London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Mar 14, 2026

The many jobs of King Charles: From weather man to voice of Daleks

The many jobs of King Charles: From weather man to voice of Daleks

Charles has had a life less ordinary but has rarely been paid for his moonlighting

He has never received a P45, but Charles III has possibly had more one-off jobs than Homer Simpson.

Althought King Charles is preparing for his coronation, he has somehow found time to moonlight as an announcer for Transport for London and Network Rail.

Alongside his wife Camilla, the monarch’s voice is sounding out across all 2,570 UK rail stations and the 270 London Underground stations over the weekend.

The King greets passengers and passes on the famous instruction of “mind the gap”.

The announcements can be heard on platforms from Friday until Monday, making it another appearance in a long line of special one-offs for the King.

From weather presenter to EastEnders extra, here are ten of the greatest walk-ons, phone-ins and pop-ups from Charles.

Charles and Camilla visit Tanzania


Helper of the Cows

His majesty is used to fancy titles but nothing tops a name the Masai tribe in Tanzania honoured him with when the then-Prince visited in 2011. Around 500 turned out to welcome him to the East African community and they gave him the honorary title of… Helper of the Cows. The name was said to reflect the Royal’s ownership of cattle and it literally translates as "the one who makes cows cry". Camilla, meanwhile, was called Koto Engera - a translation of her name.

Man of the woods


Charles has campaigned for the preservation of rainforests and would have been buoyed to hear, in 2012, that a frog type that was feared extinct was actually still alive. Dr Luis A Coloma discovered the species in Ecuador and named it Hyloscirtus princecharlesi - also known as Prince Charles stream tree frog. Inevitably, jokes followed about Charles being the real Frog Prince… perhaps not one to mention to Camilla if she is in a bad mood.

Charles painting in Paro, Bhutan, while on a royal visit in 1998


Artist


The King is known as a writer but also has a talent with a paintbrush. Buckingham Palace says the King had a watercolour displayed in the Royal Academy’s 1987 summer exhibition, after it was submitted anonymously.

Soap actor


Just last year, Charles III finally fulfilled what must have been a lifelong dream, to meet Danny Dyer and the gang in a cameo in EastEnders. Little acting is required from the Prince and Camilla, who meet overwhelmed locals, much like they do every day in real life.

Ice diver


Some things are best only done once, and for Charles, he wasn’t too keen to try ice diving a second time after an attempt in Canada in 1975. “Mercy me, that was bloody cold,” he told cameras after stepping out from the freezing water.

Charles played polo until 2005 when he was well into his fifties


Weather forecaster


Everybody has their own interests in watching a weather forecast but Charles was looking out for number one while reading it on a visit to the BBC in 2012. “There will be potential for a few flurries [of snow] over Balmoral,” he said, adding: “Who the hell wrote this script?”

Voice of the Daleks


On another visit to a production studio, Charles was followed around by an imposing Dalek from the set of Doctor Who. The man himself then spoke into a voice changer to replicate the villainous tones of the show’s primary antagonists. “Exterminate!” Charles said, “Exterminate!”

The crown today. World domination tomorrow?

Footballer


Going back a few years, Charles captained his school football team. During a season that pales even against Chelsea’s recent form, the side scored four and shipped 82. “Prince Charles seldom drove himself as hard as his ability and position demanded,” a school report said at the time, according to the Guardian. He later excelled at polo.

The King meets Noble, the horse gifted to him by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, at The Royal Mews in Windsor


Art collector


Charles’ talents with the paintbrush only went so far. A book by Tom Bower said that he wanted to swap one of his own paintings with one by Lucien Freud. “I don’t want one of your rotten paintings,” the artist reportedly replied.

