King Charles is once again facing uncomfortable questions about his past connection to disgraced British entertainer Jimmy Savile — just as Buckingham Palace prepares for a major change inside the monarch’s inner circle.

The renewed scrutiny comes as Charles, 77, searches for a new Principal Private Secretary following reports that Sir Clive Alderton, 59, is preparing to step down.

But the personnel shake-up is bringing renewed attention to a far more controversial chapter in Charles’ past — including claims that Savile once had such extraordinary access to the future king that he was allegedly consulted before one of Charles’ most senior aides was appointed.

Savile, who died in 2011 at age 84, was exposed after his death as one of Britain’s most prolific sexual predators, with investigations ultimately identifying hundreds of victims.

Long before those horrifying revelations became public, however, Savile moved in some of Britain’s most powerful circles — including around the Royal Family.

Charles and Savile reportedly met in the late 1970s through their involvement with charities connected to wheelchair sports. Over the years, their relationship reportedly became unusually familiar.

Savile even attended Charles’ 40th birthday celebration in 1988.

One source familiar with the royal household during that period claimed Savile was treated as far more than an occasional celebrity guest.

“Savile had a remarkable level of access to the royal world during that period,” the source told RadarOnline.com.

According to the insider, Savile could move around royal circles with a familiarity that would have been highly unusual for someone outside the traditional palace establishment.

The source said his flashy jewelry, tracksuits and outspoken personality made him stand out sharply from the polished courtiers normally surrounding Charles.

“There was a sense that Charles found that difference entertaining and perhaps even refreshing,” the source claimed.

Even more striking were reports surrounding Sir Christopher Airy, who became private secretary and treasurer to Charles and Princess Diana in 1990.

A palace source previously claimed Charles and Savile met with Airy before the former major-general was offered the powerful position.

When Airy was questioned about Savile’s alleged involvement, he declined to discuss the matter, saying: “I don’t think it is my place to comment.”

St James’ Palace has previously said there was “no record” of Savile attending Airy’s interview.

Savile’s alleged influence did not stop with palace staffing.

As Charles’ marriage to Princess Diana deteriorated around 1990, Savile was reportedly brought into the situation in an informal attempt to help.

Dickie Arbiter, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s former press secretary who also handled media relations for Charles and Diana, later recalled the bizarre arrangement.

“Savile was brought in by an aide as a sort of ‘Jim’ll fix it’ to fix the state of the marriage, but of course it didn’t work,” Arbiter said.

He described Savile’s involvement as informal and unpredictable, adding: “He would just roll in and roll out again.”

Arbiter made his personal opinion clear, saying: “I thought he was a pretty ghastly man.”

Ken Wharfe, Diana’s former protection officer, also remembered Savile appearing around the royals with surprising regularity.

“Savile used to just turn up at Kensington Palace and at functions,” Wharfe said.

He also suggested Diana did not share Charles’ apparent fondness for the TV personality.

“I don’t think Diana was a great fan of his in the way that the Prince of Wales was,” Wharfe said.

The association continued for years.

Charles reportedly accepted an invitation to dine at Savile’s home in Glencoe, Scotland, in 1999 and later sent him a Christmas card.

When Savile died in 2011, Charles was said to have been “incredibly saddened” by the news.

It was only after Savile’s death that the horrifying scale of his crimes became widely known, dramatically changing the public image of a man who had spent decades gaining access to hospitals, charities, broadcasters, politicians and members of the British establishment.

There is no suggestion Charles knew about Savile’s sexual crimes at the time of their association.

Still, as Buckingham Palace promises an “open and rigorous” process to choose the king’s next top aide, the resurfacing of Savile’s extraordinary access serves as a disturbing reminder of just how deeply the predator managed to penetrate Britain’s most powerful institutions.