Despite efforts to cut royal costs, the King’s extravagant habits risk
undermining both his legacy and the monarchy’s modern image.
King Charles, widely recognised for his commitment to sustainability and
environmental protection, is now facing scrutiny over personal habits that
appear to contradict his public advocacy—and could create long-term challenges
for the monarchy.
Although the King has taken steps to reduce the financial burden on the
Crown—by narrowing senior royal roles and limiting privileges for non-working
family members—his own extravagant lifestyle seems to stand at odds with those
reforms.
According to royal author and former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown, the
monarch has adopted the expensive ways of his late grandmother, Queen
Elizabeth The Queen Mother. In The Palace Papers, Brown notes that Charles
aspired to “out-granny Granny” by replicating her Edwardian-style grandeur and
staffing levels.
The Queen Mother was famed for her opulent lifestyle and multiple staffed
residences. Charles, influenced by this legacy, appears to have followed suit.
In one striking example, he reportedly sent staff ahead of a visit to the
north of England to refit the guest accommodation with personal
furniture—including his own bed, linen, and even a custom lavatory seat.
The King’s travel entourage is also said to include personal comforts such as
Laphroaig whisky, specific brands of toilet paper, and landscape paintings of
the Scottish Highlands. In his wardrobe, handmade shirts reportedly retail for
over $1,300 each.
These revelations raise questions about the credibility of the King’s
sustainability messaging. Critics argue that while Charles is tightening the
royal purse strings for others, his own spending habits could erode public
support for the institution.
Ultimately, the contradiction between the King’s public image and private
preferences may not only damage his personal legacy but also complicate
efforts to modernise and preserve the monarchy in a cost-conscious era.
