King Charles attended the Gladiator II premiere in London on Wednesday, making a solo appearance after Queen Camilla decided to stay home and rest due to a chest infection.
While no other royal family members filled in for the Queen, many fans were curious about the identity of the King’s companion, who accompanied him to the event at the ODEON in Leicester Square.
The woman seen in the back of the car with the monarch is believed to be the King’s Assistant Private Secretary. She works closely with Sir Clive Alderton, the principal Private Secretary to the King and Queen, who has been serving the royal couple since 2015.
According to the royal household’s website, the Private Secretary’s Office provides crucial advice to King Charles on constitutional, governmental, and political matters, both in the UK and across the Commonwealth.
The premiere came just one day before the King’s 76th birthday, but it was business as usual for His Majesty.
On Thursday, Charles opened the first two Coronation Food Hubs—one in person at Deptford, south-east London, and the other virtually in Knowsley, Merseyside.
He also received a special homemade birthday card from a group of schoolchildren, who sang to him. Additionally, he attended a “surplus food festival” showcasing meals made from food that would have otherwise gone to waste.
During his visit, he spent time talking with children from Rye Oak Primary School in Peckham about their favorite foods and school lunches. When asked if he would be taking a break for his birthday, Charles humorously replied, “Not quite.”
