Is this appropriate?

I guess it could depend on if there's any other concerns regarding the Grandfather's comments/behaviour. However an off the cuff comment I don't see as an issue.

My father used to say the same to my DD who he very much loved. She was his little beauty, and he thought she was beautiful. I saw it as the term of endearment that it obviously was. I think it's ridiculous nowadays how people are always taking things the wrong way. It'll soon come to the point when we never speak to anyone for fear of offending, or whatever we say is taken the wrong way. Of course, it all depends on the context in which it's said, and if he's a sleezy old man, and you have concerns about him in any way, then that's a different matter ...

I personally don't see anything wrong with it, so long as his behaviour is not inappropriate.

I see nothing wrong in that at all (unless of course he’s not a nice man and is sleezy or inappropiate in other ways)
If that’s all he does (wrong) then lucky granddaughter
My grandad used call me tupenny-hapenny ….(you d have to be a certain age to understand that) or sometimes ‘titch’ He was a lovely cuddly grandad

I address both of my children as ‘gorgeous’ (when I’m in a good mood with them - I have other terms at my disposal too ).

I think that valuing someone for their looks can be harmful, as can constant references to weight, hair, facial features etc, but if they know that they are loved for who they are, and their nearest and dearest think they are the most beautiful people on earth, I see no harm at all.

Beautiful doesn’t have to mean looks it can mean their personality, their heart, their whole being
You’re reading too much into it unless you have other reasons to be concerned

You do not give us much information do you NZBell. Occasion,? Context? recipient - and their reaction?

I would say that 'Beautiful' is just a pleasant term of endearment, which I see as being consciously devoid of any overtones. It is not a phrase I consider as being one used with deep overt unpleasant connotations.

A breezy 'hi ya, beautiful, what are you up to today?'

But with so little nformation, it is very difficult to comment.

Oh that’s true. Is it in Wales where ‘beaut’ is a universal term of endearment?

Is Ciao Bella similar in Italian and you hear that all the time in films??
Are you worried about anyother behaviour? If not I don't see a problem. Does the GD mind?

Oh dear. I often refer to one of my granddaughters as ‘gorgeous girl’. Because she is, in every way.

I greet my dog in the morning with ‘hello my lovely boy’. He seems ok with that. 🐶

Curtaintwitcher

I personally don't see anything wrong with it, so long as his behaviour is not inappropriate.

Me neither!

Nothing wrong with that again as long as there’s no red flags to behaviour. A term of endearment.

Why do you ask?

NZBell

Is it appropriate for a 65 year old GF to address his attractive GD ... Hi Beautiful? She's 16.

Assuming that that there are no other issues I think the person who is asking if this is appropriate has the problem.

I am always suspicious when a new poster comes on and asks such a provocative question.
This is almost certainly dodgy.

I agree with sago. These posts always appear overnight.

Sago

I am always suspicious when a new poster comes on and asks such a provocative question.
This is almost certainly dodgy.

👍🏻. But beware of being accused of looking under bridges

I wonder what relationship the OP is to the granddaughter. Tbh it doesn’t sit comfortably with me that a 16 year old granddaughter is being described as attractive.

Mmm- would OP worry if GD wasn't 'attractive' as she puts it? Young women are so vulnerable these days, but probably not at as much risk from her GF as she thinks.
I remember my uncle being a little creepy around me in my teens- he had no daughters of his own, later my mum told me that he had assaulted her when she was a child.
On the other hand men say things without thinking, and old men particularly. Some have no filter.
We should be vigilant around young women these days.

I would think it perfectly appropriate.
I wonder who NZBell is and why he/she thinks it inappropriate.

We probably won’t be hearing back from NZBell. 🙄

Iam64

Sago

I am always suspicious when a new poster comes on and asks such a provocative question.
This is almost certainly dodgy.

👍🏻. But beware of being accused of looking under bridges

Indeed or we’ll have GNHQ telling us to keep our thoughts to ourselves!

Of course it's appropriate, the grandfather will no doubt be very proud that he has a beautiful granddaughter. There is too much looking at every remark through a murky lens these days.