Subtle signs of King Charles’ special bond with Volodymyr Zelensky reveals how monarch is ‘standing shoulder to shoulder’ with Ukraine in its war against Russia

As a sovereign figure, His Majesty must remain scrupulously impartial, acting as a unified figurehead for the entire nation.

Yet as the Firm continues to adapt and modernise under the reign of King Charles, one can’t help but notice a budding relationship forming between His Majesty and Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky.

While the eyes of the world remain firmly fixated on Ukraine in the midst of their ensuing conflict with Russia, the Monarch has routinely offered a protective arm and sympathetic ear to the leader, seemingly unafraid to make his hopes for peace clear.

Writing in his book, Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story, royal biographer Robert Hardman describes Charles as a ‘relative newcomer to the heads of state club’ who ‘already commands the status of an international statesman’.

And, according to former BBC royal correspondent Michael Cole, despite being somewhat unconventional, it is in ‘the King’s instinct and wish to make changes that would not have been contemplated while his mother was alive and on the throne’. 

Indicative of his modern Royal leadership, in March, just one day after Zelensky’s notorious bust-up with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office, the King welcomed the Ukrainian leader with open arms to Sandringham.

Zelensky and Charles were pictured smiling as they shook hands and posed for photographs outside of the Royal estate, with Charles even seen lightly placing his hand on Zelensky’s arm during the highly-anticipated greeting.

Discussing the ‘powerful’ image of His Majesty meeting Zelensky, the Daily Mail’s Royal Editor Rebecca English said in a previous episode of Palace Confidential: ‘They say a picture paints a thousand words. It showed the King standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine.’

But trusted sources warned her ‘not to underestimate’ the significance of a meeting that took place the following day between King Charles and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

‘The King as a constitutional monarch cannot come out swinging publicly,’ Rebecca said.

Preferring to show his ‘feelings in deeds’ instead of words, the Royal expert noted that Charles had his ‘hands clasped’ comfortably during the meeting, describing it as a ‘very very warm welcome’ indeed.

Then, as the Ukraine and Russia war continued, the Monarch once again was seen embracing Zelensky at Windsor Castle in June, with the pair donning beaming smiles as they shook hands in the Grand Corridor. 

In late October, His Majesty offered another public show of support for Ukraine by welcoming the Ukrainian President to Windsor Castle, staging a ceremonial welcome for Zelensky for the first time ahead of a political summit.

The King engaged Zelensky in a warm-looking conversation, even placing his arm fully around the President and patting him as he ushered him inside the castle.

Inviting the leader for a private audience at the castle, it marked the first time Zelensky has received a ceremonial welcome in Britain, a seeming advancement in the Monarchy’s apparent support for his cause. 

It was also the fifth time the two all-important leaders have met in total, a seeming indication of the King’s intentional soft diplomacy in a desperate bid to put a stop to the Russia-Ukraine war. 

Making a stand on the global stage, in February 2024, two years after Russia first invaded Ukraine, the King took to social media to praise the ‘determination and strength’ of the Ukrainian people.

Charles spoke of being ‘greatly encouraged’ by the UK’s efforts and its allies in their endeavour to support Ukraine ‘at this time of such great suffering and need’.

He said: ‘The determination and strength of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire, as the unprovoked attack on their land, their lives and livelihoods enters a third, tragic, year.

‘Despite the tremendous hardship and pain inflicted upon them, Ukrainians continue to show the heroism with which the world associates them so closely.

‘My heart goes out to all those affected, as I remember them in my thoughts and prayers.’

But the King’s decision to publicly side with Zelensky is not just indicative of his views on the ensuing conflict with Russia, but rather, represents a broader pattern of his deviation from the Royal norm of refusing to take a stand on humanitarian issues. 

Indeed, as tensions remain afoot between various world leaders, the King appears to have subtly sought to take on a peacekeeping role in a bid to become ‘grandfather to the world’.

Charles’ decision to implement peacekeeping tactics as a form of soft diplomacy can also be seen to extend towards helping to resolve ongoing tense relations between Canada and the United States. 

 Meanwhile, the King’s decision to break from tradition when it comes to taking a public stand on humanitarian issues has even led to the Monarch even being described as a ‘linchpin’ in the relationship between the US and the UK. 

The King was even said to have played a key role in Trump’s recent change of mind on the Ukraine war, with Charles’ talks with the US President during a state visit in September ‘very important’ in the policy reversal, according to Zelensky’s top adviser.

During the Palace Confidential episode, Jo Elvin added that it was notably ‘interesting’ that an ‘apolitical monarchy’ had been ‘dragged into things’, while the Daily Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden added that Charles had been left in a ‘tricky’ diplomatic position, adding: ‘I think he has to be careful’.

He continued: ‘To be honest, I’m not sure that Queen Elizabeth would have allowed herself to be drawn in as much as he has.’

