In light of King Charles’s recent procedure for an enlarged prostate, Queen Camilla reportedly told a “workaholic” King Charles to “slow down” in the wake of his surgery. But King Charles is no stranger to early morning starts and extremely late finishes, with Prince Harry once revealing in a 2018 documentary that his father needed to “slow down” explaining he “falls asleep on his notes” from working too hard.
Royal aides state there is no “average day” for the sovereign who carries out more than 609 royal engagements a year as reported in the Telegraph.
His Majesty’s working day begins before breakfast where the King makes a series of “off diary” phone calls to discuss his thoughts with a relevant body – from thoughts that occur overnight or from reading a headline in the paper.
Between 8.30am and 9am, the King takes his first meeting with his private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton. They discuss the business of the day and other outstanding matters.
Afterwards, King Charles sits at his desk to go through his non-red box paperwork. As he “doesn’t do emails”, he tends to write by hand or dictate letters to his executive secretary before signing with a fountain pen.
Shortly after, around mid-morning, the King moves over to Buckingham Palace for more formal business, such as meetings with politicians or religious figures.
He rarely stops for lunch unless he’s needed for a royal engagement, but if he is at a rural residence, then he will find the time for a brisk walk.
If travelling between royal residences, he will insist a journey includes an outside royal engagement en route.
The King will also work when he is travelling on helicopters or planes, or any mode of transport, and insists he works instead of resting.
When the King returns to a royal residence after an engagement, for example, he will go through paperwork relating to affairs of the state with his private secretary.
Around 5pm, the King takes tea, sandwiches and cake with an invited guest, but every Wednesday, he meets with the Prime Minister, at Buckingham Palace around 5.45pm. After returning to his desk to go through more work, he eats a late supper around 9pm.
Because the King works late into the night, there is always an executive secretary on hand to set up calls, take notes or pass on messages.
Even if entertaining guests at the weekend, the hard work continues, with King Charles extending his working hours, and working or reading for another hour or so before finally heading to bed.
