Charles Smith, an Australian gentleman, had one major item left on his lifelong wish list: becoming a grandfather. For decades, it seemed like that particular box might remain unchecked. Then, in 2025, his son Ashley and daughter-in-law Hanna delivered the ultimate gift: a baby girl named Isla.
Turns out, Charles was 91 years old when Isla made her grand entrance. Ashley and Hanna, presumably after a moment of stunned calculation, realized this might not be your average grandparent debut. So, they did what any curious new parents would do: they called Guinness World Records.
The Long-Awaited Title
Ashley quietly submitted an application. And Guinness, after surely double-checking the birth certificate and Charles's ID, confirmed it: Charles Smith was officially the oldest first-time grandfather on record. He clocked in at a rather impressive 91 years and 209 days old when Isla arrived on August 29, 2025. Charles, for his part, was blissfully unaware of his burgeoning celebrity until Ashley and Hanna presented him with both Isla and the world record.
We're a new kind of news feed.
Regular news is designed to drain you. We're a non-profit built to restore you. Every story we publish is scored for impact, progress, and hope.
Start Your News DetoxCharles told Guinness that having Ashley, Hanna, and Isla around was "absolute magic" and all he ever truly wanted. "She’s my granddaughter," he declared. "Record-breaking or not, she’s my family." Which is a lovely sentiment, but let's be honest, the record-breaking part is pretty cool, too.
He's now hoping to soak up every possible moment with Isla. He also offered a classic grandpa take on baby duty: "All I can say is I picked her up and didn’t want to give her back. Except for the nappy changes." Isla will call him "Poppy," a title Charles proudly feels suits him. Because, as he pointed out, "There are lots of grandpas and grandads around." But only one Poppy with a world record.
