People may not favor King Charles for long if he does not play his cards right, claims a royal insider
WESTMINISTER, LONDON: King Charles has finally ascended the throne following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Britain’s new king waited longer than any monarch in history. However, he used this time wisely by getting closer to the general public and build an indelible bond. This bond was displayed when he received love and adoration from the people. However, a royal insider fears that the King's "honeymoon period" could come to an end if he doesn't learn to play by the royal rule book.
Speaking about the love the public has for King Charles, former royal chef Darren McGrady told Insider, "This is a honeymoon period for King Charles. We'll see over the next month how things turn out." Grant Harrold, a former butler to the King, said Charles has to adopt the mentality of the Queen if he wants to stay in the public’s favor.
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McGrady worked as a professional Chef for the Queen for 11 years until he started working for Princess Diana till she died in 1997. On the other hand, Harrold, a personal butler to the King, was employed in the palace from 2004 to 2011. "He is allowed to advise and give his opinion, but they don't have to take it," Harrold said, refering to Charles' relationship with the UK Government. "It will be important that he keeps that impartialness, because that's what the monarchy is all about," he added.
"Once you start talking politics, then you just become one of us," McGrady said. Some of the most powerful public figures admired the Queen as the nation’s grandmother. She was an active part of Britain’s politics but remained neutral and never voted in an election. "The Queen was the nation's grandmother. But Charles — I don't know if he is the nation's grandfather," McGrady said, adding, "And therefore he has to win over the royalists in a different way."
There is no denying the fact that Charles’ public persona is a polar opposite of the Queen's public life. While the Queen kept her life private and followed the mantra of “never complain and never explain”, Charles' life was on display for the general public. Right from his extra-marital affair with Queen Consort Camilla to his tiff with Princess Princess Diana, every detail was laid bare for everyone to see in the newspapers.
Charles is also described as a short-tempered royal family member. Most recently he was captured venting over a leaky pen at a signing ceremony in Northern Ireland. However, this incident was not a surprise for McGrady who has seen the terrified staffers of the King’s residence. "They just shot up, left their food, and ran off to see what he wanted. Because he expects it now and wants it now," McGrady said.
Harrold described the king as a "careful, considerate gentleman" and said the King hopes that the public would focus more on his positive sides in the coming future.
Another insider believed that Charles, who has been the monarch of the UK for less than 20 days, has already managed to win over his previous critics. "King Charles has waited his whole life for this role and is now very experienced so I think he is very well placed to be king," Samir Hussein, a royal photographer, told Insider.
"I believe he has already won over a lot of doubters in the way he has handled himself since his mother's death. He has shown strength, warmth, leadership, and emotion in what must have been a hugely trying time for him under enormous scrutiny," he added.