As the birth of Duchess Kate and Prince William’s second child is upon us – any moment now! – it’s worth checking in with Prince Charles, isn’t it? Charles believes that when he becomes king, his children and grandchildren should be the focus, the main core of the royal family, and he plans on cutting out his brothers and their children especially, sending them off to royal Siberia or wherever. There are a few problems with that though. One, William and Kate especially seem completely incapable of keeping up a public schedule. Two, even with their cynicism and laziness, the younger royals are WAY more popular than Charles.

There’s another problem, of course: William and Kate don’t want Charles involved in their childrens’ lives at all. The imminent birth of the fourth-in-line to the throne is merely drawing a spotlight to already-dysfunctional relationship between William and Charles and Charles’ lack of relationship with his grandchildren. Over the weekend, The Express reported that Will and Kate have decided not to go directly to Casa Middleton in Bucklebury following the birth, so as to not hurt Charles’ feelings. The new plan is for Will, Kate, George and the baby to stay in London for a few days following the birth, so Charles and the Queen and other assorted royals can see the baby. Then the Cambridges will head to Anmer Hall. Sources also say that Charles is “upset” that he “almost never” sees George.

However, there’s another item buried in a newish Daily Beast story that I found interesting – The Daily Beast’s story is mostly about how Charles is still pretty unpopular and no one is actually looking forward to him becoming monarch (you can read the full piece here). But here’s the interesting Will & Kate-related stuff:

The next few weeks are likely to be particularly trying ones for Prince Charles. As the nation rejoices in the birth of a new royal baby—fourth in line to the throne regardless of gender—Prince Charles, never keen on sharing the limelight, has a less appealing summer ahead.

William and Kate have never taken George to stay with Charles and Camilla, and sources say that Charles is planning to spend most of the next few weeks of royal baby madness in his Scottish home of Birkhall.

This will at least supply a face-saving cover story, a handy excuse to explain why William and Kate aren’t involving Charles in their children’s lives, when scarcely a week over the summer will pass without the Middleton parents—Carole and Mike—being invited to the Cambridge’s country pile, Anmer Hall, or having an invitation to their own house accepted by the new parents.

[From The Daily Beast]

Ha, do you think Charles is really just going to fly off to Scotland this week without even putting in an appearance to meet his latest grandchild? If that happened, it would look SO bad. Especially since you know Carole Middleton is going to be all over the place, posing outside the hospital, making sure people see her hold the new baby, etc. I tend to think Charles will wait until Kate gives birth, meet the baby briefly and then fly off to Scotland.

View image | gettyimages.com

Photos courtesy of Getty, WENN.