Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

King Charles and Queen Camilla

381 replies

LoveInTokyo · 16/05/2018 07:36

AIBU to wonder why so many people seem to think this will not happen?

I can understand why a lot of people abroad seem to think it’s likely that Prince Charles will just hand over the crown straight to William because he’s younger and more popular. Most countries don’t have royal families, and in some European monarchies routine abdication is something that actually happens.

But I was reading some of the completely mental royal wedding threads on here and was surprised by the number of similar comments. I particularly enjoyed one Daily Express reader’s person’s comment about how the public would never accept Camilla as queen.

I don’t think most people give a shiny shit whether Camilla is Queen or not, but those that do have an issue with it will have to get used to the idea. Prince Charles didn’t have to give up his place in the line of succession when he married her, therefore unless the Queen outlives Charles, he will be king and Camilla will be queen!

OP posts:
QueenEdith · 16/05/2018 08:40

"That doesn’t change the constitution"

The style of the consort is not and never has been part of the constitution. It has been usual for female consorts to be styled Queen, but that's solely monarch's choice. If Charles wants her to be Queen, she can be, but if he wants her to be HRH Princess Camilla, Duchess of SomewhereOrOther, (paralleling what is done for male consorts in the last few hundred years) then he can make her that.

purits · 16/05/2018 08:40

I don’t know if he wants to, but if you’ve lived your entire life being told you must do this, you must marry this woman, you can’t be with that one... because you are the next king of England... that’s a lifetime of compromise all because you’re destined to be the next king.

It wouldn't be fair, would it. He spent his youth doing his duty - eg marrying batshit Diana - and when it comes to getting his reward people expect him to step aside? I'd be pissed off if I were him.
I don't know why he isn't more popular. He was into all the green, eco, conservation stuff years before anyone else. He was such an early adopter that he was laughed at.

Thought people didn't like Will, anyway, because he's workshy? Needs to up his game to his father and grandmother's level.

reallybadidea · 16/05/2018 08:41

My understanding is that Camilla will automatically become queen when Charles becomes king, because that's just how it works with male monarchs. Whether they decide to refer to her as the queen is another matter, although I suspect Charles will dig his heels in and insist. Those who can't forgive a complete stranger for something he did with another stranger which upset another stranger, need to get a bloody grip Grin

QueenEdith · 16/05/2018 08:41

"Wasn't Charles and Diana an arranged marriage and Charles was always in love with Camilla?"

Maybe. Or maybe not, given the other mistress at around that time.

QueenEdith · 16/05/2018 08:44

"I might be wrong but I understood that if Charles wanted to abdicate then he removes his whole family line and so William would be removed as well. That would leave us with Andrew confused."

No, not the case.

Edward VIII was childless when he abdicated, and he was simply making it clear that any hypothetical children he sired would never have a claim to the throne.

Those who have already been born into the succession stay on it.

RedDwarves · 16/05/2018 08:44

Why would Queen Elizabeth give him the name Charles if she didn't intend for him to keep it when he became King?

Original poster
LoveInTokyo · 16/05/2018 08:45

Interesting replies!

I think Charles would see abdication as a complete dereliction of duty. The only way I can see it happening is if he got Alzheimer’s or something.

I also think Camilla comes across well. He should have just been allowed to marry her in the first place. They obviously love each other and have a good relationship with William and Harry.

If William and Harry can accept Camilla as their father’s wife, I don’t see why the Daily Express and its readership can’t do the same. Diana has been dead for over 20 years, let her rest in peace!

OP posts:
DontDrinkDontSmoke · 16/05/2018 08:46

The style of the consort is not and never has been part of the constitution. It has been usual for female consorts to be styled Queen, but that's solely monarch's choice. If Charles wants her to be Queen, she can be, but if he wants her to be HRH Princess Camilla, Duchess of SomewhereOrOther, (paralleling what is done for male consorts in the last few hundred years) then he can make her that.

Yes, that’s right. If Camilla wants to be queen, Charles will make it so. Public opinion won’t come into it. If she doesn’t want to be queen (likely) they’ll give it a “we’ve listened to our subjects” slant to keep the plebs happy.

PiggyPlumPie · 16/05/2018 08:46

Phew QueenEdith no King Andrew for us!

Original poster
LoveInTokyo · 16/05/2018 08:48

I now have images in my head of Diana’s ghost causing mayhem at the coronation.

Need my morning coffee!

BrewGrin

OP posts:
LaurieMarlow · 16/05/2018 08:49

No way in hell will he step aside. He's waited far too long. However his reign probably won't be very long.

I read somewhere that there were no plans right now to style Camilla as 'queen' but they would gauge public mood when the time comes. The public have mellowed quite considerably towards her. I assume most people don't give a flying fuck what she's called.

TrinaN · 16/05/2018 08:49

If Charles abdicted his line would not be skipped. He would just be giving up his position in the line.

Charles will be King and should be. The press may not show it, but he is very intelligent and astute. He has been into environmental issues for a lot longer than they have been fashionable and has lots of very strong views which make a lot of sense. He would be a great King.

