King Charles’ Butler Opens Up About the Heartbreaking Conversation They Had Before the Coronation

King Charles III during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey in London, England. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Richard Pohle - WPA Pool)

Sep. 01 2025, Published 11:45 AM. ET

King Charles’s 2023 coronation was a historic moment. After being heir to the throne for 70 years, the longest in British history, Charles, seated on the Coronation Chair and anointed with holy oil, was proclaimed King. Ahead of the ceremony, his former royal butler, Grant Harrold, had an emotional conversation with the King about losing his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

(King Charles III after being crowned during the coronation ceremony. Image Source: Getty Images | Aaron Chown) — King Charles III, after being crowned during the coronation ceremony. (Image Source: Getty Images | Aaron Chown)

In an interview with The Telegraph, the former butler recently recounted the poignant conversation he had with the King about assuming the throne. He shared, "He [Charles] said when that job comes, you lose a parent." Indeed, it was painful for the monarch when the late Queen passed away on September 8, 2022, in Balmoral Castle, Scotland. On September 9, Charles delivered his first televised address to the nation, where he said, "We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world."

King Charles stands vigil beside the coffin of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. — King Charles stands vigil beside the coffin of his mother, Queen Elizabeth. (Image Source: Getty Images | Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool)

Harrold also shared another conversation, where Charles allegedly told him, "'I could be Charles, but I could also be George VII,' which is quite nice because his grandfather was George VI." As reported by Edinburgh Live, it was common for monarchs to adopt a different regal title upon their ascension to the throne. In fact, King George VI was one of three monarchs to adopt a new regal name upon ascending to the throne. Born Albert Frederick Arthur George, he chose a different name to signal continuity with his father after Edward VIII’s abdication.

Back in 1837, Queen Victoria was the first sovereign to select a different regal name, having been originally christened as Alexandrina Victoria. Her son, King Edward VII, was born Albert Edward but chose to drop his first name when he became King, following his mother’s suggestion.

King George VI, King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth. (Image Source: Getty Images| The Print Collector)

Hence, Harrold was impressed by the King's thoughtful gesture, but was later shocked when the monarch chose to go by Charles III for the coronation. He explained, "We were getting the impression that he would probably be George VII. So I was shocked when they announced he was Charles III." Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss confirmed the news in a speech from Downing Street, where she declared, "Today the Crown passes, as it has done for more than a thousand years, to our new monarch, our new head of state, his majesty King Charles III."

As for Harrold's relationship with the King, he gushed that Charles is a "very gentle character" and someone who "works very hard and doesn't suffer fools." He also claimed that he noticed no animosity between Prince Harry, Prince William, and Queen Camilla, despite the former's criticism of his stepmother in his memoir, Spare. As per the Daily Express, he spilled, "I saw them having dinners together, I saw them having drinks together, I saw them going to parties together."