Redundancies and a new inner circle: How ‘The Firm’ will evolve under the reign of King Charles

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, those working under King Charles could be facing the end of their career within the royal household, a royal expert told Insider.

Insider previously estimated that 1,133 people work, volunteer, and assume ceremonial roles in the royal household, often nicknamed “The Firm.” As the new monarch transitions into his role, however, not everyone can expect to stay, Marlene Koeing, a royal historian and internationally recognized expert on British and European royalty, told Insider.

Shifts within “The Firm” have already been making headlines. On Tuesday, The Guardian reported that 100 people working at Clarence House — Charles’ former official residence — were told their jobs were at risk as the monarch prepares to move to Buckingham Palace. According to the report, many expected they’d be kept on and transition into the new royal household.

But they’re far from the only ones whose positions within “The Firm” could be on the line, Koenig said. In fact, those who had the top jobs under Queen Elizabeth II are most vulnerable, she added.

Buckingham Palace.John Campbell via Royal Collection Trust

“The more important jobs to the sovereign will probably change, especially the private secretary,” Koeing said.

Those who perhaps have less to worry about are royal staff in more standard roles, she added. These include the footmen, kitchen staff, and housekeepers.

The type of people working in the royal household could change under Charles, Koenig said

What’s more, Koening said the makeup of who works within the royal household could evolve under Charles’ reign.

“If you look at the list of private secretaries from Queen Victoria to the present, you will see a huge change,” she said, pointing toward their background and social status.

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Historically monarchs sourced private secretaries from the same British noble and military families, Koeing said. Queen Victoria’s, for example, was Lieutenant Sir Arthur Bigge, who later became the first Lord Baron of Stamforham. His grandson Michael Adeane served as Queen Elizabeth’s second Private Secretary. Her first was Sir Alan Lascelles, who worked as her father King George VI’s private secretary.

Hiring people who ran in these “noble” circles into the top positions with “The Firm” remained the norm only until later in Queen Elizabeth’s reign, Koenig said.

The Queen’s second private secretary Sir Michael Adeane, left, and her most recent Sir Edward Young, right.PA Images via Getty Images, Steve Parsons/PA Images via Getty Images

“The more recent private secretaries may have started in other roles within the monarchy or in business,” Koeing said.

With Charles now king, Koeing said further change within the royal household should be expected.

“There has been a move away from the traditional courtiers to people from business, government,” she said.

Charles has spent years building up his own household and inner circle, but Koenig said “it is entirely possible” he will keep his private secretary Clive Alderton, who served him under his role as the Prince of Wales since 2015, whose previous employment includes working as a member of The Royal Household from 2006 until 2012 and for the government in foreign service, according to the royal website.

Charles reportedly wants a ‘slimmed down’ version of the monarchy. It’s unclear if that will apply to ‘The Firm’ as well.

Although the Queen remained monarch until her death, the new king had begun taking on additional responsibilities in recent years as the 96-year-old monarch slowed down, The Mirror reported.

One of his responsibilities is said to have been “slimming down” the monarchy to only senior staff members, as Insider previously reported, likely including King Charles himself; Camilla, the Queen Consort; Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex; Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales; and Anne, Princess Royal.

Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield previously told Insider that the original lineup also included the late Prince Philip before his retirement in 2017 and Prince Harry before his resignation in 2020.

This “slimmed down” monarchy could reduce the number royal press offices who had previously operated “in their ‘own silos,’ regardless of the impact on the institution,” according to the British newspaper The Times.

It additionally would reduce the number of royals who are funded by the Sovereign Grant, the public funds used to support them, The Times reports. The Sovereign Grant pays for property upkeep and utilities, the family’s travel, and importantly the royal employee payroll, according to official royal family financial reports. (The Telegraph notes that the grant doesn’t cover costs of security and royal ceremonies — that money comes from a few other places.)

Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.

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