Imagine getting the hardest job of your life aged 73 and having to do it till you die.

[MrsMarlowe]

Just watching the ‘highlights’ of the day (if you can call it that).
I’m not a monarchist. But I really feel for Charles. He looked much older than I’ve seen him look before, so sad (naturally) and utterly exhausted.

Most people are retired aged 73. Imagine being that age and only just getting started on your hardest job. And not being able to decline the role (without massive fallout) and having to do it till you die.

And think about what motivates the rest of us in our jobs: the prospect of increased reward, status, respect, and finally more downtime as we reach retirement to enjoy the fruits of our labour.
Obviously he has all the wealth, status etc already … but then where can any motivation come from? He just doesn’t have a choice - it’s duty. Talk about a gilded cage.

I felt quite emotional watching Charles, William and George in the wake of the coffin. Knowing that it will come to them one day. Knowing their destiny is already set, whether they like it or not. What a life, to be royal.

Alternatively, think of it as a man who hasn't worked much and had his entire life to play polo, garden and go on holidays now having to finally do some work at 73.

I do feel sorry for him but disagree that he looks broken down or older. In some existential sense I think he looks happier, as if there is contentment (amid grief) from knowing that his life's purpose is now fulfilled. Imagine dying before ever making it to the throne.

As I watched the service, I was wondering if Camilla felt glad that she'd missed the middle bit and had children with someone else. Prince William looked burdened and drawn.

King Charles has inherited something like £370 million, the Duchy of Cornwall brings in about £20million per year (but at least he pays tax on that) and the whole royal family is worth £67 billion or thereabouts.

Gotta have some sympathy for his difficult cuircumstances 🙄

Do you think he's lying awake at night wondering how he's going to afford to heat his multiple residences this winter?

Yes. Even odder then that posters on this thread are being urged to donate and give up their one house to the poor.

Yes, and also not actually even having to if he doesn't want to.

I have compassion for the RF losing their Mother/Grandmother etc, but they all have a choice.
None of them know what hard work is.

I have a lot more sympathy for seniors (and others) who will have to choose between heat and food this winter.

We all experience grief at some point in our lives and nearly everyone goes through the loss of a parent. Charles has never known poverty, or hunger. The increases in the cost of living won’t make any difference to his luxurious existence. His valet puts his toothpaste on his toothbrush every morning, that’s how much this man has done for him!

He isn’t personally responsible for the increasingly inequality in our society but he is part of it. Really, I’d like to see an end to all this forelock tugging and fawning.

NO HE CANT (bow out of it)*

Of course he can. Edward V111 did, and lived his life in millionaire land. (Just think the UK would have had a Nazi sympathiser as King if he had not - the danger of inherited, unearned, positions)

Anne chose not to give her children titles - and off they went to live happily ever after.

Andrew meanwhile has fought tooth and nail for his daughters to be given royal status and privileges 'as their right'- or have we forgotten his demands his daughter had a 'royal ride about' at huge police expense for her wedding.

Andrew, despite his mother throwing (was it £10 or £12 million) to his victim to keep him out of court, still lives unemployed in a royal palace with every whim and fancy attended to. He's another one to remind the UK how close we were to having a man 'involved' in a paedophile ring as King! Another danger of inherited, unearned positions.

I have a lot more sympathy for seniors (and others) who will have to choose between heat and food this winter. I bet you don't really give them a minute's thought.

Yes, the arguments that he couldn't abdicate are just fucking odd. Because he could.

People seem to be confusing that with he wouldn't feel like he could or some such, which is vastly different. And honestly, the man's 73, if he does find it to be harder work than he wants or just feels like pissing off into the sunset, it would be easy enough for him to say he was stepping down for health reasons. Given that the prevailing narrative for the past few decades has (correctly or otherwise) been that he's desperate for the gig, he'd have a great cover story already.

Hundreds of thousands do mot have the same degree of privilege!!
And as for 'poor Kate' from day 1 st St Andrews she planned a campaign to ensnare Willam.She has openly admitted this.she chose this fir her offspring!

This totally.

As an aging person he also won't have to organise anything, food, cleaning, the heating, travel. He will be waited on hand and foot from getting dressed, having his bed made, a bath would be drawn for him, having food made for him (and all the buying etc of the food), his travel will be arranged from his door, doctors will come to him. He will not have the hardships of many people his age or older. He won't worry about having a fall while trying to make his own dinner etc. He won't be cold as he can't afford to heat. He won't live in a home he can't clean properly as he is too frail, he won't be at the mercy of carers, his meals won't be tasteless meals on wheels.

What was needed yesterday was Louis to lighten the mood!

This 100%

Charles looked so sad when the anthem was sung

stiff upper lip came to mind

when I lost my mum 8yrs ago the funeral was so hard

then doing it in front of the world and cameras forever showing your emotions

yes he could retire but then goes to William who needs to live his life

within 20yrs or so William will be king

I genuinely find it incredible that people feel sorry for them. The British public really are gullible

That's not all he does of course.

Might look on the outside like the Kardashians but it’s happened the opposite way round. The Kardashians did what they want and got money for it. The Royals are given the money upfront and then do what they’re told.

Nonsense. They both do what they want, the reason they choose the attention seeking is to keep up the brand because the brand maintains their lifestyle.

Both groups are only trapped by their own expectations- their fame creates huge influence. Both could retire as 'ordinary' millionaires and avoid all the attention.

The only material differences are that we pay for the RF whether we like it or not and that the RF have legal powers, not just cultural influence.

She knew that would happen to her eldest child though. She had more of a choice.

She went after William from day 1 at St. Andrews. She wanted this life for her and her kids. No idea why, but it was her free choice.

That's not all he does of course.

What does he do that constitutes hard work in any normal sense?

I would love that job. Then I don’t have to worry about having enough income to retire. It’s hardly the hardest job.

Not true. But unusual, yes:

www.bbc.com/news/business-62906853.amp

Am sure Charles could do something similar.

Tbf it is not exactly a very gruelling job and the compensation is amazing! To put it in perspective: in 2019 Charles undertook almost 550 engagements which sounds an awful lot but he was only undertaking those engagements on 160 days of the year. That's working 3 days a week. Hardly taxing.

Meh he can retire (abdicate). In recent times the monarchs of many other countries (Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain spring to mind) have retired.

I find it hard to worry about a 73 year old man who’s been given all the (unearned) privileges of life and only really has to cut a few ribbons and read the odd speech (which will be written fir him).