Ex-royal butler reveals one decision King Charles made that really surprised him

King Charles's former butler has said he was "surprised" by his choice of regnal name following his accession to the throne. When a sovereign takes the throne, it is up to them to choose any of their given names to use as their official title.

Grant Harrold, who worked for the then Prince of Wales between 2004 and 2011, explained the reason behind the King choosing Charles III as his regnal name, over a choice such as King George VII - the name he thought the King would select.The King's full name is Charles Philip Arthur George, and he had the option to pick any of these monikers when he became King.

Mr Harrold revealed King Charles's decision at the launch of his book, The Royal Butler: My Remarkable Life of Royal Service.

He said: "I had a conversation [with him] and he explained to me about [the] titles, he explained to me about why you bow and curtsey, and he explained to me about the different titles he could use. And we, myself and other colleagues, discussed it and we were all convinced he would [become] George VII."

Mr Harrold thinks Charles's choice to avoid George VII might have been because of his grandson, Prince George, who sits at second in line to the throne behind Prince William.

He said: "With his grandson George, maybe he felt he should be the next George VII. Maybe he feels that it would be a nice thing to let him have that - be the next George - because it makes sense for Charles to go with Charles, it does make sense, but to go with George, it would make more sense for his grandson to have that name."

King Charles became King on September 8, 2022, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. His succession to the throne was automatic upon her death, as the Crown instantly transfers to the heir in the UK.

Mr Harrold also explained another reason he was surprised at becoming King Charles III. He said: "Because Charles II had a reputation as [being] a womaniser and Charles I lost his head (after he was tried and convicted of treason). So when he picked Charles, I was quite surprised because that was not the impression I got."

King Charles acceded to the throne following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022. He marked the anniversary privately earlier this week at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, where the late monarch passed away at the age of 96.

This is similar to his late mother's tradition of passing her accession day at Sandringham House in Norfolk where her father, King George VI, passed away aged just 56 on February 6, 1952.