EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
The royal family may be facing health setbacks, but King Charles III reigns over a “happy court”, according to the author of a major new book on the monarchy.
“We have a very happy King on the throne,” Robert Hardman tells hello!.. “Of course, he’s got his challenges, and every day there’s a drama of some sort, but he’s enjoying being King.”
Acclaimed royal author and journalist Robert has written the definitive account of His Majesty’s accession and coronation after shadowing the King and Queen over the past 18 months.
His accompanying documentary Charles III: The Coronation Year, which was broadcast on BBC1 on Boxing Day, took viewers behind the scenes during rehearsals for the coronation at Westminster Abbey, even capturing the King on camera joking about his “sausage fingers”.
This lighter side to Charles is more evident than ever now he is on the throne, says Robert, who has been covering the royal family since 1992.
NEW LEASE OF LIFE
“He’s always been a very genial character,” Robert tells us. “He’s a very interesting person – lots of ideas, lots of things to say. But I think when he was in his princely days, if you like, he was still having to ask permission to do things.
“But this idea that he was somehow impatient to be King – he wasn’t. There was absolutely no sense of: ‘I want to get in there and it’s my turn.’ It wasn’t like that at all. “This is something that’s been weighing on your mindfor your whole life, and you’re in your 70s and it finally happens – I think there is a sort of release of pressure. I think the Queen is central to all this. Queen Camilla has definitely lightened the mood. It’s a happy court.”
Robert’s book King Charles III: New King, New Court – The
