and Sophie, formerly the Earl and Countess of Wessex, who are facing major transition moments in the lives of both their son and daughter. Lady Louise Windsor recently graduated from the University of St Andrews and will now embark on a gap year, during which she will spend time travelling, working and volunteering. The 22-year-old is also in a serious relationship with fellow student Felix da Silva Clamp. Felix was seated next to Lady Louise as she received her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award from her father in Edinburgh last month, even appearing in an official Instagram post shared by the royal family. There is also change on the horizon for James, Earl of Wessex, who has graduated from Radley College. It is not clear yet what will come next for the 18-year-old but there is every chance he will follow in the footsteps of his sisters and cousins and continue his education at university. The Prince and Princess of Wales, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, combined their visit to the Commonwealth Games with other engagements. While in Glasgow, the couple met Team Wales athletes and their families, as well as spent time with those supported by SportsAid, of which the Princess of Wales has been patron since 2013. As for many families, summer is a time for the Waleses to spend quality time together. The Wimbledon Men's Singles Final typically represents the Princess of Wales' final engagement before the summer break. Prince William keeps a less strict schedule but also values the time to recharge away from the spotlight. As with the Edinburghs, it is a summer of change for the Wales family as Prince George prepares to start at Eton this September. The 13-year-old previously attended Lambrook School, Windsor, alongside his brother and sister but will now follow in the footsteps of his father and uncle, Prince Harry, at the prestigious all-boys boarding school. Although details of the Prince and Princess of Wales' summer holidays are, understandably, kept under wraps, they typically involve an overseas trip. Last year, it was reported the family had spent time on a yacht off the Greek island of Kefalonia in a sun-soaked escape alongside the Princess' parents, Michael and Carole Middleton. In August, the Prince and Princess of Wales typically join King Charles III, Queen Camilla and other senior royals at Balmoral, the royal family's Aberdeenshire estate.