Former royal butler praises monarch’s intellect but gives top spot to late Queen
King Charles III may reign over the United Kingdom, but when it comes to brainpower, a former royal butler says he’s not quite the sharpest royal of them all.
Grant Harrold, who worked closely with the then-Prince Charles from 2004 to 2011, shared his rankings of the most intelligent royals in a conversation with Study Dog — and while the monarch earned high praise, he ultimately came second to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
“The smartest in my mind would have been Queen Elizabeth II,” Harrold said. “Not just for her intelligence, but also for her wit, her long and stable reign, and her surprising knowledge of sports.”
King Charles claimed the runner-up spot, with Harrold commending his remarkable intellect. “He speaks several languages, has a brilliant mind for numbers, and his command of the English language is extraordinary. If you’re talking about the current royals, he’d be at the top of that pile without any question.”
Princess Anne rounded out the top three, with Harrold calling her a “very knowledgeable lady” and a quiet force within the royal family.
Harrold also weighed in on the younger generation, suggesting that Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis might not all pursue traditional university degrees. “We may find they go straight to somewhere like Sandhurst,” he said, referencing the elite military academy.
While King Charles may not have clinched the top spot, Harrold’s insights shine a light on the intellectual strength within the royal lineage — and the evolving expectations for those next in line.