Richard went on to describe the meeting with Zelensky ‘directly after the disagreements in the White House’ as ‘very controversial’.

‘He didn’t have to meet him,’ Richard added. ‘It could have been done in private perhaps.

‘Remember what we know about King Charles’s views. He thinks he’s a terrible dictator and there’s President Trump trying to mend fences and bring people together so it is awkward.’

The Mail’s Royal experts go on to point out that King Charles has elected not to take part in state visits before. 

 In 2015, when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the UK, then Prince Charles ‘boycotted the state banquet’ as he was ‘so opposed to their treatment of Tibet’.

With his intentions to be seen as a ‘grandfather to the nation’, Jo then suggested Charles may end up becoming ‘something of a grandfather to the world’ ‘if he manages to help ease this diplomatic crisis with President Trump and Ukraine’.

The King also proved he was not one for shying away from standing up for important humanitarian issues and supporting communities across the UK in the aftermath of the Southport riots last summer.

His Majesty commended the way in which ‘the aggression and criminality from a few’ had been met by ‘the compassion and resilience of the many’.

King Charles spoke warmly of the ‘many examples of community spirit’ that have thwarted attempts to instill hate and fear in communities across Britain during a call with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said his calls with the Prime Minister and police leaders came after a series of ‘private calls throughout the week concerning recent events – and in particular the impact they have had on affected communities’.

While details of such calls are normally recorded in the court circular, the official record of royal engagements, it is unusual for so much detail to be given and underlines the seriousness of the national crisis.

But despite public calls for the King to issue a public statement in response, it was noted that the late Queen, who strongly abided by the principle of political impartiality, chose not to make any public comments in the immediate aftermath of the equally explosive summer 2011 riots.  

She would also have refrained from speaking publicly around the issue on official advice.

Even before taking up his position on the throne in September 2022, the King has also made his acute openness to other cultures apparent, continually welcoming with open arms those from different races, religions and cultures. 

Having taken over the position of supreme governor of the Church of England after his mother – His Majesty has previously assured that he believes his role as a sovereign must include protecting ‘the space for faith itself’.

During a reception held at Buckingham Palace, Charles added that he was determined to carry out his duty ‘as sovereign of all communities around this country and the Commonwealth and in a way which reflects the world in which we now live.’

At the time of his speech two years ago, the King also went on to say he saw the nation as a ‘community of communities’ while pledging his commitment to the ‘additional duty’ of securing a fair and equal country.

During the address, Charles also confirmed that his Coronation Oath would still read that he was a ‘defender of all Faith’, following reports that the wording would be changed to ‘Faiths’.

The King even considered tweaking the wording as part of his long-standing commitment to promoting diversity.

Instead, Charles pledged his responsibility to nurture and welcome all faiths including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, and others, while at a reception of over 30 faith leaders.

When the King’s Coronation arrived in May 2023, the event included a procession of faith leaders.

 But according to royal biographer Robert Hardman, writing in his book Charles III The Inside Story, none of these statements or proclamations of global inclusivity should be perceived as ‘new’ or ‘tokenistic’.

Mr Hardman added: ‘The King has been an active promoter of what used to be called race relations and is now more usually called diversity for half a century. 

‘Few (if any) mainstream figures in British public life can match his track record when it comes to promoting a greater mutual understanding of Islam.’

Meanwhile, the King has also proved himself as an affable leader, often being dubbed approachable and praised for the so-called ‘informal formality’ of his reign. 

After the death of the late Queen in September 2022, the new King put on a brave face for the country as he shook the hands of well-wishers at Buckingham Palace.

And in one particular outpouring of affection, a woman from the crowd was seen leaning over to kiss his hand, while another landed one on his cheek.

Royal biographers such as Andrew Morton have said Queen Elizabeth would ‘never’ have allowed a member of the public to kiss her, noting that she had a ‘different kind of style’ from her son.

Further exemplifying the King’s contemporary leadership approach, he has even modernised the uses of the royal residences since his accession to the throne.

King Charles’ decision to open his royal residences to the public suggests he has realised ‘the need for the monarchy to evolve’, according to one royal expert.

Writer and broadcaster Robert Jobson, author of Our King: Charles III – The Man And The Monarch Revealed, said the King has been ‘mulling over’ the decision for some time. 

He explained: ‘Making these buildings more accessible to the public is just part of acknowledging the need for the monarchy to evolve.

‘These historic buildings need to be cost effective as they are very expensive to run too. This helps that. The King has always wanted the Royal Family to be more transparent and cost effective.’

As the Monarchy evolves under King Charles’ modern reign against the background of the Ukraine-Russian war, the eyes of the world will hold still on His Majesty to see how his relationship with Zelensky will adapt during this ever-changing landscape.