The new monarch's personal grief collided with his royal duties as Queen Elizabeth's health declined unexpectedly.
King Charles III faced the dual challenges of mourning his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and stepping into his lifelong role as monarch when she passed away at 96. Having prepared for decades as Prince of Wales, Charles had hoped his sons, Prince William and the Duke of Sussex, could bid their final goodbyes to their grandmother at Balmoral.
According to royal expert Robert Hardman, in his book Charles III: New King, New Court, Charles believed the Queen had more time, advising his sons to travel north. However, her health worsened swiftly, leaving Charles to inform them of her passing. A poignant moment occurred when Charles, calling William through the palace switchboard, could only say, "It's me," as he wasn't yet ready to announce himself as king. Meanwhile, the Duke of Sussex was in transit and only learned of the Queen's death through the BBC website, as recounted in his memoir Spare.
Charles's private grief and the complexities of succession intertwined during these emotional hours.
