He is considered one of the most powerful men behind the scenes of the British royal household - and now he is announcing his departure: Sir Clive Alderton (59), the closest advisor to King Charles III (77), will step down from his position at Buckingham Palace according to the "Telegraph" in summer 2027. After around 20 years in service to the royals, the search for a successor now begins.
He Organized Charles' Coronation
Sir Clive Alderton has served as Private Secretary to King Charles and Queen Camilla (79) since 2015. He had already worked for many years for the then Prince and Princess before that. In total, he has been part of the royal household since 2006, interrupted by a three-year stint as British Ambassador to Morocco.
As the closest confidant of the monarch, Alderton played a key role in the transition from Prince of Wales to King. Among other things, he coordinated the coronation of Charles on May 6, 2023, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) in September 2022.
Numerous state visits as well as the adjustment of the King's schedule following his cancer diagnosis were also organized under his leadership.
Guided the Monarchy Through Difficult Years
His tenure also included some of the biggest crises of the British royal household in recent decades. Alderton was involved in the discussions surrounding the withdrawal of Prince Harry (41) and Duchess Meghan (44) from the inner circle of working royals. He was also among the senior palace staff who prepared the so-called Sandringham Summit, where it was determined that a "half in, half out" model was not an option for the couple.
In his autobiography "Spare", Prince Harry therefore referred to the long-serving advisor with the nickname "The Wasp". Within the palace, however, Alderton was regarded as a loyal diplomat who consistently implemented the King's wishes.
The scandal surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (66) regarding his connections to convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein (1953-2019) also fell during his tenure.
King Charles Honors Long-Serving Advisor
In a message to staff, Alderton explained that it had been the "greatest imaginable honor" to serve King Charles and Queen Camilla during a historically significant time. Even after his departure, he intends to remain connected to the royal couple in an informal capacity.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson stated that Charles and Camilla are "deeply grateful" to their long-serving confidant for his tireless dedication, wise counsel, and loyalty. This will also enable a smooth transition to his successor.
Who Will Succeed Him?
With Alderton's departure, the search for a new Private Secretary now officially begins. The selection process is likely to take several months. Candidates from the civil service, the private sector, as well as internal candidates are being considered.
According to media reports, Theo Rycroft, who has been Deputy Private Secretary to the King since early 2025, is considered a possible favorite. However, no decision on the succession has been announced yet.
Even after his departure, Sir Clive Alderton is expected to continue advising the King and Queen - though no longer in an official capacity.
