Months after his cancer diagnosis, His Majesty King Charles III returned to the spotlight and paid tribute to his beloved grandchildren. As the eyes of the nation and indeed the world were on the Grandpa Wales and the likely gifts he just received from Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis amidst his battle with cancer, the royal couple visited University College Hospital McMillan Cancer Center. There, they spoke to medical specialists and patients to mark this big milestone.

The King appeared to pay a subtle nod to his grandchildren by wearing his favorite pink silk tie dotted with tiny blue dinosaurs. Clearly, finding gifts for the man who really does have everything might be tricky, but since his session, his family has given the King several new ties. The dinosaur tie has been in his closet since at least January 2023 when he wore it to a church near the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. The accessory immediately caught Royal Watchers’ attention as The Sovereign typically opts for more demure patterns. It’s the first time the King has debuted this charming accessory, and we can’t help but think the playful print was chosen by his grandchildren.

It’s no secret that the King’s eldest grandchildren are fans of dinosaurs. Prince George is known to love all things prehistoric after being inspired by his exchange with David Attenborough. “He was brilliant with the children when he met them,” Prince William told at a time. “He brought out his fossil collection and showed the children that, which I think George at the time absolutely adored. He’s got loads of dinosaur fossils.” Royal expert Robert Hardman spoke about the King’s playful wardrobe, explaining his tie said it all. It has been a favorite since he became King, appearing on away days at Palace receptions and even a trip to church. In addition, 6-year-old Prince Louis also has a particular passion for dinosaurs and enjoyed a roaring day out with his Nanny Maria Borrello at the Natural History Museum back in 2020. One of the Museum’s most popular exhibits is a large animatronic T-Rex, which may have inspired the choice behind King Charles’ tie. How sweet for the royal family!

The past months have been a journey marked by challenges and uncertainties. Amidst this turmoil, the Royal household found solace in each other’s support and strength, epitomized by the monarch’s tender gesture to his grandsons. But this time, King Charles’ tie has another meaning and announces his determination to get back to his duties. His capacity for gloomy introspection appears to have lifted in recent months, and his mood is unquestionably more cheerful these days. Finally, the King seemed to have found a lot of joy in his new position as Monarch. “Like his mother who thoroughly enjoyed being Queen even during some very dark days, Charles the third is simply very happy being Monarch,” says one of his team, with a grin suggesting strongly that it might be, despite the caution. Charles’ schedule will be informed by his first engagement since getting back to work, which was a huge success. And one expert has claimed that the King displayed one subtle signal that indicates just how much he wants to make the country proud. Looking relaxed and in good spirits, Charles met doctors and patients in an attempt to raise awareness of the importance of an early diagnosis. And while he is bound to the “never complain, never explain” family tradition, he coyly opened up about the shock of his diagnosis and left Royal fans teary-eyed. And that certainly seemed to be the case for the King’s return to Royal outings. “I felt pleased for the King,” royalist John Lorry told outside the hospital. “For me, it’s nice to see him back, and we all missed him. He’s come here today to see people who’ve got cancer and show that he and [Duchess] are not alone.