Inside King Charles’ ’12-minute workout’: Royal, 75, ‘starts day with push-ups, sit-ups and half-bare headstands’, experts reveal

According to reports, King Charles’ daily training routine includes wearing head restraints on his boxers to help treat back pain from years of playing polo.

The royal’s 12-minute regime, which was first revealed by her son Prince Harry in the memoir Spare, is said to start with “press ups, sit ups, the whole lot”, according to Channel 5’s Inside Windsor Castle, which is on at 9pm on Channel 5 this Saturday.

Presenter X and Van Tulleken added, however, that his mother, however, had a less active morning setup.

“The late Queen preferred a gentler start to her day,” he said. “A mug and a biccie or two, apparently, was enough for her.”

The Duke of Sussex, writing in his explanatory book, added that his father performed the exercises daily – and that there was always the risk of accidentally walking in on the king – “in just a couple of drills, propped up against a door. or hanging from a bar like a skilled acrobat’ – at Balmoral if you accidentally opened the wrong door.

“If you put a little finger on the knob, you’ll hear it pleading from the other side: No! No! Don’t open! Please, God don’t open!’ he wrote.

However, it is not known if the routine is still part of the monarch’s itinerary, or how long Harry would have stumbled upon it while working.

It comes as Her Majesty last week got the go-ahead from doctors to return to public duties after being diagnosed with cancer.

Officials have stressed that Her Majesty’s cancer treatment is still ongoing, saying: “Her Majesty’s treatment program will continue, but doctors are sufficiently satisfied with the progress made so far that the King can now resume a series of of public tasks.

“Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimize risks to Her Majesty’s continued recovery.”

They are not able, at this stage, to specify how long it will continue. A spokesman said: “It is too early to say, but Her Majesty’s medical team are very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive about the King’s continued recovery.”

They added that “any public commitment will be announced closer to the time in the usual way and will be subject to doctors’ advice” and stressed that it would not be a “full summer programme”.

In February, her battle with cancer was said to be upending her normally regimented daily routine, with doctors insisting she start work later, finish earlier and stop skipping lunch.

The monarch has been told she will have to implement a series of new lifestyle changes to stay as healthy as possible, including reducing the amount of time she sits at her desk.

Charles, described by his wife Queen Camilla as a “workaholic”, has long been admired for his strong work ethic, burning the midnight oil and working through the night .

But doctors’ orders will mean the king has been encouraged to work fewer hours, including reducing his daily morning meeting with his private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, from his usual 8.30am slot .

The monarch is also known for his strict eating habits, skipping lunch and eating a late dinner, a habit he has maintained for many years. But now the king will be advised to eat regular meals.

His former press secretary, Julian Payne, told The Times: “The King doesn’t eat lunch; so an early lesson I learned when I was on the road with him was to have a big breakfast or take a few snacks with you to continue forward.

‘The working day is quite relentless. Starting with radio news headlines and a breakfast of seasonal fruit and seed salad with tea.

According to his friends and former employees, the king religiously takes a break at 1pm every day, not to eat, but to stretch his legs outside for a walk and some fresh air.

The king also undertakes a rigorous daily exercise regime, inspired by the Royal Canadian Air Force, which includes sit-ups and push-ups.

Aides also said on the way out that he “wants to continue” with the 5BX plan, an 11-minute workout.

It was originally designed to keep riders in top shape, no matter where they are, as the exercise routine requires no equipment.

The military routine includes five exercises, as the name suggests, including toe-touch stretches, sit-ups, push-ups and stationary running with scissor jumps.

Charles, who has served in the RAF and Royal Navy, is said to do this routine twice a day.

Mr. Paynesid: “This is a man who for many years has started his day with exercises prescribed by the Canadian Air Force. He generally eats extremely healthy organic food and doesn’t drink much alcohol.

“He is always walking and the pace at which he moves is such that it is very difficult for him to keep up.

Charles Anson, Queen Elizabeth II’s former press secretary, said the king would probably get a little impatient with the change in his schedule, telling Times Radio: “He usually works during the day and a lot of the night”.

With a reputation for being healthy and fit for his 75 years, Charles has kept active with walking and gardening.

Queen Camilla has spoken about her husband’s fitness before during the pandemic, telling the BBC: “He’s probably the fittest man of his age that I know.

‘He’ll walk and walk and walk. It’s like a mountain goat, it leaves everyone miles behind’.

Even daredevil adventurer Bear Grylls described Charles as “an adventurer at heart” and a “champion of the outdoors” all his life.

Studies have found that people who exercise during treatment not only deal with side effects better, but may also live longer.

International guidelines recommend that patients remain active and return to their normal activities as soon as possible.

The King’s love of the outdoors, such as hiking and camping, is believed to have been fostered during his time at Gordonstoun School.