King Charles takes on unique role as boss of Balmoral in sign he is fully back in charge

King Charles has demonstrated that he is fully back in charge after his cancer treatment by taking the reins of a business that controls his Balmoral estate.

The monarch has been named as the person running the royal retreat in the Highlands as well as plush flats in Edinburgh — the first time a member of the royal family has formally taken this role.

The new position at the company was decided just as he began his return to public life carrying out engagements following treatment.

In an unusual move, the King has been named as a person of significant control of Canup Ltd in documents filed at Companies House.

A PSC01 form shows “His Gracious Majesty King Charles III” was notified as a “person of significant control”.

The paperwork says the position had become “registrable” on March 31 last year, but was not made public until now.

Canup Ltd owns the King’s lands at Balmoral and Delnadamph in the Scottish Highlands, but also owns two Edinburgh flats said to be worth a combined total of up to £1.8 million.

Although it is known the company manages the royal properties, no royal has previously been publicly linked with it.

The paperwork previously stated: “The company knows or has reasonable cause to believe that there is no registrable person or registrable relevant legal entity in relation to the company.”

The three directors are Sir Michael Steven, Keeper of the Privy Purse — effectively the royals’ chief financial officer — the Duke of Buccleuch, and Scots businessman Sir Brian Ivory.

This week, the King has been in Edinburgh, where Queen Camilla and the Duke of Edinburgh became members of the Order of the Thistle during a service celebrating Scotland’s greatest order of chivalry.

The Queen and Prince Edward were appointed Royal Knights of the Order by the King and in a private ceremony, also attended by fellow member Prince William, were formally installed during the service at St Giles’ Cathedral.