Alan Titchmarsh says he has “no assumptions” his friendship with King Charles will continue
Alan Titchmarsh revealed he has “no assumptions” his friendship with King Charles will continue after he takes the throne.
He revealed he had dinner with the King the night before his mother the Queen died and admitted the new monarch will be “very busy”.
Titchmarsh, 73, has a long-standing relationship with the monarch and the two have now been friends for 40 years.
In an interview with The Times, the popular TV presenter and gardener candidly described his dinner with the King, then Prince Charles, the night before the Queen’s death.
Alan Titchmarsh revealed he has “no assumptions” his friendship with King Charles will continue after he takes the throne
He said: “There was a glass of fizz and dinner and the prince and I chatted.”
“After that there was coffee and music in the tapestry room, then we said good night. The next day his mother died, he became king and since then his feet have not touched the ground.”
Titchmarsh added that he doesn’t forget how much has changed now, but hopes their “feelings” for each other will last.
He said: “I don’t expect our friendship to last – he’s king now, he’ll be very busy.
“I think our feelings for each other will last. We understand each other.
Titchmarsh, 73, has a long-standing relationship with the monarch and the two have now been friends for 40 years
Titchmarsh added that he doesn’t forget how much has changed now, but hopes their “feelings” for each other will last
“He’s a good man who works incredibly hard for the good of our country.”
Referring to the “pen thing” – when the king was visibly frustrated by a leaking pen a few days into his reign – Titchmarsh defended his friend, adding his concern that “people wouldn’t give him a chance”.
He said: “That pen thing – I mean, for God’s sake. He lost his father last year and he had just lost his mother.
“And suddenly he has to sign a proclamation and then visit the lands of the kingdom – I mean, you’d be a little embarrassed if your pen leaked, wouldn’t you?”
Referring to the “pen thing” – when the king was visibly frustrated by a leaking pen a few days into his reign – Titchmarsh defended his friend, adding his concern that “people wouldn’t give him a chance”.
Titchmarsh added that while the Queen has generally done “everything right”, her mistakes, made in not getting there quickly enough for the 1966 Aberfan disaster and in staying with her grandchildren at Balmoral after Princess Diana’s death, he said, earlier were the days of social media.
“Now people judge every expression. It is inhuman to expect our new king to survive such a test. He’s going to freak out,” he said.
Titchmarsh was awarded an MBE in 2000, where the Queen said to him – as pointed out on her sympathy program – “You bring a lot of joy to a lot of ladies”.
