SEATTLE — Former mayor of Seattle and KING 5 News anchor Charles "Charley" Royer passed away Friday morning, July 26.
He was 84 years old.
Royer was Seattle's longest-serving mayor, serving three terms from 1978 to 1990. As mayor, he worked to establish low-income housing measures in the city, implemented what is recognized as the national model of recycling and solid waste reduction, opened over 20 community health clinics, and more, according to a press release published on behalf of the family. In 1989, the National Urban Coalition even named Royer the Distinguished Urban Mayor of the Year.
He was also Seattle's mayor during Queen Elizabeth's visit in March 1983. When she passed away in 2022, Royer sent KING 5 a statement that read, in part:
"I remember with great fondness the Queen's visit to Seattle in 1983, during my second term as mayor. Her visit helped put Seattle on the global map. Her kindness and humor was impossible to miss, and she drew huge and adoring crowds here. Her visit furthered the bond between our two countries, and strengthened our trade and partnership with Great Britain. And something I'll never forget, she remarked that I looked like her son, Prince, now King, Charles!"
He studied journalism at the University of Oregon and, after graduating in 1966, went on to work in the news industry for seven years. He started out reporting in Portland and then at KING 5, where he was a reporter, anchor and news analyst.
Royer was committed to civic leadership even after his political career. According to the press release, he stayed involved with local officials and business and nonprofit leaders until his death.
Royer was born in Medford, Oregon, on Aug. 22, 1939, and passed away at his home in Gearhart, Oregon.
No information regarding memorial services has been announced yet.
