King Charles has been battling cancer for almost two years. The monarch has partly been forced to cancel some of his previous scheduled duties abroad, with his son and future king, Prince William, taking his place.
Due to his cancer, questions have been raised regarding whether Charles should abdicate or not. Now, a royal expert claims William is ready to take center stage – and ascend the throne.
King Charles waited for more than 70 years to ascend the throne. He was sworn in as king at the age of 73. However, only a few years later, questions are being raised about whether he should continue.
King Charles’ cancer diagnosis forced him to slow down. Although reports suggest that while his beloved wife Camilla has tried talking him into taking it easy, Charles is putting duty above all. Still, some things have had to change.
Some royal engagements abroad, such as the reopening of Notre Dame in Paris last year, were represented by not King Charles, but his son, Prince William. The heir to the throne has been taking on more responsibilities in recent years due to his father’s health status.
Although King Charles is devoting all his energy to representing the Crown and performing his duties as king, nothing is more important than prioritizing his health.
Prince William ‘prepares’ to take over after King Charles
Still, at the time of Notre Dame’s reopening in December 2024, royal expert and historian Tessa Dunlop stated that the fact that William was there and not Charles was a “painful” reminder for the monarch.
“It must be tough for Charles, a man who waited over seventy years for the big gig, to play second fiddle to his son. Time and again recently, William has grabbed the headlines: in Commando uniform firing a gun, wearing pinnyserving Christmas fare to the homeless, and accompanying his wife Catherine, during the Emir of Qatar’s state visit. All eyes are always on William and the Waleses,” she said.
King Charles has, in his few years as monarch, focused on modernizing the monarchy and has been widely praised for it. At the same time, Prince William and Kate have focused on normalizing their role as Prince and Princess of Wales, and raising their children as “normal” as possible.
As Prince William has already represented his father several times. The fact that he has succeeded in stepping in for his father, as well as managed to handle the complicated situation with his brother, Prince Harry, in what many would call a proper way, while still managing to be a loving and dedicated father, leads many to believe that he is ready to become king.
“The crown will never have felt closer”
Now, royal commentator Katie Nicholl states that for William, the throne is edging closer and closer.
“The crown will never have felt closer to the Prince than it does now,” she told The Mirror. “His father’s illness has been a stark reminder that it’s his turn next, and it may not be too far in the distant future.”
Another royal expert, Duncan Larcombe, further stated that, regardless of King Charles’ determination to keep going and perform his duties as king, William and Kate are the future of the monarchy.
Katie Nicholl pointed out the same thing, saying that the Prince and Princess of Wales are “very aware” of their roles within the Firm as well as how they can best utilize their “phenomenal soft power.”
Today, royal duties are not all about shaking hands and cutting ribbons. Every step the Royal Family members take is written about in the papers.
Additionally, in the world of social media, it makes it even easier – and more accessible – for members of the public to see how their kings, queens, princes, and princesses smile and wave, as well as what they discuss with everyone from an electrician in Manchester to the President of the United States.
Prince William “absolutely prepared” to become king
That, according to Katie Nicholl, is something Prince William has “mastered.”
“William has mastered that all-important skill of diplomacy, and though he’s visited many politically sensitive areas like the Middle East and Ukraine, he’s never been accused of being overtly political,” she said. “The aides I’ve spoken to and those who know him best say he is absolutely prepared.”
One of the things that could be seen as a step towards William and Kate preparing to become king and queen is Kate’s return to public life following her cancer treatment, which allows her to support her husband to the best of her ability.
“William and Kate are at the forefront of the Firm, and have become the monarchy’s biggest asset,” Duncan Larcombe told The Mirror. “They have a pivotal role in ensuring continuity and calm, when at times there’s been anything but that behind the scenes.”
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