The Duchess of Cornwall has spoken of the mischievous joy she takes in being a grandmother, admitting it allows her to “spoil them, give them all the things their parents won’t allow them to have and then give them back again.”

The Duchess, who gives a unique insight into her family life as part of a television documentary to be aired on Monday, said she would recommend grandparenthood to everybody, admitting it is particularly wonderful because “you haven’t got the full responsibility”.

In a programme which follows her through the year of her 70th birthday, the Duchess is seen on overseas tours, welcoming elderly victims of crime into Clarence House, and walking her dogs in a rainy Scotland.

Asked whether she enjoyed being a grandmother-of-five, taking on the name of “Gan Gan”, she said: “Wonderful. Yes, I’d recommend it to everybody.

“It’s very nice because you haven’t got the full responsibility. You can give them a wonderful time, spoil them, give them all the things their parents won’t allow them to have and then give them back again.”