The speech had been a living document for decades, but when it came to delivering his first address as King, Charles III was determined to add some last-minute finishing touches.
As he prepared to touch down at RAF Northolt on Friday after being with his mother during her final hours in Balmoral, King Charles was still making 11th-hour adjustments to what he knew would be the most important speech of his life.
Visibly moved – and surprised – by the warmth of the scenes outside Buckingham Palace, where well wishers broke out in spontaneous cries of “God Save the King”, he went on to deliver one of the most remarkably personal speeches ever given by a reigning monarch.
At times appearing overcome with emotion, it was Charles as we had never seen him before; a King not just speaking as head of state but as a loving son, husband, father.
For years there had been fears that he would never live up to his mother’s example, but in presenting himself as a grandfatherly statesman, leading a nation – as well as the Royal family – in mourning, the 73-year-old sovereign has had an auspicious start that has inspired confidence.
The Telegraph has learned that the new monarch was “genuinely taken aback” and “deeply humbled” by the overwhelmingly positive reaction to his first walkabout as King, when he was cheered and even kissed by one of the thousands who had gathered in The Mall for his arrival with Queen Camilla.
The King had been scheduled to conduct the meet and greet after Saturday’s Accession Council but the moment was brought forward in recognition of the depth of feeling that has been expressed since Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday afternoon.
According to one well-placed source: “He’s never someone who has been complacent in that regard. Because of what happened in the earlier part of his life and the end of his marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales, he has never expected the support of the people but those first moments came naturally to him. It’s no mistake he got out and decided to meet people before private secretaries. Camilla has helped in that regard. Over the past 17 years, the Queen Consort has given him confidence in his own instincts. What he really wants to do is connect with people.”
Hence the deeply personal speech, which was almost entirely written by the King himself. “North of 90 per cent are his own words with others sense-checking it for fact or detail points,” revealed an insider. “He likes writing, and enjoys being able to bring in classical references, which is why we heard a bit of Hamlet in there.”
The from-the-heart address was also designed to create an air of relatability in a bid to kick start a monarchy determined to be in touch with the modern era. As his mother did before him, the King is keen to ensure the Royal family is “seen to be believed”, from televising Saturday’s Accession Council ceremony, when he was officially proclaimed as King, to posting Instagram stories showing what is going on behind the scenes. Footage released by the palace after his first national address showed the King asking the camera crew: “Am I done?”
The King also wants the Royal family to be seen as a unifying force for a Britain facing the hardship of a cost–of-living crisis, now confounded by the loss of its beloved Queen Elizabeth.
As the source added: “The speech goes to the heart of the man – he’s a man of great emotional intelligence and anyone who knows him well and has been the recipient of any letter of support or message from him will know that he has a high level of feeling towards others. It’s a sign of modernity that he’s comfortable expressing himself in that way.
“It’s the great misunderstanding as the new King – for years he has been defined as someone serious or po-faced – but he’s a man capable of great emotion and understanding and with this change in role people have got an opportunity to see him afresh.”
Planning for the transformation of Prince Charles to King Charles III has been many years in the making but the smoothness of the transition so far is largely down to a tight-knit team of key aides, led by longstanding private secretary Sir Clive Alderton, a former diplomat who has acted as his closest advisor since 2015.
On a practical level, what is known as Team Charles has spent years rehearsing Operation London Bridge, the late Queen’s funeral plan, right down to where the furniture was to be placed for Saturday’s signing of the oath and proclamation in the Throne Room at St James’s Palace.
But meticulous planning has also gone into how Charles will rule as King.
Describing the extent of Alderton’s influence as someone who “maximises impact and minimises risk”, one former royal aide explained: “Clive is the architect of everything behind the scenes. He is someone who has a deep understanding of the constitution and can anticipate issues that can arise in these big moments; his technical knowledge is extremely valuable.
“Clive’s magic is his ability to deliver difficult messages wrapped in charm and when circumstances permit, bonhomie. Someone who understands that the needs of the institution will not always be the same as the wishes of the individual but is still willing to put the needs of the institution first.
“He is also someone who is not afraid to express an opinion and contrary to popular belief, the King appreciates that. He wants counsel, he doesn’t want obedience.”
Sir Clive was present at yesterday’s Accession Council ceremony alongside Peter St Clair-Erskine, the 7th Earl of Rosslyn, who has been master of the King’s household at Clarence House since 2014. “If you think of Clive as the director, Peter is the producer. He makes sure the events are executed flawlessly and that everyone understands their roles, the machinery of the institution runs smoothly.”
Both men are expected to keep their jobs as King Charles moves to Buckingham Palace, as anticipated. (The redistribution of the royal real-estate footprint is still to be worked out but it is thought the King is keen on the idea of “repurposing” some of the properties).
But the heralding in of the new guard leaves Sir Edward Young, the late Queen’s private secretary, who was also at the ceremony alongside the Prince of Wales’s closest aide Jean Christophe Gray, potentially facing redundancy with other members of her household. Although as one insider pointed out, full transition will take months – and more staff will be needed to support the King’s burgeoning in-tray.
“Quite a few people will have been wanting to see out their careers with Queen Elizabeth and naturally her death will mark the end point for them. There is still a Queen’s household even if she’s not there and still a lot of work will still be needed to establish her legacy.
“And although he advocates a slimmed-down monarchy, actually the new King will need more staff than he previously had. He is going to have a much busier programme than Queen Elizabeth has had in recent years, particularly in the first few years as he establishes his new reign. So, much like any other merger and acquisition, there will be a mapping of resources set against the strategic needs of the institution over the next five years.”
Another pivotal figure will be Queen Camilla’s private secretary Sophie Densham, who was also at yesterday’s event, and has helped to run her office for more than a decade.
Decisions will have to be made, such as what will happen to the Prince’s Trust after the King confirmed in his first address that “it will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply”.
The statement was designed to signal the King’s transition from campaigning prince to convening monarch, sending a clear message to those who worry that he cannot step back from a life of outspokenness.
It is thought that the charity he founded in 1976 will carry on in the same vein raising money for underprivileged and socially challenged people around the world. As one source pointed out: “The King has long been a background figurehead and it’s not financially dependent on him.”
The King has certainly had a considerable amount of help in preparing for this moment but, arguably, his success as sovereign will ultimately depend on how he chooses to conduct himself.
Just by becoming King, Charles III appears to have gained more of the public’s support than he enjoyed as heir to the throne.
He will surely keep their trust if, like his mother, the rest of his life is defined by the seminal King’s speech in which he promised to serve his people “with loyalty, respect and love”.
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