King Charles Was Victim of ‘Merciless’ Bullying at School, Former Classmate Says

The former classmate recalls peers pulling the monarch's ear.

King Charles
TOPSHOT - Britain's King Charles III attends the presentation of Addresses by both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall, inside the Palace of Westminster, central London on September 12, 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8. HENRY NICHOLLS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

King Charles III's former classmate revealed that the monarch was a victim of "merciless" bullying during his younger years at school.

One of the former classmates of the royal says it was "common knowledge" that King Charles had been bullied by his peers while attending the Gordonstoun School in Elgin, Scotland, in the 1960s.

King Charles Was a Victim of 'Merciless' School Bullying

According to Daily Mail, Johnny Stonborough was one of the former classmates of the King during his stay at the boarding school. The father of the current King, Prince Philip, reportedly sent his eldest son to the institution since he was one of the first students to enroll way back in 1934. In other words, he wants Charles to follow in his footsteps.

However, the royal did not enjoy his stay in the boarding school, contrary to his father's experience. Stonborough, the former classmate of King Charles, recalls that the first time he encountered peers bullying the monarch was during a rugby lesson.

The ex-Gordonstoun student wrote an essay for The Telegraph to narrate the traumatic experience of King Charles during his stay at the boarding school. He described the "merciless" bullying that took place back then. Stonborough says, "A couple of the boys decided it would be funny to 'do' him." He laid out some tauntings the teens did to the monarch, such as "pulling his ears" and "punching him."

King Charles
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attends the "A Starry Night In The Nilgiri Hills" event hosted by the Elephant Family in partnership with the British Asian Trust at Lancaster House on July 14, 2021 in London, England. The event is the finale of "CoExistence", a campaign by wildlife conservation charity Elephant Family. Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Charles' Former Classmate Thinks He Will Be a 'Kinder' King

The former classmate of the royal states that Charles "never said a word." He adds that the monarch never complained despite the traumatic bullying. Stonborough recalls that Charles was a "painfully shy" teen during those days. And as such, bullies targeted him.

Due to the bullying at school, Stonborough told The Telegraph that Charles only had one friend during his stay in the boarding school. He claims that the "only friend" of the monarch is Sergeant Green, who turns out to be his bodyguard.

Given the traumatic experience of the monarch, his former classmate thinks that the school bullying made the royal more empathetic. Stonborough says that his past might make him a "kinder" monarch.

On top of that, the King's bleak school days could inspire some kids out there, his former classmate says. 'It might even give some solace to countless British children to know their King was bullied and survived," the ex-Gordonstoun student offers.

Meanwhile, the New York Post reported last year that the son of King Charles, Prince George, has warned his peers at school that his father "will be king." So he told his pals that they "better watch out. He got it right. His dad ended up as the King.


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