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.

Abdication is not anathema anymore now that HMQ is gone, as are most people who remember the scandalous (at the time) abdication of whatsisname back in the forties or something.

I'd call it retirement. Even the flipping Pope retired and he's ancient and still going strong.

Must be money or control that keeps them there.

🙄

Of course they don’t. They couldn’t care less - and if there was a thread where somebody was posting about feeling SO sorry for Ronaldo, how hard must it be for him working all the time, and he does it selflessly all for us to enjoy football matches, I’d be right on there to say what numpties you are. If somebody started posting how they feel sooo sorry for Clint Eastwood stil forced to work his little fingers to the bone into his 90s for us to watch films I’d say don’t be so daft, save your sympathy for somebody who cares. But it’s only with the royal family people want to pretend they’re doing us some great service and actually we’re the ones with the great deal here and we should be idolising and fawning over them at every opportunity.

I would hate it, I retired in my 50s, couldn't imagine having to do speech's and stuff like that in my 70s

I think he could abdicate if he handled it well. He could get William onside and give lovely speeches about how the country deserves another long reign and how he will be there to support his son every step of the way.
I think William and Kate are much more popular than he is really, so it would be a five minute wonder that was accepted quite readily.
He won't though, he's been waiting for this his whole life, he wants to do it and there are other royals that he can lean on if the job gets too difficult.
Edward, Anne, William and Beatrice are already primed to step in when needed.

I would do it if I could be one of the 'core' group of royals but not in line to the throne. That way I could basically spend my life on a jaunt and toddle back to England when needs be to don my military gear and walk down the giant road.

I agree, OP.

FFS now you’re just making shit up. When I have posted about my “heart aching over the countless hands he has to shake” Or “wonderful caring figure of love”? It’s pure nonsense. Every post you write like you’re auditioning for Les Miserables. Wouldn’t throw us a bread crumb? Sipping from crystal goblets? You sound like you suffering from an over-active imagination.

I feel for anyone who's lost their mother. Of course Charles looks rough, his mum has just died.

I don't really feel sorry for him becoming king. Hes lived a life that has been incredibly luxurious compared to most. He has avoided the majority of stresses that the rest of us suffer. He has money and help beyond our wildest dreams. And he does have a choice he can abdicate. Many people don't have choices in life, many people have to work in whatever job they can find, in their small flats alone, struggling to pay their heating/food. Lots of the British public don't have choices but don't have the luxury of suffering that in a palace.

Of all the bizarre posts we are feeling sorry for Camilla?! She married the future king of England, its not a suprise she then become queen consort. And Kate also Married the future king, again if she didn't want that for her son Id recommend not marrying into the royal family.

However perhaps this thread has indicated that the monarchy has had its day. Even those for the family feel its not a job the elderly can fulfill

If they care, its in a vague theoretical isn't that terrible, lets pray for them way. They clearly don't care with passion or a drive to make a difference. They also clearly believe in God given positions. So if some people are very rich (them) and others are very poor (not them), it's God's will and the rich should be kind to the poor where possible, but that's about it really.

It’s not all about you. It’s about the whole thread. But you have fun pouring your sympathy out for somebody who doesn’t need or want it. You’re too stupid to argue with to be honest.

I'm on the retire at 68 train.still having to be parent/counsellor/researcher/ manager and teacher to children. That's if we're still having enough children to fill schools in 25 years.

I'd totally swap it for a life of giving speeches and making small talk into my 70s. I can do that all day.

People were against Harry stepping down because he did a tell all interview with Oprah and criticised the royal family, and people felt that was disrespectful. It was nothing to do with him stepping down. And he married a black woman who everyone seems to hate

Yep, as I said you’re a classist. Everyone in the 1% “doesn’t care” and “doesnt deserve sympathy”…no matter how they got into the 1%.

It’s not “idolising” or “fawning” to recognise them as human beings capable of caring for others and that they also deserve sympathy for the tragic things that happen to them.

Better to be stupid than a hateful bigot.

What ‘tragic things?’ The op was about how sorry the op feels for Charles having to ‘work’ now he is King of England. That’s not a tragedy.

And if recognising that the 1% cannot really care about the rest of us because they are exempt from caring while they help prop up a system that crushes the 99% makes me a classist, then I’m happy to be that. Personally I see it as class critical, but I’m sure the 1% will be sobbing into their pillow about it tonight.

I recon you're right.

I'd say she is delighted.

One thing is for sure, she will never stand up to William and try to ensure they have choices like Diana tried to do. She will nod and bow in deference knowing her place.

A hateful bigot 😂 for saying the royal family don’t care about the common people?

I cannot be bothered. Charles will be fine on our dime.

When you have that much wealth you lobby parliament to allow royal wills to be "sealed" to... "preserve the dignity of the crown" but really because you're so obscenely rich you'd hate the taxpayers to know how much you're really worth.

I'm still a bit bewildered at everyone appearing to know much much the royal children are grieving. Charles in 73. He's doing well to still be alive himself. My parents are similar age and lost their parents long ago. They're at the age where losing siblings and friends is a fairly frequent occurrence.

My great grandmother died in her 90s. She started work as a maid at 12, as did many others. Had several children (1 died as a toddler) then worked in a factory until retirement. Her children used to wait for the trains to go past, then pick up any coal that dropped off, so they could burn it. That was working hard.

To lose both your parents so close together as friends have is a trauma most of us don't experience

Actually I'd imagine lots of people have experienced this actually.

He was incredibly lucky to enter his 70s with both parents still alive.

Vast majority of us lose our parents. It's the natural order of things. Sad when it happens but not unusual.

I’ve never been banned? You can check. And as for being a bigot because you don’t feel sorry for somebody, that’s just ridiculous. You can’t be banned for saying you don’t feel sorry that the King of England sometimes has to do appearances and make small talk 😂 do feel free to report it though.