King Charles is combining the monarchy’s figurehead role with continued engagement on public issues, rather than setting aside the active approach he developed as Prince of Wales, a senior palace aide has said.

The aide described a blend of Elizabeth II’s example and Charles’s own instincts, arguing that his involvement in non-party-political matters could eventually be recognised as a “big step change” in the monarchy.

During her 70-year reign, the late Queen largely avoided public comment on the major issues of the day. Charles, by contrast, spent decades campaigning on subjects ranging from the environment to architecture.

Before his accession, the aide had wondered whether that “doing” role would give way entirely to the sovereign’s role of “being”. Instead, the aide said, the two approaches had been combined with the Government’s full support and within constitutional boundaries.

“The King does still engage in issues – not anything which is party political, certainly, but where there is consensus, there is an agreement now that it is perfectly reasonable for the sovereign to do that.”

That distinction is central to the palace’s explanation: continued involvement in selected subjects, rather than a continuation of campaigning without restraint. The aide did not present Elizabeth’s reserve as inferior, describing the two approaches as different ways of fulfilling the role well.

Artificial intelligence provides a practical example. This year, Charles hosted a summit bringing together technology-sector leaders, government ministers and civil society to discuss how AI technologies should be developed and deployed.

Charles became King following his mother’s death on 8 September 2022. The aide recalled noticing a change in him within five minutes, while stressing that it was not a wholesale transformation. A more marked difference, the aide said, was how other national leaders treated him once he held the “top job”.

Relations with China illustrate the diplomatic considerations accompanying that position. Elizabeth made a state visit there in 1986; Charles met President Xi Jinping during Xi’s 2015 state visit to Britain. In a 1997 journal entry following Hong Kong’s handover to China, Charles described its then leadership as “appalling old waxworks”.

A future visit remains conditional. The aide said any government request for the King to visit China would be considered very carefully, describing it as a hugely important but complex country whose visit programme would require considerable care.