Royals Carole Middleton Is 'One Very Happy Granny,' Says Friend The granny of the newborn princess decided to celebrate at home By Phil Boucher Phil Boucher Phil Boucher is an editor at PEOPLE and based in London. People Editorial Guidelines Published on May 3, 2015 12:40 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Stefan Wermuth/Landov While the whole world eagerly waited for their first sight of the newborn princess on Saturday, the grandmother of the new princess had other ideas. Instead of joining the crowds celebrating the baby royal s birth in London, Carole Middleton sought out the rural calm of her hometown, Bucklebury. “Carole drove through the village at about 3 p.m. [BST],” a local source tells PEOPLE. “She looked absolutely radiant. I have never seen her looking so happy. “She was on her own and looked absolutely wonderful. As happy as a bean. She is one very happy granny.” The beaming grandmother returned to London this morning at around 11:30 a.m. BST to visit her newest grandchild at Kensington Palace. Dressed in a white patterned blouse she drove into the palace in a black Range Rover alongside her daughter, Pippa Middleton, 31. Prince Charles, 66, later arrived at the palace with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, 67, to meet his granddaughter for the first time driving a light green Audi. The full set of grandparents was then completed by Michael Middleton, who arrived at the palace at 1:35 pm BST, also driving a dark Range Rover. Others to have appeared at the palace to welcome the new princess include close friend Emilia Jardine-Paterson, godmother to Prince George, who arrived with her husband. Royal Baby Arrives: Kate Gives Birth to a Baby Girl More on the New Royal Baby: • All About the 6 Essential Women in Princess Kate’s Life • Protective or Bossy – What Kind of Big Brother Will Prince George Be? • All About Princess Kate’s New Baby Nursery – Including Royal Hand-Me-Downs • More Royal Babies on the Way? Princess Kate Wants 2 More Children • 9 Tips for Princess Kate on Raising Two Kids Under 2, from @CrazyJewishMom • Seven Reasons Prince George Will Be the Best Big Brother Ever • Will & Kate’s Cutest Family Photos – So Far!