Prince William will become king upon the death of his father, King Charles. Plans for the monarch’s passing and funeral, dubbed Operation Menai Bridge, have been in place for years, and it should go without saying that Charles’s funeral will be a grand affair indeed.
That said, the recent, significant changes in many of Europe’s royal families seems to have raised questions about whether or not Charles should remain king, or instead abdicate.
Prince William and Kate Middleton represent a more modern Royal Family, and as such their staunchest supporters believe them better suited to taking the Firm into a new era and attracting future generations to their cause. Meanwhile, several Royal Family members, including Queen Camilla, could be affected when Prince William eventually becomes king.
Questions including where Camilla will reside should she still be alive when King Charles passes have been asked. Now, sadly, one royal expert claims that the tension surrounding the monarchy ‘tearing the Royal Family apart.’
In recent years, several European royal houses have seen their monarch abdicate. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands signed her abdication at age 75 in 2013, and the same year, Albert II of Belgium decided to step down for health reasons. In 2014, the disgraced King Juan Carlos of Spain left the throne, and more recently, another longtime monarch decided it was time.
On New Year’s Eve, 2023, Queen Margrethe of Denmark revealed that she would also be stepping down. She became just one older monarch among many who decided to abdicate, and therefore, naturally, discussions about King Charles’ future have been rampant.
In January, Newsweek reported that there had been calls for Charles to step aside and pass the crown to Prince William.
King Charles to abdicate?
Several royal experts have discussed the matter in the last couple of days. For example, royal author Phil Dampier told the Daily Mail that it might happen in a few years.
“It must make you wonder if in five or ten years’ time, King Charles might think about doing the same if his health suffers or he just thinks it is a good time to pass on to William and Kate while they are still young. Our late Queen would never abdicate because of what happened in 1936 when her uncle abdicated and her father came to the throne. But times change,” he said.
Meanwhile, The Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins – who’s been reporting on the Royal Family for years – suggested that Charles should follow Queen Margrethe’s lead and inform the public when he will abdicate ahead of time.
“Growing old should never be a bar to work, but age does not negotiate. Britain’s King Charles, after a long apprenticeship, has proved an active and popular figure in his term of office. He has shown no sign of ageing, other than perhaps his limp Christmas message. He is certainly entitled to a substantial reign after waiting so long,” Jenkins wrote.
“But not to death. Charles has a successor, William, well-trained and evidently suited for the job. The abdication of Beatrix of the Netherlands to Willem-Alexander in 2013 was an ideal precedent. It prompted an outpouring of gratitude for her reign, a welcome for her son, and a stronger monarchy as a result. The flamboyant conductor André Rieu had the Dutch joyously dancing in the streets in their thousands. There was none of the lugubriousness inevitably attached to Britain’s succession through death.”
Prince William & Kate Middleton ‘studied’ Danish queen’s abdication in preparation
Jenkins continued: “Abdication also indicates a nation able to keep its institutions fit for purpose. In slimming down the Royal Family, Charles has wisely indicated a desire to end such damaging princely sagas as those of Andrew and Harry. But he must surely go further in updating the office he should one day hand over to his son.”
William and Kate have grown more popular by the year, and many believe the prince is already ready to take over as king. Indeed, the Prince and Princess of Wales might already be thinking about the day they will take over – possibly even the day King Charles might choose to abdicate.
Daily Mail columnist Ephraim Hardcastle claims that William and Kate were “studying” the abdication of the Danish Queen Margrethe as they prepare to become king and queen themselves.
While William studied the nature of the surprise abdication, Kate scanned for tips from Mary, the Queen Consort.
As per the Express, Hardcastle wrote that Prince William was “noting how the transfer to Frederik X involves little other than the signing of papers, the changing of royal standards and a proclamation. For William, keen to downsize his own coronation, the relative simplicity may be appealing.”
For years, it’s been thought that Prince William wants to modernize the Royal Family and adjust many centuries-old traditions.
Prince William’s coronation will “look and feel quite different,” source says
At the same time, he is said to be keen on ditching the “homage of the people” at the coronation, which includes the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby inviting those in Westminster Abbey and those watching at home to swear their allegiance to the King.
The fact that King Charles still used it on his coronation was quite controversial. A source tells the Sunday Times that there is “no way” William will do the same thing.
