King Charles has been praised for his handling of royal family scandals that a royal expert says he could not have anticipated would "blow up" so big since his reign began in September 2022.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the King has faced numerous challenges, including his cancer diagnosis less than two years into his reign, pressure over the status of his younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and the ongoing feud with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as well as their UK return in August.
Expert praises King's resilience
Royal expert Phil Dampier told the Daily Mail that the King could not have predicted how much the family's scandals would "blow up". He also praised the monarch for how well he handled such problems.
He told the publication: "It was always going to be a difficult act to follow, his mother, after a 70-year reign, but he took to it like a duck to water and stamped his authority in the first week. It was all going well, and all these problems and challenges have come along subsequently.
"The main one is him getting cancer and Kate getting cancer as well, so that was a double blow for them. Then there's been all the family problems with Harry and Meghan's laundry airing and the Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor scandal.
"Some of these things have been brewing for years, but I don't think he could have anticipated that they would have blown up so big."
Queen Camilla's support role
Dampier added that he believed Queen Camilla played a role in the King's handling of the scandals.
He told the publication: "None of these challenges have derailed the King's reign and he's had to be very resilient, but he has a very strong support system in his wife, without her I think he would struggle. Camilla is such a strong support behind the scenes which is her main role, she has kept him sane and is helping him to navigate each crisis."
A senior Palace aide also revealed how the King feels about handling the scandals as they unfold, as well as duty and personal issues. They said that the King is "confident", adding: "Busy people get lots done. The King rigorously prioritises his multiple roles, as Head of State, church, Commonwealth, military and family. The order of priority shifts by the day - and often by the hour."
Andrew and Sussex controversies
The King stripped Andrew of his royal titles and evicted him from Royal Lodge last year over his connection to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The eviction also saw Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, evicted from the property.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have also launched verbal attacks on the family since their exit from royal life in 2020. The couple made a surprise return to the UK in August and are now thought to be living somewhere in the Cotswolds with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, aged seven and five.
The couple also undertook a faux-royal visit in mid-October, attending three separate engagements in the city. This move is said to have angered Prince William, with the 44-year-old reportedly "seething" by the visit.
