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King Charles III's inner circle and his closest advisors revealed as he steps up to new role

They will be a great support to him


king charles and advisors© Photo: Getty Images
Gemma Strong
Online Digital News Director
September 12, 2022
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Since the Queen's death and his proclamation as king, Charles has been incredibly busy but surrounded by an incredible team that have made every day run smoothly.

Most recently, on Monday, as he traveller to Edinburgh, a large team of advisors were spotted boarding his private jet.

Here we take a look at who he will be relying on tbe most as he begins his new role...

WATCH: Moment King Charles III boards private jet, surrounded by his closest advisors

Clive Alderton

Considered to be the Prince's key aide, Clive Alderton has been Charles' principal private secretary for years.

At the time of his appointment to Clarence House, he was Britain's Ambassador to Morocco but he had previously served Charles and wife Camilla for six years between 2006 and 2012.

He first joined the Foreign Office in 1986. His successful career has seen him serve overseas in Poland, Belgium, Singapore and France.

prince charles clive alderton© Photo: Getty Images

Clive Alderton is Prince Charles principle private secretary

Major Jonny Thompson

Major Johnny Thompson is from the Royal Regiment of Scotland and he has long been a steady presence for the royal family, working for the late Queen Elizabeth II for years.

Now, however, he has come to find viral fame after being pictured alongside King Charles III since the Queen's death.

Equerries are responsible for the detailed planning and execution of the royals' daily programmes.

As the royal court goes into mourning, the equerries will ensure the diaries are readjusted and kept running like clockwork. Major Johnny has been working for the royal household for several years, and was previously pictured with the Queen at many events.

jonny

Nicholas Soames

Sir Nicholas Soames - grandson of Sir Winston Churchill - has been a confidant and close friend to Charles for 65 years.

The pair got to know each other in 1970 when Nicholas was appointed equerry to the royal, a position he held for two years.

Sir Nicholas has said the life of his friend will change now that he has become King.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "As the King said, as he embarks on his new responsibilities, clearly his life will change, and his views and the way that he conducts himself will observe, of course, the constitutional principles.

"He made absolutely plain that he intends to uphold the constitutional principles at the heart of the nation that he understands very well.

"The Prince of Wales has served a long apprenticeship at the feet of an absolute master and he knows very well what the constitutional obligations are."

prince charles Nicholas Soames© Photo: Getty Images

Nicholas has been close to the Prince since the 1970s

Charles acted as best man at Nicholas's wedding to heiress Catherine Weatherall in 1981 and their relationship is thought to be one of the few that Charles has that approaches equality.

An observer previously told the Independent that the friendship is based on "a great deal of mutual humour and banter but the utmost public discretion".

Norton Knatchbull, 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma

Prince Charles has had a close relationship with the Knatchbull family since childhood.

The first Earl Mountbatten, Louis, was the uncle of Prince Philip and a mentor of Prince Charles growing up - he famously referred to him as his Honorary Grandfather. Tragically, he was killed alongside his grandson Nicolas by IRA terrorists in 1979 and it was heartbroken Charles who read at his funeral.

prince charles and brabourne© Photo: Getty Images

Norton Louis Philip Knatchbull is the 3rd Earl Mountbatten of Burma

Louis's grandson Norton, meanwhile, has a very strong bond with Charles. He was chosen to be one of Prince William’s godparents - Prince Philip was his godfather - while his daughter Lady Alexandra was a goddaughter of Princess Diana.

The bond between the families was especially evident in June 2016 when Prince Charles walked Alexandra down the aisle on her wedding day. At the time her father was too ill to take on the role himself. The society nuptials had an incredible guest list that included the Queen and Prince Philip, Princess Anne, Queen Sofia of Spain and the former King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece.

Hugh van Cutsem

The van Cutsem family's ties to the royals is well known. Hugh, a former officer in the Household Cavalry, first became close to Charles during their time together at Cambridge University in the Sixties.

prince charles Hugh Van Cutsem© Photo: Getty Images

Prince Charles with his late friend, Hugh van Cutsem

Their friendship endured, and when Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, the van Cutsem's eight-year-old son Edward, who is also Charles' godson, was one of their two page boys.

As Charles' marriage to Diana broke down, the van Cutsems became hugely important to his sons William and Harry. They became good friends with the couple's four sons, William, Edward, Hugh and Nicholas — many people felt that it was in large part thanks to the van Cutsems that the two Princes were able to enjoy something approaching a normal childhood.

grace van cutsem

Little Rose van Cutsem nearly stole the show at the royal wedding

The next generation have remained close. In a move that mirrored his parents' own marriage 30 years previously, William and Kate asked Grace van Cutsem, the five-year-old daughter of Hugh and Rose van Cutsem and William’s goddaughter, to be a flower girl on their wedding day. Nicholas van Cutsem is a godfather to Prince Louis while his younger brother William is godfather to Prince George.

Tragically, Hugh passed away in September 2013 at the age of 72. His friend Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Prince Harry were among the mourners.

Gerald Ward

Gerald Ward moved in royal circles for many years prior to his death in 2008. An old Etonian, he was with Prince Charles in Annabel’s nightclub in 1972 when the Prince first met the then Camilla Shand, the woman who later became his second wife and who is now Duchess of Cornwall.

prince charles gerald ward© Photo: Getty Images

Gerald Ward (top left) was a godfather to Prince Harry

Gerald previously served as Extra Equerry to Charles and was later given the honour of becoming a godfather to Prince Harry. He took a great interest in godson's life, in particular in his schooling and his military career, advising him before he left for his first tour of Afghanistan.

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