Podcasts · The Royals

Inside the search for King Charles's most powerful aide

· 30 min

Episode Inside the search for King Charles's most powerful aide

0:00 30:19

Sir Clive Alderton, the King’s most senior aide, is preparing to step down after 20 years at Charles and Camilla’s side. But who will replace him as King Charles’s new right-hand man?

Kate Mansey is joined by Queen Elizabeth II’s former communications secretary Simon Lewis and royal biographer Robert Hardman to enter the hidden world of royal courtiers. What do the palace’s so-called “men in grey suits” actually do? How much influence do they wield over the royal family? And what happens when their advice is ignored?

Simon reveals what life was really like inside Buckingham Palace, from driving the Queen at Balmoral to advising the sovereign behind closed doors. They also discuss Prince Harry’s clashes with Sir Clive, how Andrew circumvented palace officials, and the qualities the King will need in his next principal private secretary.

Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.uk

Image: Getty

Producer: Robert Wallace

Video Producer: Eve Chadbourn

Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia

Watch us on YouTube.

Read more: Wanted: skilled diplomat who knows how to make the King laugh

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The episode on the publisher’s site (opens in a new tab)

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them. Explicit shows are for adult profiles only, and children’s profiles hear only children’s shows. More about this list.