Sir Clive Alderton, the principal private secretary to King Charles III and Queen Camilla, will step down from his position next year after two decades of service to the royal household. Alderton, who has been the King’s most senior aide for the past 11 years, will leave his role around the time of his 60th birthday, with a successor expected to be appointed following a transition period lasting several months.
Having joined the Royal household in 2006, apart from a three-year tenure as an ambassador, Alderton has played a pivotal role in some of the monarchy’s most significant events in recent years. He is widely credited with overseeing King Charles III’s transition from Prince of Wales to monarch, including the planning and execution of the May 6, 2023 Coronation. In addition, he managed the coordination of both incoming and outgoing state visits, including the King’s recent visit to former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Alderton also assisted in guiding the royal programme after the King’s cancer diagnosis, and played a crucial role in addressing several high-profile challenges facing the monarchy. These included managing the fallout from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s departure from their royal roles and handling the aftermath of allegations surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his connections to the Epstein investigation.
He was regarded as a steady influence during the 2021 Sandringham summit, convened to address Prince Harry’s status within the royal family, where Alderton was involved in enforcing the late Queen Elizabeth II’s directive against a “half-in half-out” arrangement for the Duke of Sussex. Prince Harry referred to him as “The Wasp” in his memoir, though observers have highlighted Alderton’s diplomatic approach in representing the King’s interests.
In 2022, Alderton described the King’s reign as one characterized by “informal formality,” capturing the blend of tradition and approachability exemplified during Charles III’s initial public engagements. He was instrumental in streamlining the Prince of Wales’s charitable foundations from 21 to three, ensuring they could function semi-independently after Charles ascended the throne.
Alderton was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 2022 and served as chairman of the Coronation Organising Committee. A palace spokesman expressed deep gratitude for his “tireless support and wise counsel” and noted that his “enduring loyalty” would facilitate a smooth handover to his successor.
In his farewell message to palace staff, Sir Clive described it as “the greatest imaginable honour” to serve during such historic times and pledged ongoing support to the King and Queen in a less formal capacity. Colleagues have praised Alderton’s leadership for ensuring an “extremely effective” transition between reigns. The Queen’s private secretary Sophie Densham and the King’s deputy private secretary Theo Rycroft are expected to remain in their posts.