Monday 26 September 2022 10:38 AM King Charles is a 'demanding boss' with 'a fierce temper and ferocious work ... trends now
Prince Charles is a demanding boss with a 'fierce temper and a ferocious work ethic' who sometimes 'falls under the spell' of outside advisers, according to a new book quoting former employees.
One former member of his household described how the King can go from 'zero to 60 in a flash and then back down again', although he 'rarely directs' his anger at individuals.
'Things would frustrate him, especially the media,' the insider told Valentine Low in his new book, Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, extracts of which have been published in The Times.
Former members of Charles' staff described him as someone with 'enormous stamina' and lots of ideas who is 'always working... seven days a week'.
While the King is 'very demanding of himself' he expects similar from his staff, with phone calls coming 'at any time' until 11pm at night and even at Christmas - the book claims.
'At any moment he may want to call you about something. Working on his boxes, on his ideas, on his papers. The pace is pretty intense,' one former courtier said.
Charles leaving church on Sunday in his first public appearance since his late mother's funeral
Charles is presented as a 'man on a mission' with a huge range of interests.
As a result, the book describes how he has amassed scores of outside advisers who share their thoughts on 'architecture, alternative medicine, business, organic farming, housing, Jungian psychoanalysis, Islamic art, rainforests, crop circles and the media'.
Dealing with these advisers' 'helpful suggestions' was one of the challenges of working for Charles, Low claims.
The journalist writes that the royal was 'not always a good judge of who should have his ear'.
'Jimmy Savile, the broadcaster and charity fundraiser who, after his death, was revealed to have been a serial sexual abuser, wrote a handbook for Charles on how the royal family should deal with the media after big disasters.
'Charles passed on his tips to the Duke of Edinburgh, who in turn showed them to the Queen.'
One former member of staff suggested these outside advisers sometimes undermined the morale of Charles' team by suggesting they were falling short.
'He loves it when someone says, ''Oh, they have got it wrong, sir, listen to me. I can see it better; I am outside of this,'' the source told Low. 'The prince falls under people's spell. That could then lead to real problems for individuals.'
The book also touched on the leadership style of King Charles' son, Prince William, describing how he told staff to ditch suits while working around his family at Kensington Palace.
King Charles and wife Camilla greeted well-wishers at church yesterday during their first public appearance since the late Queen’s funeral.
The King and Queen Consort Camilla looked pensive as they were driven to Crathie Kirk, the Scottish parish church close to the Balmoral estate.
Charles, 73, wore black while Camilla, 75, appeared to be wearing black, grey and red check tartan under her sombre black coat.
The couple looked serious but managed a smile for a small crowd of well-wishers as they arrived at the church.
It was the first time they had been seen in public since the State funeral for Queen Elizabeth II last Monday.
She attended services at Crathie Kirk regularly when she spent summers at Balmoral Castle, where she died earlier this month.
A new book has described Charles (pictured with Queen Consort Camilla) as a 'demanding boss' with a strong work ethic
King Charles's first public appearance since the state funeral of his late mother Queen Elizabeth II on Monday follows an official photograph of the monarch hard at work which was released by the Royal Family on Friday evening.
The image, which was taken last week, shows the King sitting in the 18th Century Room of Buckingham Palace while he reviews documents from the red box.
In the photo there were a few subtle nods to his late mother and father, the late Duke of Edinburgh, which showed how the monarch will remember their influence when carrying out his royal duties.
Most striking was the black-and-white photo of the Queen and Prince Philip which sat on the side table behind the King's desk while he worked on reviewing documents from his red box.
According to the Royal Family's Instagram account, which published the photo of the King hard at work, the photo of the monarch's late parents, was a gift from them to King George VI in 1951 at Christmas.
The photo of the Queen and Prince Philip is not the first tribute of its kind from the King, 73, after he addressed the nation for the first time on Friday 9 September from the Blue Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace, where some of Her late Majesty's Christmas speeches had been filmed, with a photo of Her late Majesty on the desk next to him.
This official photograph of the monarch hard at work was released by the Royal Family on Friday evening
During the address, he also told the nation how he will draw upon his mother's example during his own reign.
The King said: 'Throughout her life, Her Majesty The Queen – my beloved Mother – was an inspiration and example to me and to all my family, and we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family can owe to their mother; for her love, affection, guidance, understanding and example.
'Queen Elizabeth was a life well lived; a promise with destiny kept and she is mourned most deeply in her passing.
The book also touched on the leadership style of King Charles' son, Prince William, describing how he told staff to ditch suits while working around his family at Kensington Palace
'That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today.'
Royal fans may also have noticed a tribute to King Charles's
