Charles found out his mother The Queen was seriously ill at the same time as the rest of the world, according to reports. Buckingham Palace issued a statement at 12.30pm on Thursday last week saying the Queen was seriously ill and was under medical observation.
And the then Prince Charles, now King Charles III, was told the news at the same time via a telephone call, according to a senior royal expert. Newsweek’s Chief Royal Correspondent Jack Royston told True Royalty TV's The Royal Beat that Charles only found out about his mother's health moments before the rest of the world did.
An aide ran down a hallway to hand Charles a call, after which "everything was silent" in the room, reports The Express.
Mr Royston said: “Charles and Camilla were in Dumfries House. Camilla was actually about to record an interview with Jenna Bush Hager, who said she heard footsteps running in the hallway.
"Charles took a call, everything was silent, and they were asked to be silent. Then the next thing she knew, Charles and Camilla were in a helicopter."
Mr Royston added: "And that was at 12:30 so that was around exactly the same time that we were told. So they didn’t wait, they didn’t give Charles an hour or two hours [before telling the public]."
Prime Minister Liz Truss was told at the same moment, being handed a note as she stood in the House of Commons.
Former US President George Bush's daughter Jenna Bush Hager has spoken of the moment Charles learned the heartbreaking news. She said royal aides came into the room and said: "Can you please be quiet? There’s a call."
Ms Bush and her husband Henry Hager, had arrived in Scotland the day before to prepare for an interview with Charles' wife Camilla. She revealed in an interview with NBC News that she had shared a "lovely meal" and "wonderful evening filled with conversation" with Charles the night before the news broke.
Prime Minister Liz Truss was informed that the Queen had died at 4.30pm. The world was told at 6.30pm.