United Kingdom, April 6 -- Melinda French Gates never expected to be a grandmother at such an early age.

The 60-year-old philanthropist - who was married to Microsoft founder Bill Gates for 27 years until their divorce in 2021 - became a grandparent for the first time in 2023 at the age of 58 when her eldest daughter Jennifer, 28, welcomed her daughter Leila and Melinda admits that she didn't anticipate it happening so soon.

Writing in her new memoir 'The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward', she said: "During this season, I've seen my life change in ways I hoped for, ways I fought against, and ways I never could have imagined.

"At 58, much earlier in life than I expected, I became a grandmother."

Although it took her by...