King Charles has ordered a 40-hour clock change operation across royal residences, according to new reports.
A massive operation will be underway this weekend as teams across royal residences prepare to change more than 1,000 clocks when British Summer Time begins.
The painstaking task, sanctioned by King Charles III, is far more complex than the average household's clock adjustment.
Royal staff will begin the process at 2am on Sunday morning, but the sheer scale of the operation means it will take over 40 hours to complete.
King Charles orders 40-hour clock change operation across royal residences
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Some timepieces will still display the incorrect time come Monday, despite the meticulous efforts of the royal household, according to Hello!.
The royal portfolio houses an impressive collection of timepieces spread across various locations.
Windsor Castle alone contains 450 clocks, while Buckingham Palace houses the largest number at 600. The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland is home to a further 50 timepieces.
Each must be individually adjusted when the clocks go forward this weekend, requiring dedicated teams at each royal residence.
Clarence House, the King's London home, features a 17th-century clock underneath a portrait of the Queen Mother
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The process is carefully orchestrated to ensure every clock, from the grandest to the most modest, is correctly set for British Summer Time.
The operation is overseen by a royal horological conservator who ensures the process runs smoothly across all properties.
Teams based at each residence work methodically through their assigned timepieces, with the task requiring precision and care.
Despite beginning at 2am on Sunday, the 40-hour timeframe means some clocks will inevitably remain at the wrong time until Monday.
A recent photograph of Windsor Castle
GettyThe King's collection includes various types of timepieces, from musical and astronomical clocks to miniature and turret clocks.
Each requires specific knowledge to adjust correctly, making the conservator's expertise invaluable.
King Charles has previously revealed his personal fondness for timepieces during a special episode of The Repair Shop in October 2022.
"To me, I just love the sound of a tick tock," the monarch explained. "But also, if they chime. That's why I love grandfather clocks."
King Charles and Jay Blades pictured on the Repair Shop in 2022
PA
He described clocks as "really special parts of the house" and "the beating heart of it."
The King invited Jay Blades and his team to Dumfries House in Scotland, where he asked them to repair an 18th-century bracket clock.
The King's appreciation for timepieces appears to be a family tradition, as he revealed during the BBC programme.
"I'm afraid it is something I learnt from my grandmother," he shared.
