The Throne Is for Life: Princess Anne Says King Charles 'Bristles' With Annoyance When Reports Suggest He Step Down for Prince William
Anne, Princess Royal, says King Charles III 'bristles' with annoyance when people mention an abdication in favor of Prince William.
King Charles III, like his mother and predecessors before him, will reign for life, which has led Princess Anne to share how His Majesty "bristles" with annoyance when he is called a "caretaker king" for Prince William.
"When you start much later in your life, inevitably you've got more experience to fall back on, and you will have more opinions," the King's sister shared about her brother's age at kingship being an advantage.
The revelation comes as one of numerous new insights about the monarch's reign in Robert Hardman's book, Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story. The writer also shares how some media outlets point to William as the "change-maker" monarch-to-be, whereas Charles III has been a radically different sovereign when compared to his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
"People keep talking about 'he's a caretaker,' and I don't see that at all, knowing we'll see quite a few changes," Queen Camilla's sister, Annabel Elliot, told the scribe.
The talk of resignation is fueled in part from Charles' age, 75, as well as the recent "shock" abdication of Denmark's Queen Margrethe II in favor of her heir. The Danish monarch reigned for 52 years and was on record in the past vowing to never step down and to "die in office as it's meant to be done" in a monarchy.
Even those who once worked within the palace have stepped forward to speak of Charles's reign as a placeholder of sorts.
"I think the King and Queen are going to rely on William and Kate more and more as time goes by," former royal butler Paul Burrell told an outlet in October 2023.
"I think they will be introduced to more public engagements, representing the King and Queen on more overseas tours," Burrell added before stating Charles III was constructing "a bridge between his mother’s monarchy and his." The author then observed how he was simultaneously "building a bridge to William and Kate’s monarchy" as well.
As for the next king, he is in no hurry to wear the Crown.
"I think the royal family has to modernize and develop as it goes along and it has to stay relevant," the then-Duke of Cambridge shared in a 2016 interview marking Elizabeth II's 90th birthday. "That's the challenge for me, is how do I make the royal family relevant in the next 20 years time. You know, it could be 40 years time, it could be 60 years time, I have no idea when that's going to be and I certainly don't lie awake waiting or hoping for it because it sadly means that my family have moved on and I don't want that."
The Prince of Wales will accede to the British throne upon his father's death.
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Newsweek reported on extracts from Hardman's book.
