After growing up in Kenya and a Short Service Commission in the 13th/18th Royal Hussars, from 1984 Charles worked with the Goldsmith Family Group, latterly as a Partner, gaining an invaluable understanding of the workings of an international family office. In 1997 he set up Unicorn Administration, offering family office advisory and administration services to an international client base, including the Goldsmith family. Unicorn became the Alvarium Private Office in 2012 and has twice won the Spears Multi-Family Office of the Year award.