Former royal butler reveals the tell-tale signs that show when King Charles is unhappy
Former royal butler reveals the telltale signs that show when King Charles is unhappy
A former royal butler to King Charles has revealed the telltale signs that show when the monarch is unhappy.
Grant Harrold worked for the King and Queen Consort between 2005 and 2011 when they were Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.
The royal insider said that while he has never seen the king ‘angry’, he could tell when he was stressed and, to do so today, can tell by watching the king on television if he is ‘unhappy’.
Speaking at an etiquette event earlier this week, he said, “There was a documentary I saw a few years ago and the interviewer kept asking the same question.
“You’d probably never notice, but I could tell he’d had enough.”
A former royal butler to King Charles has revealed the telltale signs that show when he’s unhappy. After his mother’s death, Charles became frustrated with a leaking pen (pictured)
Grant Harrold (pictured) worked for the King and Queen Consort between 2005 and 2011 when they were Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall
Reflecting on looking at the pen situations, the former butler said he “felt real” for his former boss at the time. Photo: King Charles frustrated with a leaking pen at Hillborough Castle, Northern Ireland
While most wouldn’t notice the agitated king, the butler said it’s evident by his mannerisms and the way he presents himself.
He told The Independent: ‘It’s in his mannerisms. He will just suddenly [look left and right]he will fidget a bit and look around a bit, it’s quite interesting.
“It looks like this, like he’s just comfortable [in his chair]but actually he’s not happy.’
In the days following his mother’s death, the king was twice disconcerted by a leaking pen, with some onlookers claiming he looked ‘twitchy’.
The first pen crash occurred during his proclamation, in which he frantically gestured for an aide to remove a pen case from his desk.
The second incident occurred while he was at the royal residence of Hillborough Castle in Northern Ireland, when he again appeared unnerved by dripping ink as he signed a book towards the end of the visit.
He old royal aides he “can’t stand the damn thing,” adding “every stinking time.” as he furiously rubbed the ink from his fingers.
Looking back on looking at the pen situations, the former butler said, “When the Queen died and we saw the pen incident, I really felt for him.
“Losing both parents so quickly and then having to keep doing things in front of people — that was probably the most stressed I’ve ever seen him.”
The revelations come as the UK prepares for the coronation of the King and Queen on May 6, which will be attended by 2,000 guests.
The guest list includes members of the royal family, politicians, heads of state and other foreign royals, as well as celebrities.
Earlier this week, Sarah Ferguson, Duke of York, confirmed she would not be attending the King’s coronation because she was not invited, despite the fact that her daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will be there.
Experts said she was not invited to the historic day because she is an “embarrassment” and is no longer a member of the royal family.
Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Fergie told Kate Garraway and Adil Ray: Not me [going]it’s a state event, and being divorced, I don’t think you can have it both ways.
“I’m divorced and I really like being separated from my ex-husband, not from him but from him. It’s important to make a distinction.”