Sir Clive Alderton, Principal Private Secretary to King Charles and Queen Camilla, has announced he will leave his role next year after two decades of royal service, with Buckingham Palace preparing an open recruitment process to find his successor.
Sir Clive Alderton, Principal Private Secretary to the King and Queen, has announced he will step down from his position next year, bringing to an end 20 years of service to the Royal Household. His departure, confirmed by Buckingham Palace today, will coincide with his 60th birthday in May. Over 11 years in his current post, Sir Clive guided the household through King Charles’s accession to the throne in 2022, and the Palace has now begun preparing a thorough recruitment process to identify his replacement.
A long career in royal service
Sir Clive first joined the Royal Household in 2006 as Private Secretary to the then Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, going on to become one of King Charles’s closest and longest-serving advisers. Before entering royal service, he built a distinguished diplomatic career with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including a posting as British Ambassador to Morocco.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, Sir Clive was appointed Principal Private Secretary to King Charles III and Queen Camilla, overseeing the transition from the Prince of Wales’s household into the new reign. In that role, he played a central part in organising major royal events, including King Charles III’s Coronation, as well as steering the household through the early years of the King’s reign.
A polarising figure in royal circles
Sir Clive is believed to have been referred to as “The Wasp” by the Duke of Sussex in his controversial memoir, Spare.
Recruitment process and handover
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the search for Sir Clive’s successor will be a competitive process open to both internal and external candidates, an approach that remains relatively unusual for one of the Royal Household’s most senior roles. Sir Clive has pledged to remain fully committed to ensuring a smooth handover to whoever succeeds him.
Tributes and reaction
In a message to colleagues, Sir Clive said: “It has been the greatest imaginable honour to serve The King and Queen in my present role through such historic times and with unforgettable humour along the way. That support will continue, in a less formal capacity, for all of my life.” He has indicated that, despite stepping down from his official position, he intends to continue supporting the King and Queen informally after leaving office.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said Their Majesties are “deeply grateful to Clive for his tireless support and wise counsel over the years, and for the enduring loyalty that will ensure a smooth transition to his successor.”
