As King Charles prepared to attend the weekend's Trooping the Colour celebrations, Royal biographer Robert Hardman looked back on an eventful two years for the British monarchy.
From celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, to Queen Elizabeth's death months later, followed by the Coronation, and news of King Charles III's cancer diagnosis - not to mention the dramatic publication of Harry's incendiary biography Spare - it's been an unsettling time for the Royals.
The transition could have led to instability but Hardman, who has written books on the late Queen, the Monarchy, and now Charles III says: "I think The King has confounded his critics.
"There were a few who viewed him through the prism of middle-aged Prince Charles, expecting a Monarch who was interfering and opinionated, but one of his team likened it to a barrister becoming a judge - you change roles.
"He's been in waiting a long time and given it a lot of thought. Come the moment he knew exactly what to do. He hasn't meddled or interfered and there's the underlying sense it's all going well.
"While the political process has been a complete basket case, the Monarchy looks like a beacon of stability."
As he recovers from cancer, The King has got on with signing legislation and reviewing red boxes, while Camilla and the Princess Royal pursue their unfussy service to the country.
"Queen Camilla is central, very practical, calming everyone down, making sure he doesn't overdo things," says Hardman, who gives a talk about his book at the Proms at St Jude's lit fest on Saturday June 22.
"She very much looks at the late Duke of Edinburgh as a role model for a consort. You are there to ride alongside and support, you are not the star. There's a certain shyness there, she wouldn't want to be centre stage."
The King too likes his private time. "He hasn't a great desire to be in the public eye all the time, the Royals are absolutely not celebrities, but visibility is crucial. Monarchy has to be out there. If you are the King, people expect to see you."
Hardman enthusiastically dived into the archives to research and compare the Queen's Coronation to her son's.
"1953 was another world, the Queen was expected to host a full house party and state banquets at Buckingham Palace for European Royals - many of them ran up spectacular bills. This time around everyone was in and out in a day, 900 hereditary peers weren't there, and the congregation was a quarter the size and included Ant and Dec.
"While the central elements were the same as for William The Conqueror, instead of being run by elderly, white, Anglican men, and aristocrats this time around women were in all the main roles and every community and faith played a part."
With his impeccable access to the Royals, their friends and staff, it was Hardman who revealed the inside story of The Queen's final days at Balmoral including the detail that Charles was picking mushrooms when he heard of her death.
"The Queen was declining, but people were not expecting things to happen as fast as it did, it took everyone by surprise.
"She was the first ever British Monarch to die in Scotland, and even though she adored Scotland The Queen was worried about being there. And when it came to appointing the new Prime Minister (Liz Truss) she thought it would be selfish to expect those busy politicians to come to the Highlands.
"There was even a plan for her to take the train to London, but she took a turn for the worse and was reassured that it was fine for them to come to Balmoral. There is that final, powerful, amazing image of her standing by the fire having just appointed a new PM, pleased she's done her job."
In the days that followed, the only thing that betrayed the King's grief was irritation over a malfunctioning pen.
"In any other job you would be given days off if you have lost a family member but if you are the Monarch you are effectively a shoulder for the nation to cry on, you are expected to sympathise and you have to just compartmentalise."
Hardman says while The Queen often "bit her lip," people who work with King Charles say "he might get cross about little things but never about the big things."
But it was Hardman who revealed that the late Queen had expressed irritation at Harry and Meghan's statement that she had approved them calling their daughter after her nickname Lilibet.
"She loved Harry and loved Lilibet, it wasn't about the name, she was angry at the way it was briefed that she had been consulted."
He adds that Spare has had a chilling effect on Royals spending time with The Duke of Sussex: "With Harry and Meghan generally, it's a trust thing. The book revealed intimate family moments they never thought would see the light of day and everyone is wary in case anything else could end up in Spare part II."
As for the future, Hardman says: "No question we've had 12 months with a lot of Royal air time, they have been over exposed, and would like to get back to whatever normal is for The Monarchy."
Despite a hereditary Monarchy being "completely irrational," with its soft power, and strong traditions, he believes "people feel attached to it."
"There isn't the appetite for getting rid of it and having an elected head of state but it's about relevance.
"You have to stay relevant to justify why you are there."
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