Friend of King Charles III, Jonathan Dimbleby, has spoken out about the monarch on the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain, presenters Kate Garraway, 56, and Ben Shepard, 48, Dimbleby, 79, discussed Charles’ ‘big transition’ to become king.
Dimbleby, who previously wrote Charles’ biography, told presenters he was in “no rush” to take the throne given the “huge number of endeavors in which he was fully involved” as Prince of Wales.
Nevertheless, ‘the role fits him like a glove’, and although he does not control the polls, Charles is said to be ‘pleased’ with his reception by the public, a place that ‘any politician would die for’.
Reflecting on Charles’ first year as monarch, he added: “He is very diligent and works very, very hard,” but Dimbleby believes he is vastly different from his mother.
Friend of King Charles, Jonathan Dimbleby (pictured), 79, discussed Charles’ transition since the Queen’s death
The king’s biographer added that Charles is “dedicated” and very hard-working, but that he has approached the role in a different way to Queen Elizabeth.
He explained: ‘He is very dignified in his formal appearances, he is extremely relaxed and informal.
“He is not serene as she (Queen Elizabeth) was.”
He said: ‘He was never in a hurry, rather he had a huge life. He was previously Prince of Wales and had a lot of projects that he was completely involved in, so it was a big transition.
‘He must be very relieved that he is so highly rated. I don’t think he watches the polls at all, but we know people love him; polls that any politician would die for.”
Dimbleby hypothesizes that these changes are due to the generational differences between mother and son.
Nevertheless, he believes Charles has succeeded in “terribly challenging times,” with the country dealing with the cost of living crisis and global issues including climate change.
It comes as King Charles today paid a moving tribute to his adored mother as the country marks the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death.
In an unprecedented break from tradition, which shows how moved he has been by the country’s grief at her passing, but also by pride in a remarkable life of public duty, His Majesty recalled the “long life, devoted service of his mother and all she meant to so many.” us’.
Initially, Charles, 74, had planned to celebrate his mother’s death – and his own sad entry – in ‘quiet contemplation’ at home in Scotland.
In doing so, he would follow the same pattern that Queen Elizabeth had followed for seventy years, marking the death of her father, King George VI, at Sandringham in Norfolk, away from the public eye.
Dimbleby told Good Morning Britain presenters that Charles is ‘not serene’ like his mother but is still ‘an extraordinary’ man
But in recent weeks, he began to change his mind, as he was so deeply moved by the global outpouring of grief after his mother died on September 8 last year.
The Mail can reveal that the King and Queen Camilla chose last night not to return to their own home in Birkhall on the Balmoral estate as planned, but to remain in the castle itself where Elizabeth died aged 96, surrounded by the glory of the Scottish Highlands that she loved.
They will remain there today, comforted by some of those closest to Her Majesty, and spend the night there too, before returning to their adjoining estate. A source said, “I think it will be a comfort to be surrounded by so much that was known to her.”
Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales will celebrate the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death with a small private service in Wales. William and Kate will visit St Davids Cathedral in St Davids, Britain’s smallest city, in Pembrokeshire, on Friday. They will also meet members of the local community at the adjoining monastery, including local people who met Elizabeth II on her visits to St Davids.
Hosts Kate Garraway, 56, and Ben Shepard, 48, discussed Charles’ transition to the throne with Dimbleby
St. Davids has been a place of pilgrimage and worship for over 1,400 years, ever since St. David, the patron saint of Wales, settled there with his monastic community in the sixth century.
Since the Reformation, one of the quire stalls has been owned by the Crown and is known as the Sovereign’s Stall. This makes St Davids the only UK cathedral where the monarch has a special stall in the quire among the members of the chapter, the governing body of the cathedral.
Elizabeth II was the first monarch to visit St Davids Cathedral since the Reformation when she arrived at the site with her husband, the late Duke of Edinburgh, on a royal tour to Wales in August 1955 following her coronation.
In his message, Charles said: ‘On the occasion of the first anniversary of Her Majesty’s death and my accession, we remember with great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us.
“I am also deeply grateful for the love and support I have shown to my wife and myself this year as we do our utmost to serve you all.”
It was signed by Charles R and accompanied by a portrait chosen by the King that has never before been released to the general public. The photo was taken at Buckingham Palace on October 16, 1968, as part of an official session awarded to the legendary Cecil Beaton – the last he would ever undertake with Her Majesty before he passed away.
It was displayed the following month at the National Portrait Gallery, but has not previously been released publicly.
The king apparently chose the photo because of the ‘beautiful’ – and slightly mischievous – look in his mother’s eyes, who was 42 at the time.