The definitive, page-turning story of King Charles’s reign, revealing the truth behind the news stories as the new monarch set out to make his mark, from royal expert and bestselling author Robert Hardman.



The instant No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller, updated with exclusive new material covering the turbulent events of 2024, including the serious health challenges facing the King and Princess of Wales.

'Scoops aplenty are here . . . An irresistible insider account of momentous royal events' – Melanie Reid, The Times

'Fascinating . . . the book everyone is talking about' – Daily Mail

By the acclaimed royal biographer and commentator Robert Hardman, Charles III is a brilliant and intimate portrait of the new monarch that draws on unrivalled access to the Royal Family, their close friends and staff, plus previously unseen papers from the Royal Archives.

With damaging headlines unleashed by the Sussexes, political crises and questions about the future of the monarchy, Charles III had no shortage of challenges when he started his reign. The Royal Family then faced a double blow in 2024 when the King and the Princess of Wales were diagnosed with cancer, the news shocking the nation.

The dramatic story is uncovered here, along with the vital role played by Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal and others. From the emotional days following the death of Elizabeth II to the pageantry of the coronation, from the truth about the King’s relationship with Prince William and Prince Harry and the way he has coped with his illness to his first steps on the world stage, Hardman takes us behind the pomp and ceremony to reveal Charles the man as well as the monarch.

Authoritative and richly insightful, Charles III is the definitive account of a king determined to maximize ‘the time God grants me’ – and enjoy it.

'This glorious book reveals the real Charles III. Hardman’s magisterial biography, full of detail about the King, the Queen and the Sussexes alike, will become a historical document' – Simon Heffer, The Telegraph