Sir Clive Alderton’s Clive Alderton royal retirement is now on the horizon. King Charles' principal private secretary is set to step down next year after 20 years in the Royal Household, and Buckingham Palace will begin the search for a successor.
The handover matters because Alderton has organised the King and Queen’s official work and advised on major events, including the Coronation. A Palace spokesman said the King and Queen were “deeply grateful to Sir 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”.
Buckingham Palace succession search
The search will soon begin for a new right-hand man or woman for King Charles. The next appointee will step into one of the most influential behind-the-scenes roles in Buckingham Palace, with responsibility for the day-to-day organisation of the monarch’s public programme and the flow of advice around major decisions.
Sir Clive joined the Royal Household 20 years ago, and the transition will be managed while he is still in post. A Palace source said he will help with the handover once a successor has been appointed, so the change is being staged rather than left to a single handover day.
May 2027 handover
There is a further wrinkle in the timetable. Sir Clive is set to step down next year, but a Palace source said he will remain in post until his 60th birthday in May 2027. That means the search begins before his departure, while the Royal Household keeps continuity inside King Charles and Queen Camilla’s small inner circle.
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.” He had also been there to give a formal welcome to Andy Burnham last week at Buckingham Palace, a reminder that the post sits close to the centre of the monarch’s daily business.
Sir Clive Alderton and Spare
The role has also drawn attention beyond Buckingham Palace because of its access and influence. Prince Harry described a figure he called “the Wasp” in Spare, linking the job to discussions about Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex stepping down as working royals and moving to the US in 2020.
For Buckingham Palace, the practical question now is straightforward: who will replace Sir Clive as King Charles' principal private secretary? The Palace has started the search, but the name of the successor has not been set out yet, leaving the timing of the transition tied to the appointment itself.
