Sir Clive Alderton is expected to remain in post until Spring or Summer 2027

The King's most senior aide has announced he is stepping down next year, drawing to a close 20 years of loyal service to the Royal Household.

Sir Clive Alderton has served as Principal Private Secretary to King Charles for more than a decade, supporting him through the highs and lows as both heir and sovereign.

For the first time, former Attorney General and Sir Clive's good friend, Sir Michael Ellis, has spoken publicly about "one of the most consequential private secretaries to the Sovereign in many years."

As His Majesty's closest aide, Sir Clive has carefully navigated a tapestry of personal family challenges and constitutional duties - including the historic accession in September 2022.

From Megxit to cancer battles (and wooing President Trump), Sir Clive has supported The King through it all.

"He is an extremely kind and professional person," Sir Michael Ellis tells me. "He's someone of intense loyalty and considerable discretion, and these are rare qualities in public life."

Sir Michael credited Sir Clive with helping to protect the monarchy as an institution, with an ability to identify and resolve problems before they become crises.

"One of the main characteristics of Clive has been the tremendous foresight that he has. It's troubleshooting issues before they've become troublesome. It's having a good antennae...anticipating what might be an issue, and then dealing with that."

The King won public praise by acting swiftly and removing his brother's royal titles, following further revelations about his closeness to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Meanwhile, Sir Clive Alderton has been involved in supporting the King through difficult family challenges, notably the so-called "Sandringham Summit" where details of Prince Harry and Meghan's exit from royal life were negotiated.

The heated talks and profound disagreements led to Prince Harry describing Sir Clive as "the Wasp" in his controversial memoir Spare in 2023.

"I have never found Clive to be anything other than perfectly charming," Sir Michael said. "He shows what has been a characteristic of royal service for generations, and that's unfailing courtesy and unfailing diplomacy."

Earlier this month, Prince Harry and Meghan were invited to the King's private Highgrove estate for tea, in what some see as the first step towards reconciliation.

Sir Michael praised Sir Clive Alderton for his "intense loyalty" and "considerable discretion" during his time in the Royal Household - no details have leaked about the short family reunion.

The role of the Principal Private Secretary to the Sovereign goes far beyond managing King Charles' diary.

Sir Clive took on the extraordinary responsibility, chairing the Coronation Committee in 2023 - a post last taken on by Winston Churchill for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, 70 years earlier.

Sir Michael said: "Under Sir Clive’s chairmanship there was a gentle modernisation of the 10th century service, which remained faithful to its roots whilst simultaneously achieving new things to make the occasion relevant and accessible to a modern audience."

"It really was a huge success, and I would say chairing the Coronation Committee must be one of the most important and celebrated achievements in a very successful career. "

The coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla was shortened and modernised with a smaller guest list, including religious leaders from several faiths, and the traditional peer homage was replaced by a public "Homage of the People."

Day-to-day, liaising across governments, the Church, military, the Commonwealth, diplomatic circles, judiciary and the wider public are areas Sir Clive has had a duty to manage.

Acknowledging His Majesty's 60 years of public life had "frankly knocks into a cocked hat the experience of anybody else", Sir Michael said Sir Clive's own experience as a diplomat supported his boss to deliver complex engagements successfully.

He highlighted the achievements of recent overseas state speeches, including to the US Congress, which received a standing ovation from both sides of the house.

"You're dealing with every aspect of society in a way that most other public servants don't have to deal with," Sir Michael tells me.

Following the success of the King and Queen's State Visit to the United States of America, President Trump announced he would remove all tariffs and restrictions on Scottish whisky imports - worth millions of pounds for the British economy.

The President of the United States said the King "got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking".

Sir Michael Ellis believes the qualities needed in King Charles' next Principal Private Secretary need to match Sir Clive's, conceding he will be "a tough act to follow".

Sir Clive Alderton is expected to remain in post until Spring or Summer 2027, ensuring a smooth transition to his successor.

When his retirement was announced earlier this week, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson told GB News The King and Queen were "deeply grateful to Clive for his tireless support and wise counsel over the years, and for the enduring loyalty that will ensure a smooth transition to his successor."

PRINCE WILLIAM WARNS OF CHALLENGES" POSED BY EXTREME CLIMATE

The Prince of Wales has warned of "extreme challenges" this week, reacting to the wildfires in France, Spain and the UK.

Writing on social media, Prince William said: "Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the devastating wildfires across France, Spain and the UK."

"We are deeply grateful to the firefighters, emergency services and volunteers working tirelessly in extraordinarily difficult conditions."

"These events are a stark reminder of the challenges posed by an increasingly extreme climate and the importance of protecting both people and nature. W"

Like his father and grandfather before him, the future King has been a strong advocate in protecting the planet for future generations.

Five years ago, he launched the Earthshot Prize to find and support solutions to repair our planet from around the world.

He has been careful to avoid a doom-and-gloom narrative, instead opting for "urgent optimism" as we adapt to increasingly hot and dry summers.

Earlier this week, the Countryside Alliance criticised the Labour Government for banning the controlled burning of heather and grasslands on peaty uplands, which the organisation claims "fuels wildfires".

Since the Prince's message, an "unpredictable" wildfire has broken out in Suffolk.

It is unknown if the Prince of Wales plans to reach out to the firefighters and those evacuated from the area.