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King Charles and Prince William could easily lose their temper if things in their household didn't go smoothly, according to a former staff member. In his new book Yes, Ma'am, The Secret Life of Royal Servants, royal expert Tom Quinn quotes a former servant, who describes the "picky" behaviour from both King Charles and his son, Prince William.

Quinn writes that because members of the royal family - especially the men - are brought up from an early age to take their work, and at times themselves, very seriously, meaning they rarely spend time doing the mundane tasks most of us do for ourselves. Yet many such tasks must be completed before the two can even set foot outside the palace.

The author writes: "Suits must be pressed and laid out after a period of consultation the night before; shoes must be polished, ties chosen. Baths must be run at precisely the same time each day and both King Charles and the Prince of Wales, Prince William, are prone to tantrums if things are not done to their liking."

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He adds that one former staff member told him that "they both get irritated quite quickly, because throughout their lives they have had these things done for them, so they are very picky. It comes naturally to them.

"And people who have everything done for them from childhood tend to be rather spoiled and prone to bouts of irritation because they have no idea how much work is involved in washing and ironing, polishing and sewing when they have never done any of it themselves."

The quoted source adds: "I don't know where William would be without Kate - she hasn't had everything done for her throughout her life, so she calms him down when he gets a bit fractious. She says sometimes he has to be treated as her fourth child!"

Quinn goes on to describe the King's bathroom quirk - a staff member having the duty to put toothpaste on the royal toothbrush.

This habit began after Charles' polo injury back when he was a prince, but according to a former staff member, he liked this royal service so much that after his arm recovered he kept it unchanged.