Charles III found out he was King in a simple but heartbreaking way.
The Monarch wasn’t with his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, when she died. He had spent a long time with her on the afternoon of her death but had gone out for a walk to allow his sister, Princess Anne, some time alone with their mother whose health had declined rapidly in the hours before her passing.
Now, a new book by Robert Hardman and serialised in the Daily Mail, says that as Charles drove back to Balmoral, the phone of one of his staff rang. In ‘Charles III, New King. New Court. The Inside Story’, Robert Hardman says the new Monarch knew exactly what would happen next. As he took the call, he heard Queen Elizabeth II’s private secretary, Sir Edward Young, address him as ‘Your Majesty’ for the first time. It was the moment that Charles III knew for certain that his mother was dead.
The book also reveals that The King was quick to comfort others as he stepped out of his car at Balmoral, putting a hand on Sir Edward’s shoulder as they met just moments after that phone call. Charles III told Sir Edward that he knew how much he would miss her.
It’s also been revealed that Queen Elizabeth II was working on the day of her death, September 8th 2022. Just moments after she passed away, a footman found a sealed red box at her bedside. When it was opened it was found to contain two sealed letters – one for the new King and the other for Sir Edward. Their contents have never been made public. Paperwork and nominations for the Order of Merit were also found.
Charles III. New King. New Court. The Inside Story by Robert Hardman is published by Macmillan on January 18th 2024.
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