Situations with royals in the media raise questions about how much influence the palace holds over coverage. Now, resurfaced details from King Charles’ time as Prince of Wales are adding to that debate.
Critics point to what they describe as a highly controlled approach. Some have even compared it to Kim Jong-Un, the authoritarian leader of North Korea known for strict control over media and public messaging.
King Charles allegedly controlled media with an “iron fist”
According to RadarOnline, resurfaced documents show Charles enforced strict rules for media access before he became king. In 2015, broadcasters reportedly had to sign detailed 15-page agreements through Clarence House to secure an interview.
Those terms went beyond standard practice. Charles’ team allegedly approved every question in advance. They also monitored edits and kept the power to pull footage if they were unhappy.
One broadcast source said, “This was described internally as a Kim Jong-Un style iron fist approach to media control … The level of oversight being demanded went far beyond normal access agreements.”
Another journalist added, “What was being proposed went well beyond standard access arrangements – it amounted to handing over meaningful editorial control before an interview had even begun.”
They continued, “The requirement that every question be submitted in advance, drafted in full and signed off line by line, fundamentally alters the dynamic of any journalistic exchange.”
If interviewers strayed from approved questions, producers could stop filming. Outlets then had “no right to use or exploit” the footage. Palace representatives could also attend editing sessions. They could request changes tied to “fairness, balance, confidentiality or security.”
One former editor said, “The real issue is that arrangements like this start to erode the boundary between independent journalism and managed messaging.”
Another source added, “Calling it a Kim Jong-Un style iron fist is provocative, but it reflects genuine unease about how much leverage was being exercised.”
Clarence House has defended the agreements as standard practice that ensures accuracy.
TELL US — WAS IT VALID FOR CHARLES TO HAVE EXERTED THIS LEVEL OF CONTROL OVER MEDIA INTERVIEWS?
