The Prince of Wales turned 71 last month and is the oldest serving heir apparent to the throne in British history. Many have noted how in recent years Charles has been publicly stepping up his duties in support of his mother Queen Elizabeth II in preparation for the day he becomes King himself. However, Prince William still remains a popular alternative as the next monarch in the public imagination.
Princess Diana first bought the subject to the fore when she conjectured on how Prince Charles would fare as monarch in her now-infamous 1995 Panorama interview.
The Princess of Wales spoke about how the Prince could forgo the throne in favour of being with Camilla Parker Bowles, as there was not then a precedent for anyone in the line of succession marrying a divorcée, and also questioned his temperament to rule.
Since then, the Palace has never commented on any royal regime change, and Prince Charles remains the Queen’s heir apparent.
However, there would not need to be any special law created to pass the throne straight to William.
The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge (Image: Getty)
Prince WIlliam is currently on a solo tour in Kuwait and Oman (Image: Getty)
Robert Blackburn, in his 2006 book “King and Country: Monarchy and the Future King Charles III” explains how the handover could be a “simple and straightforward” process.
Professor Blackburn writes: “There would certainly be nothing ‘unconstitutional’ in putting into effect a proposal that Prince William succeed Queen Elizabeth II, rather than his father Prince Charles.
“It would be for Prince Charles to suggest that the throne be passed on direct to his son, no doubt on the basis that he was near or past the age of normal retirement."
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The Duke and Duchess of
