Former Royal Butler Shares "Sweet" Reason Why Working With King Charles and Queen Camilla on Easter Was a "Disaster"
Grant Harrold revealed how The King and Queen treated their staff during the holiday.


Working for The King and Queen isn't always easy, especially over holidays when staff often have to give up their own celebrations with family. Although King Charles has a reputation for being quite particular when it comes to his daily rituals, he also makes sure to show his appreciation for the people who keep the royal households running. Former royal butler Grant Harrold has recalled some of the "sweet" gestures made by the royals when he spent his first Easter with The King and Queen, who used to make the trip up to Scotland for the occasion.
Speaking on behalf of Spin Genie, Harrold—who worked for the pair between 2004 and 2011—revealed that even though they're kept busy over Easter, The King's staff get treated to plenty of candy.
"Easter is interesting, from my experiences, because The King used to go up to Scotland for his Easter break, and I used to go up with him, and we’ve seen he’s now in Balmoral with Camilla," the former butler recalled. "That's quite a traditional thing, going up to Scotland. It marks the beginning of a busy time for the royals, as the social season starts in March and runs right through up until Christmas time."
Harrold said working over Easter "was great," because he "was given Easter eggs by The King and Queen." However, the former butler said it came with one downside, adding, "it was a disaster for my weight."
Queen Camilla and King Charles are seen at Easter Sunday services in 2024.
Princess Kate, Prince William, Mike and Zara Tindall and Princess Beatrice are seen attending church on Easter 2019.
He continued that Charles and Camilla, "absolutely used to give me Easter gifts," sharing, "I remember one year the King actually wrote me a little letter and he thanked me for spending my Easter with them, it was my first Easter with them, and he put Cadbury's mini eggs in the envelopes, so when I opened the envelope, all those sweets fell out."
Harrold, who called the gesture, "so sweet," also shared what he gifted the now-monarch for the holiday. "I gave him a little metal tin, when you opened it, there was a little wind up chicken that he wound up and had it run across the table between him and The Queen. It was quite sweet, very cute."
As for the royals' 2025 celebrations, King Charles and Queen Camilla won't be enjoying quiet time in Scotland. Their Majesties are confirmed to be attending Easter Sunday church service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor. Although it's unclear if the Prince and Princess of Wales are attending with their children, the palace noted that The King and Queen will be "accompanied by members of the Royal Family."
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.
Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.
Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.
-
Celebrities Are All Trading Sweats for La Ligne's Colby Pants
Once I pulled them on, I understood the hype.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Sézane, Zara and Reformation Take the Lead in Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s F1 Grand Prix Fashion
The York sisters revved up their spring style in Bahrain.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince Harry Allegedly Offered "Olive Branch" to Kate and William
The Duke of Sussex's decision was reportedly an effort "to make peace."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Palace Employees Reveal They've "All Tried" to Get King Charles to "Slow Down" Amid Cancer Treatment
"Now he wants to do more and more and more. That's the problem."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Royal Expert Shares Why King Charles Had to Be "Very Careful" and "Couldn't" Meet Prince Harry During U.K. Visit
"It could actually bring down a court case."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince William and Princess Kate’s Rarely Seen Family Member Stars in a Special Instagram Post Marking a Royal First
The Prince and Princess of Wales celebrated "joy" on a sweet holiday.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
King Charles and Queen Camilla Experienced a Hilarious Self-Tan Incident That Caused Butler to Take "A Week Off"
Camilla "said it was awful," according to former royal butler Grant Harrold.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Why Princess Charlene Has Been Granted a Special "Privilege" Queen Camilla and Other Royals are Banned From Doing
The Monégasque princess is part of an elite group.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Why King Charles and Queen Camilla "Wept" at Windsor Castle Event and "Set Off the Staff"
A royal expert revealed that "everybody was sobbing."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
King Charles Spent His "Remote" Honeymoon With Queen Camilla in an Unusual Way, Per Former Royal Employee
"He was happy to get stuck in."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
This Unexpected Royal is Said to be Responsible for the Remarkable Shift in Queen Camilla's "Public Perception"
Charles and Camilla's story "took a defining turn" after this intervention, according to one royal expert.
By Kristin Contino Published