Queen Elizabeth II died suddenly on September 8, 2022. The line of royal succession means Prince Charles is the next king, but the world is wondering if he will pass it up to make Prince William king instead.
WATCH: Queen Elizabeth II’s life in pictures
Though Charles is the longest serving heir apparent in British royal history, he’s considered less popular than his son William.
This is due to his divorce from the widely beloved Princess Diana, his affair with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and a string of unpopular comments about his love life in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Though those times are long in the past, some royal fans have called for Charles to abdicate in favour of making his eldest son William the king.
Not only is William younger and more popular, his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is also considered by some to be a more favourable choice for Queen Consort than Camilla.
So will Charles give up the crown to make William king? It’s highly unlikely.
Charles began using the title of king immediately after his mother’s death, releasing a heartbroken statement as King Charles in the hours after she died.
For him to pass the crown to William instead, he’d have to formally abdicate as King Edward did in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson.
Charles has no good reason to abdicate in favour of William, as his son will also be king in the fullness of time.
The Queen also made sure her son would be the next king back in 2018, when she formally asked Commonwealth Heads of Government to appoint Charles as her successor of the association of Britain and its former colonies.
She reiterated her desire for her son to succeed her in February 2022, when announcing her plans for Camilla to be Queen Consort at his side.
“When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service,” she said in a statement.
Meanwhile Charles himself has been preparing for this role for decades, serving as the Queen’s heir and taking over more and more of her duties as sovereign in her final years.
While William has also been learning from his father, the Duke of Cambridge has shown no desire to take his place on the throne before his time.
He and wife Kate Middleton have long served in supporting roles to Charles and Camilla, as well as the Queen herself.
As Charles takes the throne as King, William and Kate are expected to continue as senior royals supporting him in his reign as king.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