He will not give up the throne. He did not have to abdicate to marry Camilla so would not have to. His mother has instilled a strong sense of public duty so he will do his part. It will be shame if he changes his name though.

The history with Camilla is quite a sad one. He was not allowed to marry her and due to press intrusion he was pushed into marrying Diana. Their relationship was not great (they both had affairs) but because Diana was popular Charles and Camilla took a lot of the blame. He seems so happy now and is with the woman he always wanted to be with since he was young so I can't blame her for that.

Camilla is aware of public opinion and whilst Charles will want her to be Queen, she may go for Queen Consort or a lesser title to appease the public. After all, she would not take the title of Princess of Wales.

BertrandRussell · 16/05/2018 08:52

I find the rehabilitation of Charles and Camilla in the eyes of the public utterly extraordinary.

QueenDaisy · 16/05/2018 08:53

A PP mentioned Prince Andrew & I’d forgotten about him. So, if Prince Charles dies before the Queen, would Prince Andrew then become King as he’s the next in line of the Queen’s male children?

Or, would Princess Anne become Queen as she’s the 2nd eldest child of the Queen’s children, as I have in my head that something changed in the Monarchy to no longer go straight to the oldest male ?

LifeBeginsAtGin · 16/05/2018 08:54

I think PC will take the crown and let William have a normal life for as long as possible. Even if only for the grandchildren.

I also think Camila should be titled Queen Consort.

LaurieMarlow · 16/05/2018 08:55

A PP mentioned Prince Andrew & I’d forgotten about him. So, if Prince Charles dies before the Queen, would Prince Andrew then become King as he’s the next in line of the Queen’s male children

No, William is Charles' heir

tombstoneteeth · 16/05/2018 08:57

I understood that Charles made a commitment to the nation that his wife, at the time of their marriage when many people were pretty unhappy, would be styled "princess consort", not "queen". He was not "not allowed" to marry her - he just wasn't sufficiently proactive to get her to commit to him, and not the man she would marry. He is massively indulged and expects his wishes always to be met. Camilla will be the end of the Commonwealth - a heavy price for Britain to pay just when she plans to leave her European playmates and return to her once totally loyal and generous "children" who always supported the Mother Country with blood and steel.

Amanduh · 16/05/2018 08:58

I like Charles and Camilla. I think he’ll be King. Camilla might be styled as Princess
Consort but who knows. Sadly the fawning over Diana and the way their whole marriage played out (I’m not saying Charles wasn’t in the wrong but there was a lot lot more to it that that) means Camilla has always been a bit scorned, although I think that’s changed in recent times.

scaryteacher · 16/05/2018 08:59

Ummm, Charles was at sea and hadn't proposed to Camilla. She was after APB for ages, and by some accounts was using Charles to prod APB into a proposal.

For a PP, I voted leave, had huge admiration for the late Princess, whilst acknowledging she had her flaws, but I see no reason for Charles not to succeed. He may find it hard though, as he will no longer have the freedom to make his views known that he does now.

Troels · 16/05/2018 08:59

I think he'll use another name not Charles. George is one of his middle names, so maybe King George. His other names are Philip and Arthur, I can'r see him as King Arthur Grin

BalloonSlayer · 16/05/2018 08:59

What I found interesting re Prince Andrew, was the speculation that now Prince Louis has been born, Andrew is now 7th in line to the throne. This means that he does not need the Queen's permission to marry any more: only the top six require it. I never knew that! So he might re-marry Fergie! Hope he does actually, I think that would be really sweet.

maggiecate · 16/05/2018 09:00

People who think that Charles should step aside for William should think about the effect it will have on the kids.
The Queen had ten or so years of fairly normal and very happy family life (normal for for the very very upper class anyway!) her father became King. Charles was just 4 when the King died, and that was it as far as any attempt at normality went. I always think of the phrase 'give me the child until he is seven years old and I will give you the man' because for the rather shy and sensitive boy it must have been traumatic to suddenly be at the centre of everything.
Kate and William are doing their best to keep George, Charlotte and Louis out of the spotlight which they won't be able to do once he's king.
And as for Camilla, the day Charles married her he really was transformed; that awful pinched look he'd always had, like his skin didn't quite fit him, disappeared and it's never come back. Whether she gets called queen or not, legally that's what she'll be.

PoorYorick · 16/05/2018 09:00

I find the rehabilitation of Charles and Camilla in the eyes of the public utterly extraordinary.

Why?

Laiste · 16/05/2018 09:00

So many aging monarchs for the foreseeable future. It would be nice to have a younger monarch but it's not going to happen.

His mother is 92. He is 70. So Charles will be 70 something by the time he gets to the throne. Maybe even early 80's!

If he lives till the same sort of age as his mother that means William and Kate could be pushing 60 before they gets the top jobs. Crazy.

QueenDaisy · 16/05/2018 09:01

LaurieMarlow

Thanks, so by Charles having childre, that takes his siblings linage to the throne away.

Swipe left for the next trending thread