On a day that rocked the monarchy to its very foundations, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest, I watched as the King stepped up for duty at London Fashion Week, showing no visible signs of strain.
His relaxed and warm demeanour belied the impact on his family of an enormously difficult day.
He was clearly determined not to shy away from the public eye, understanding that his leadership is now more important to the monarchy than ever.
© PA Images via Getty ImagesCharles's appearance reminded me of a similarly breathtaking display of professionalism from the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Moments after her son Andrew announced that he would step back from public life, in the wake of his disastrous interview with Emily Maitlis on the BBC's Newsnight programme in 2019, I watched her present an award to Sir David Attenborough at Chatham House in central London.
Her smile was warm, her conversation sparkling and even peppered with a couple of jokes. In other words, business as usual.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesAt that stage, of course, she was not aware of the full extent of the allegations now levelled against her middle son.
It is a blessing that the late Queen is not around to witness this, his lowest moment.
Change in mood
But there has been a shift in the public mood since her reign. The deference afforded to her generation is now scarce in supply, and the public will need more than the traditional "keep calm and carry on" mantra from the royal family.
The King, I believe, understands this, hence the extraordinary statement in which he shared his “deepest concern” and his continued support for a full and proper legal process.
Once it has run its course, he will need to speak to the nation to offer reassurance that he and his family will do whatever they can to restore its faith in the "duty and service" he has promised to maintain.
