‘Diligent’ Charles ‘works very, very hard’ but was ‘never in a rush’ to become King, friend says – as he reveals why monarch is different from his mother

King Charles III’s friend Jonathan Dimbleby has spoken about the monarch on the first anniversary of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Speaking to Good Morning Britain hosts Kate Garraway, 56, and Ben Shepard, 48, Dimbleby, 79, discussed Charles’ ‘big transition’ to becoming king.

Dimbleby, who has previously written Charles’ biography, told presenters he was “in no rush” to take the throne given “the large number of endeavors he was fully engaged in” as prince of Wales.

Nevertheless, “the role fits him like a glove”, and even if he does not check the polls, Charles is said to be “satisfied” with the reception the public gives him, one for which “any politician would die” .

Reflecting on Charles’ first year as monarch, he added: “He is very diligent and works very, very hard,” but Dimbleby believes he differs enormously from his mother.

The king’s biographer added that Charles is “committed” and works very hard, but has approached the role in a different way to Queen Elizabeth.

He explained: “He is very dignified in his formal performances, he is extraordinarily relaxed and informal.

“He is not serene like she (Queen Elizabeth) was.”

He said: “He was never in a hurry, he had a huge life before. He was previously Prince of Wales and had a large number of activities in which he was fully engaged, so this was a significant transition.

“He must be very, very relieved to be held in such high regard. I don’t think he cares about polls at all, but we know people think he’s great – polls that any politician would die for.

Dimbleby speculates that these changes are due to generational differences between mother and son.

Nonetheless, he believes Charles has succeeded in “a terribly difficult time”, where the country faces a cost of living crisis and global issues including climate change.

It comes as King Charles today paid a moving tribute to his beloved mother, as the nation marks the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death.

In an unprecedented break with tradition, signifying how he was touched by the grief of the country following his death but also proud of a remarkable life of public service, His Majesty recalled “the long life of his mother, her dedicated service and all that she meant to so many people”. We’.

Charles, 74, originally planned only to mark his mother’s death – and his own grief-stricken accession – in “quiet contemplation” at his home in Scotland.

In doing so, it would follow the same pattern Queen Elizabeth chose to adopt for 70 years, marking the death of her father, King George VI, at Sandringham in Norfolk, away from the public eye.

Dimbleby told Good Morning Britain presenters that Charles was “not serene” like his mother but was still “an extraordinary man”.

But in recent weeks he has begun to change his mind, having been so deeply touched by the global outpouring of grief following the death of his mother on September 8 last year.

Indeed the Mail can reveal that the King and Queen Camilla chose last night not to return to their own home at Birkhall on the Balmoral estate as planned, but to stay at the very castle where Elizabeth died at the age of 96 years old, surrounded by the glory of the Scottish Highlands that she adored.

They will remain there today, comforted by some of those closest to Her late Majesty, also spending the night there, before returning to their neighboring estate. A source said: “I think it will be heartwarming to be surrounded by so many familiar things.”

Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales will mark the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death with a small private service in Wales. William and Kate will visit St Davids Cathedral in St Davids, Britain’s smallest town in Pembrokeshire, on Friday. They will also meet members of the local community in the adjacent cloister, including locals who met Elizabeth II during her visits to St Davids.

Hosts Kate Garraway, 56, and Ben Shepard, 48, discussed Charles’ transition to the throne with Dimbleby

St Davids has been a place of pilgrimage and worship for over 1,400 years, ever since St David – the patron saint of Wales – moved there with his monastic community in the 6th century.

Since the Reformation, one of the choir stalls has belonged to the Crown and is known as the Sovereign’s Stall. This makes St Davids the only cathedral in the UK where the sovereign has a special stand in the choir among the members of the chapter, the governing body of the cathedral.

Elizabeth II was the first monarch to visit St Davids Cathedral since the Reformation when she arrived at the site with her husband, the late Duke of Edinburgh, during a royal tour of Wales in August 1955 after his coronation.

In his message, Charles said: “On the first anniversary of the death of Her late Majesty and my accession, we remember with great affection her long life, her dedicated service and all that she represented for many of us.

“I am also deeply grateful for the love and support that has been shown to my wife and I over this year as we do our utmost to serve you all.”

It was signed Charles R and accompanied by a portrait chosen by the King which has never been made public before. The photograph was taken at Buckingham Palace on October 16, 1968, as part of an official sitting given to the legendary Cecil Beaton – the last he ever undertook with the late Her Majesty before his death.

It was exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery the following month, but has not yet been released to the public.

The king apparently chose this photograph because of the “charming” – and slightly mischievous – gaze of his mother, who was 42 at the time.