King Charles’ private phone number was once confused for a takeaway shop, according to a former royal staffer who revealed the unusual story while promoting his new memoir.
Grant Harrold, the King’s former butler, shared the anecdote during the launch of his book The Royal Butler: My Remarkable Life of Royal Service. He recalled how His Majesty consistently received calls from someone who thought they were phoning a Chinese takeaway.
“I remember once somebody got hold of the King’s private phone and they phoned him up thinking he was a Chinese takeaway,” said Harrold, 47.
“They put in an order, trying to get a Chinese. He just said, ‘I’m not a Chinese takeaway, you’ve got the wrong number.’ But they kept phoning him back,” he explained. “Eventually, he had to get us to speak to them and say, ‘This is the wrong number. “
The lighthearted story offered a rare glimpse into the often private world of the monarch. Harrold, who worked closely with the royal household, has become known for sharing humorous behind-the-scenes details of royal life.
He also reminisced about an occasion involving King Charles’ younger son, Prince Harry. According to Harrold, Harry once extended a casual invitation to share a takeaway meal.
“I declined, but I sat down with them while they had it, just informally,” Harrold told Slingo. “It was really fun, and I thought, this is obviously how they’ve been brought up.”
Harrold’s new book blends personal anecdotes with his experiences of working inside one of the world’s most famous families. His account of mistaken phone calls and takeaway dinners highlights moments of normalcy and humor within the royal household, contrasting with the more formal image often associated with the monarchy.
King Charles, who has been the subject of many serious stories since ascending the throne, is shown here in a much lighter context. The story of his number being confused for a restaurant adds to the long tradition of quirky tales surrounding the Royal Family.
As Harrold continues to share his memories publicly, these glimpses into royal life offer both charm and relatability, showing that even kings can receive wrong-number calls asking for Chinese food.