Horse seller


A former polo enthusiast, Charles might have moved on from his equine love in selling his mother’s horses after her death for a reported £2.3 million in an auction.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Middle East War Highlights Strategic Importance of Strong UK–Ireland Cooperation
Weak Growth Signals UK Economy Was Faltering Even Before Middle East Energy Shock
Marks & Spencer Tops UK Fashion Retail Rankings as Most Considered Brand
United States Launches Trade Investigation Into Allies Over Forced Labour Practices
United States Launches Trade Investigation Into Allies Over Forced Labour Practices
Russia Accuses Britain Over Storm Shadow Strike as London Reaffirms Ukraine’s Right to Self-Defence
Russia Accuses Britain Over Storm Shadow Strike as London Reaffirms Ukraine’s Right to Self-Defence
Royal Navy to Acquire Twenty Uncrewed Surface Vessels for Autonomous Warfare Testing
Russia Summons British and French Envoys After Ukrainian Storm Shadow Strike on Strategic Facility
Starmer Confirms Britain Will Maintain Sanctions on Russia Despite U.S. Policy Shift
UK Moves to Refine AI Definition in Investment Security Reform
UK Economy Stalls in January as Growth Unexpectedly Falls to Zero
Asian Energy Security Tested as Strait of Hormuz Disruption Threatens Oil Supplies
Iran Sets Three Conditions for Ending Regional War as Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
Tesla Secures Approval to Supply Electricity Directly to Homes Across Britain
Prince William Delivers Tribute to Australia’s Naval Alliance Amid Renewed Royal Spotlight on the Country
UK Foreign Secretary Travels to Saudi Arabia to Reinforce Support for Regional Allies
Putin’s ‘Hidden Hand’ May Be Assisting Iran in Conflict With Trump, UK Defence Secretary Warns
UK Sets April Deadline for Tech Platforms to Strengthen Online Protections for Children
Elon Musk Moves Into Britain’s Energy Market as Tesla Wins Licence to Supply Power
UK Watchdog Warns Fuel Retailers Against Profiteering Amid Iran War Price Surge
Report Claims Iran Used UK Charity Network to Expand Influence
United States and United Kingdom Establish Joint Standards for Counter-Drone Technology
Iran May Be Laying Naval Mines in Strait of Hormuz, UK Warns Amid Escalating Gulf Tensions
US Deploys Bunker-Buster Bombs to UK Airbase as Iran Conflict Intensifies
British Troops in Iraq Intercept Iranian Drones Targeting Coalition Base
Release of Mandelson Files Raises Tensions as UK Seeks Stable Relations With Donald Trump
UK Documents Reveal Starmer Was Warned About Mandelson’s Epstein Links Before Ambassador Appointment
Nearly Five Hundred UK Mortgage Deals Withdrawn in Two Days as Market Volatility Forces Lenders to Reprice
Three Cargo Ships Hit Near Iran as Attacks Spread to Strategic Strait of Hormuz
Why British Police Repeatedly Declined to Investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s UK Links
UK Parliament Ends Hereditary Seats in House of Lords, Closing Chapter on Centuries of Aristocratic Lawmaking
EU and UK Urge Israel to Act Against Rising West Bank Settler Violence Amid Regional Tensions
US Senator John Kennedy Says Keir Starmer Should Not Be Trusted for Military Advice Amid Iran War Debate
UK High Court Rejects Attempt to Revive Terrorism Charge Against Kneecap Rapper
Revolut Secures Full UK Banking Licence After Multi-Year Regulatory Wait
Kentucky’s Bench Boost Powers Wildcats Past LSU in SEC Tournament Opener
British Couple Die After Being Pulled From Water at Australian Beach During Family Visit
Global Energy Agency Announces Record Release of 400 Million Barrels to Stabilize Oil Markets Amid Hormuz Disruption
British Airways Suspends UK Repatriation Flights as Middle East Travel Disruption Deepens
US Forces Prepare Ordnance at RAF Fairford as Strategic Bombers Deploy for Middle East Operations
Nigel Farage Faces Criticism After Saying Britain Should Stay Out of Iran War
Landmark UK Trial Begins Over Sony’s PlayStation Store Pricing
UK High Court Rejects Bid to Challenge Britain’s Chagos Islands Agreement With Mauritius
Finnish Duo Triumphs in England’s Annual Wife-Carrying Race, Winning a Barrel of Ale
How U.S. and UK National Security Strategies Are Reshaping the Global Business Landscape
Green Party Gains Momentum as Labour Shifts Toward the Political Centre
Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Dragon Sets Sail for Eastern Mediterranean as Regional Tensions Rise
UK Homebuilder Persimmon Warns Iran Conflict Could Dent Property Buyer Confidence
Roman Abramovich Signals Legal Fight if UK Seeks to Seize Chelsea Sale Funds
×