Ex-PM David Cameron reveals he helped Charles prepare for becoming King with practice ‘audiences’ during his time in Downing Street – and how ‘intelligent and charming’ prince made a big impression on his wife Samantha
- Charles wanted to learn how to conduct monarch’s weekly meeting with the PM
- Cameron said the King was ‘brilliant listener’ who would provide good advice
- Ex-Tory PM revealed wife Samantha smitten by ‘charming’ prince
- Full coverage: Click here to see all our coverage of the Queen’s passing
Charles held secret audiences with David Cameron while he was prime minister to help him prepare for becoming King, the politician revealed today.
The then Prince of Wales wanted to learn how to conduct himself during the reigning monarch’s weekly meetings with the political leader of the day, Mr Cameron told the BBC.
He said that the now King was a ‘brilliant listener’ who would provide good advice to Liz Truss and her successors.
In a recorded interview on the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Mr Cameron said: ‘I had audiences with Prince Charles when Queen Elizabeth II was still on the throne because he wanted to start thinking about how to conduct those audiences.
‘And from what I saw he will be brilliant at that job. Brilliant at listening, brilliant at asking questions, giving wise advice and sage counsel.
‘This has probably been the longest apprenticeship in history and he knows so much about so many subjects. And like his mother he is a superb diplomat.’
The former Tory leader, who was prime minister from 2010 to 2016, also revealed how his wife Samantha was taken with the ‘extremely intelligent and charming’ prince and hoped to sit next to him at state events.
The then Prince of Wales wanted to learn how to conduct himself during the reigning monarch’s weekly meetings with the political leader of the day, Mr Cameron told the BBC.
In a recorded interview on the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Mr Cameron said: ‘I had audiences with Prince Charles when Queen Elizabeth II was still on the throne because he wanted to start thinking about how to conduct those audiences.’
The former Tory leader, who was prime minister from 2010 to 2016, also revealed how his wife Samantha was taken with the ‘extremely intelligent and charming’ prince and hoped to sit next to him at state events.
‘My wife always said, when we had to go to one of those banquets or dinners or big meetings, she said ”I hope I’m sitting next to Prince Charles, he’s the best person to sit next to, he’s the most charming company. There is no one who is better at putting you at your ease and a more charming companion to talk to.” Those are her words.’
Mr Cameron was among a gathering of all of Britain’s past and present political leaders yesterday as Charles III was officially proclaimed King.
The country’s six former Prime Ministers and leaders of the opposition attended the Accession Council at St James’s Palace following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.
He and former Prime Ministers John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Theresa May and Boris Johnson stood in the front row of the ceremony.
They were joined by former leader of the opposition Ed Miliband who led the Labour Party from 2010 to 2015 and Neil Kinnock, who did the same between 1983 and 1992. Former Liberal Democrat leader and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg also joined the Council.
Members of The Royal Family and new Prime Minister Liz Truss were also in attendance, as was current Labour Party leader Keir Starmer.
They joined in chorus of ‘God Save The King’ to show their support for the new monarch.
The monarchy will be smaller and more informal under King Charles, Gordon Brown said.
The former prime minister told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: ‘I think that what Prince Charles has already indicated is that the monarchy will be smaller.
‘It’s going to be more like a Scandinavian monarchy in the future – but not in a bad way – more informal.
‘He stopped as he entered Buckingham Palace and talked to people in the crowd, and that was a signal that he was sending that he wanted people to feel that he was approachable.’
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