Charles' Close Aide Reveals What the King is Really Like Behind-the-Scenes: 'He Has No Agenda'

As monarch, King Charles is expected to remain composed and poised at public engagements, leaving little room for informality. Away from the cameras, however, he is known for lightening the mood and enjoying a laugh with his aides. One of his closest staff members, Kristina Murrin, has shared that while Charles may appear stoic in public, he is a pleasure to work with behind the scenes. She added that his only agenda is simply to help where he can, setting him apart from others in positions of influence.

According to the Daily Express, Murrin, who's the Chief Executive of The King's Foundation and worked closely with Charles for his new documentary, said, "You do get to see him as quite an informal person, telling you about what he believes in, which is not how we tend to normally see him." Describing the monarch as 'very funny' and 'a joy to work with,' she hoped the people could someday see what those at the Foundation witness in more relaxed settings. She explained, "He [Charles] has no agenda. He doesn't need any of those things. His only agenda is help."

Charles's documentary, Finding Harmony: A King's Vision, premiered privately at Windsor Castle on January 29 with a star-studded turnout for the event.

Murrin also noted that interest in the Foundation's approach has grown substantially since the film's release. She continued, "We've got something quite special here that is applicable, and I think is really pertinent to the challenges that the world is facing on a number of different fronts, whether that be, you know, the climate or social cohesion." While the royals do not vote or publicly voice their opinions on political debates, the documentary showed that Charles sees climate change not as a policy preference, but as an urgent reality. 

While Murrin painted a favorable image of working with the King, royal author Robert Jobson sang a completely different tune in the past. In his new book, The Windsor Legacy, he penned, "It doesn't help that both [Charles and William] have a fiery temper that's not always held in check…Working for Charles, some staff say, can be like 'treading on eggshells.'" However, the author revealed that Charles has since mellowed after his health scare. He claimed, "He's now become more emotional. His longer-serving staff feel he's warmer, more openly expressive than before."

Charles's former Highgrove gardener, Jack Stooks, has also offered a glimpse into the King's strict code of conduct. He stressed that the monarch, although somber, reportedly liked to strictly manage things even when away. He told PEOPLE, "The King would always know what's going on in the garden. I think that's the nature of the job he does, and the nature of how the royal family runs everything. They've got to know what's going on every week because otherwise things would just fall apart."