King Charles' Emotional Grenfell Response Revealed During Documentary Premiere
King Charles was reportedly overcome with emotion and shed tears in the immediate aftermath of the devastating Grenfell Tower tragedy, according to revelations made during discussions surrounding the premiere of his new environmental documentary. The monarch's profound personal reaction to the 2017 disaster, which claimed 72 lives in West London, has come to light nearly a decade later as his environmental advocacy takes centre stage.
Premiere Event Sparks Reflection on Royal Response
The emotional disclosure emerged during conversations following the Windsor Castle premiere of Finding Harmony: A King's Vision, the monarch's groundbreaking environmental documentary. Veteran broadcaster Gyles Brandreth shared poignant details about encountering King Charles shortly after the Grenfell fire, describing how visibly affected the royal appeared during a charity engagement.
"I happened to see him on a charity thing the day after and there were tears in his eyes," Brandreth revealed during an appearance on ITV's This Morning. "He was thinking 'The things I've been saying about how we build buildings, the fabrics we use, have got to be in harmony with one another and if they aren't, this is what happens.'"
Documentary Showcases Decades of Environmental Advocacy
The 90-minute documentary, which will be available on Amazon Prime from February 6, represents a culmination of King Charles' lifelong environmental campaigning. Filmed across four continents over seven months and incorporating 75 years of archive footage, the film explores the monarch's philosophy of Harmony - his belief that humanity must see itself as part of nature rather than separate from it.
Narrator Kate Winslet described the project as "a lifetime in the making" while praising the King's "great vision and foresight." The documentary charts Charles' decades-long mission to challenge climate change and promote sustainable solutions through his nature and sustainability charity, The King's Foundation.
Celebrity Attendance and Critical Perspectives
The black-tie premiere attracted numerous high-profile guests including Sir Rod and Lady Stewart, Fearne Cotton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kenneth Branagh, Dame Judi Dench, and Stanley Tucci. The Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were among the 222 attendees, alongside notable figures from various fields including Alan Titchmarsh, Jools Holland, and Tim Peake.
However, the discussion on This Morning also included critical perspectives from former Coronation Street actress Nicola Thorp, who acknowledged the documentary's positive message while questioning the practical limitations of royal influence. "Some people might turn to him and say he owns the majority of the land in the country, and people like himself and his family do have the ability to rehouse people," Thorp noted, referencing ongoing housing challenges for Grenfell survivors.
Connecting Personal Philosophy to Public Tragedy
The revelation about King Charles' emotional response to Grenfell provides a poignant connection between his personal environmental philosophy and real-world consequences. Brandreth emphasised that the documentary focuses entirely on positive solutions rather than criticism, stating: "What's interesting about it is that it's totally positive. There's no whinging, no complaining. It's actually out there saying 'This is what I believe in.'"
This disclosure comes as the documentary prepares for public release, offering viewers insight into how the monarch's environmental principles intersect with his responses to national tragedies. The film's exploration of sustainable building practices and material choices takes on additional resonance in light of the Grenfell revelations, highlighting how architectural decisions can have devastating human consequences when harmony with nature is disregarded.
