King Charles apparently left with certain childlike behaviours after growing up heir to the throne

King Charles III is so used to getting what he wants that when things don’t go his way, the monarch seemingly lashes out like a petulant toddler.

King Charles apparently left with certain childlike behaviours after growing up heir to the throne
© Chris Jackson / Getty Images
King Charles apparently left with certain childlike behaviours after growing up heir to the throne

Over the years, King Charles has been known for his supposed foul temper. As recently as September 2022, the King lost his temper over a leaky pen, causing a lot of backlash on social media. But there is a softer side to the sovereign.

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Childish temper tantrums

A new royal book called The King: The Life of Charles III, which is set to hit shelves next week, claims that King Charles has a fiery temper. Over the years, the Prince-turned-King allegedly flew into blind rages at the expense of anyone within close proximity. The author Christopher Andersen quoted a member of staff:

For someone who said he was bullied as a child, Prince Charles clearly enjoyed bullying us.

Andersen alleges that many of the King's outbursts turned violent. Andersen recounts an incident where Charles reportedly assaulted his valet because His Majesty had misplaced his cufflinks.

The King is probably so used to getting his own way that when things aren't quite to his liking, he seems unable to cope, much like a toddler who has been told 'no' or a petulant teenager.

The book recounts an incident where the King wanted some fresh air. He could not open the window and reportedly smashed it to let the fresh air in. If that isn't bad enough, he apparently broke another one, just for good measure. The then-Prince's valet supposedly said of the incident:

The Prince is accustomed to getting what he wants….and he wanted some fresh air.

The author claims that Charles would take his grievances out on his staff, especially his gardeners. If their work wasn't up to par, His Majesty would allegedly berate them with a megaphone to ensure everyone heard. A member of staff apparently said of King Charles:

Much of the time, he was moody and mean.

Still a child at heart

Aside from the King's supposed fierce temper, the book also notes the King's softer side. According to the author, Charles stayed sentimentally attached to his childhood teddy bear well into his 40s.

The book claims that Mispy, the King's cuddly friend, had his very own valet charged with the bear's care and well-being. The bear's valet was also reportedly tasked with knowing where Mispy was always in case the King wanted him.

Anderson likens the King's attachment to his teddy to one of a father to his child. The author wrote:

You would think it was his own child

Over the years, Mispy has aged, and the wear-and-tear shows. Charles apparently trusted only one person enough to carry out repairs, his childhood nanny Mabel Anderson.

And when his beloved bear needed repairing, Andersen likened the experience to having a child undergo major surgery.

The author speculates that much of King Charles' behaviour stems from his alleged troubled childhood, which was apparently a very lonely one.

Sources used:

- My London: King Charles treated his teddy bear 'like his own child' well into his forties

- We Got This Covered: King Charles allegedly smashed two windows with chair in epic temper tantrum

- Page Six: King Charles loses his temper over a leaky pen: 'Can't bear this bloody thing'

King Charles finally addresses leaking pen incident that left him angry during ancestral ceremony King Charles finally addresses leaking pen incident that left him angry during ancestral ceremony