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By Brook Mitchell / Getty Images.
He is greeted with the most intimate and revealing portrait of the Prince of Wales to date. Prince, son and heir: Charles at age 70 will be airing on BBC One tonight, less than a week before Prince Charles 70th birthday.
Make the documentary Prince, son and heir: Charles at age 70 director John Bridcut spent 12 months observing the Prince of Wales. The result is an illuminating portrait of the future king, the most intimate to date, which reveals Charles as a deeply emotional man, adoring his children, surprisingly warm and more energetic than a man of half his age. In addition, he hates selfies.
"For a man about to turn 70, I think it's his energy that surprises me the most," Bridcut said. Vanity Fair. "He has incredible physical and mental energy. Yes, we take care of him in a way that most of us do not know, but he compensates for the amount he engulfs. "
Prince Harry, who is also interviewed for the documentary, reveals that his father works very early and often falls asleep with a note stuck to the forehead. Charles is a passionate note taker who warns his staff if they do not come to meetings with a pen and a notebook.
"He's upset when he has meetings and people do not write things down," Bridcut said. "Charles writes everything on a notebook and he expects his staff to do the same. He does not like new technologies. There is no iPad; these are notebooks and handwritten letters. "
According to Bridcut, the prince quotes his beloved grandmother, the queen mother, as one of the main influences of his life. "He told me that he had learned from the Queen Mother how important it was to watch and notice everything." This case really struck me, as well as his work ethic. Charles has campaigned on climate change, which is a constant concern for most people – but he is involved in many other things too, which makes him very impressive. It's not superficial, he's passionate about it. He absorbs things. "
Charles also inherited from his grandmother's love for the opera and what could be a natural contact of the king with large groups: Bridcut describes it as "incredibly warm" and "remarkably easy with the crowd". But he has limits. "He is irritated by the people who steal the phone. I heard him say to people, "I'm trying to give up selfies." He wants to meet people, and it irritates him to see his camera phone being screwed up in his face. "
Meanwhile, Prince William shares what he has learned from Charles' work ethic – even the roles he does not always like. "He's talking about wanting his father to see more of his family," Bridcut said. "I did not think it was a sharp comment; I think it was a completely natural comment, and meant affectionately. Charles works hard and there is a part in the film in which William says he found Charles's disciplined routine frustrating. But now, he admires his work ethic. "
One last rumor to overthrow: Charles's quick temperament. "I imagine that it must be infuriating to have you followed by a film crew for 12 months," Bridcut said. "Most of the time, Charles had a radio microphone that could easily pick things up, but he was very nice. We hear that he is in a bad mood and lacks people, but for us, he was always friendly and welcoming. He did not see the movie at all. I hope that he will not be too shocked. "
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