“He is really thinking, how do we make his coronation feel most relevant in the future? He is mindful of the fact that in 20 years’ time, or whenever his time comes, how can the coronation be modern but also unifying to the nation and the Commonwealth? I think his coronation will look and feel quite different.”
Meanwhile, Kate is also preparing to become queen. For a long time, she has had a very close relationship with Mary, the new Queen Consort in Denmark.
Hardcastle claims this will help the Princess of Wales move forward, as she will take advice and tips from the Danish royal.
“Kate, meanwhile, is said to be delighted that Crown Princess Mary is becoming Queen. She spent a lot of time in conversation with Mary at Royal Ascot when she visited in 2016,” Daily Mail columnist Ephraim Hardcastle wrote, as per Express.
“They exchanged numbers. Will her low-key elevation help Kate to pick up tips for her own no-fuss crowning?”
When Queen Elizabeth II passed away, plans for King Charles’s death were immediately implemented.
“Unfortunately, as of tomorrow morning, planning for Operation Menai Bridge will start in earnest,” former Royal Protection Officer Simon Morgan told Today in September 2022.
Operation Menai Bridge – what will happen when King Charles’ dies?
“Even the King said in his acceptance that he will take this role for as long as life allows him to. He is 73 years of age, it’s got to be in the back of your mind, and from the police, we’ve got to start planning again for the future.”
Operation Menai Bridge is a detailed plan for what will happen when the monarch dies – including, of course, his funeral plans – and many things that will occur in the hours following his passing will be traditionally the same as for any deceased monarch.
At the time of King Charles’ death, many will be instantly informed. Charles’ private secretary will contact his family, the prime minister, the cabinet secretary, the King’s Privy Council Office, and other senior ministers and officials. The Firm will then issue an “official notification” for the public, and there are already scripts in place for how other officials will be alerted.
Meanwhile, the cabinet secretary will continue to email senior civil servants and ministers. As soon as the messages are received, the flags at Whitehall — including the royal castles — will be lowered to half-mast.
Politico reported that the Royal Family’s website will also change its holding page to black and include a statement confirming King Charles’ death.
“The UK government website — GOV.UK — will display a black banner at the top. All government departmental social media pages will also show a black banner and change their profile pictures to their departmental crest,” Politico added.
Death is entirely natural, but still, of course, it leaves deep wounds for family members. Sadly, the feelings surrounding King Charles’ eventual funeral and Prince William succeeding him on the throne appear worrisome.
King Charles’ death is ‘tearing the Royal Family apart,’ royal expert claims
The Daily Beast reports that the Firm is being ‘torn apart’ by the plans, causing tensions.
Royal Commentator Tom Sykes at The Daily Beast reveals that the “power dynamic” between King Charles and Prince William has shifted since the monarch was diagnosed with cancer in early 2024. Executive power and influence “are already” flowing William’s way, with the royal expert adding that this could be a bad sign for his brother, Prince Harry.
King Charles still wanted a reunion with his son, and the estranged prince would find it easier to negotiate with his father rather than his brother if he wanted to return to the royal fold.
Moreover, Queen Camilla is likely the one most affected by this. Sykes states that King Charles’ passing could significantly affect his wife, as she has been “tolerated” by William for the sake and stability of the Royal Family.
There have been rumors that King Charles wants to prepare for the day he no longer exists by having Prince Andrew leave the Royal Lodge for Camilla to move into when he passes.
However, Andrew reportedly doesn’t want to leave, and it is unlikely that Prince William will prioritize this issue the day he becomes king.
Prince William & Queen Camilla has “a lot to overcome,” family friend says
Prince William and Queen Camilla’s relationship has become stronger over the years, but royal expert Christopher Andersen told Us Weekly that the future king merely “tolerates” his stepmother, who is said to have been “a little afraid” of William.
Queen Camilla’s family friend said that William has “warmed up to Camilla over time” and that they have a “familial relationship,” but there is “a lot to overcome.”
“William and Harry had always distrusted Camilla and felt resentment toward her because of their devotion to their mother. They never felt comfortable opening up to her in any real way. William and Harry’s distrust grew when they found out Camilla was leaking stories to the press to make herself look better,” the source told Us Weekly.
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