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.

Hold on. I’m sure I’ve got the world’s smallest violin here somewhere!

Look at Biden and the Pope. Both much older with arguably tougher jobs

Of course. Perhaps hard for them - but it seams they are powerless and the palace aides run the show anyway.

What do you mean “imagine working until you die?” That is literally going to be most of us!

The idea that the royal family care about the common people is hilarious.

Footballers and celebs aren't living off taxpayers. There's a difference.

I see where you are coming from OP but the majority of us are exhausted by KCs age because of our life circumstances. If KC had had a normal life up to now I'd be more inclined to agree.

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

of course it’s sad to lose a parent. But it’s a “trauma” that most people face. Most of Us very much do face that

There is a massive lack of compassion o this thread. I'm not a royalist. I don't particularly like Charles. But personally, I'd have found having my job mapped out from an early age difficult but I'm very introverted and I'd have found having to be 'on' all the time, meeting people, being scrutinised etc. difficult to the point where it would have made me ill. And no money or connections in the world would have made up for that - for me. Charles might have been fine with it, having been born into it, and having that confidence that the best schooling and money can give you. Or despite all that, this might be the worst role in the world for him even though posters might find it easy

Its easy to say he can abdicate. But we all I'm sure know people with far less expectations on them, maybe expectations from just one member of their family rather than millions of people, who have felt pressured into a career they didnt really want rather than let anyone down.

You’ve said far more than that. Now you’re trying to dig yourself out of the pit.

Sorry no sympathy here! He's literally had the last 70 or so years living the high life without the responsibilities the queen had from age 25..yes he has lost a parent but so will we all and some much much earlier than this! Also I fail to feel much sympathy for any man of any background who marries a woman and has 2 kids with her when he knew full well before he got married he was in love with another! If he doesn't want to be king he can just abdicate like King Edward VIII in 1936. Or better yet OP if you feel so bad for him why don't YOU offer to take his place, I'm sure he'd think about it!

I found it

Neither are the royal family. The energy companies, MPs, and PM are though.,..

Agree OP the King hasn’t had a second to mourn but unfortunately most see high status as robots and statues, not actual humans. I genuinely hope he’s getting support as if I lost my mother I’m sure as heck not getting on with it a few hours later.

Also, “he could abdicate”. Yes also nurses, teachers, police etc “we want a living wage” then leave the profession? Just go? Same as, no?

I’m quite happy in the pit not feeling sorry for the royal family. Presumably op wanted opinions otherwise she’d have felt sorry for him in peace - many of us don’t feel sorry for him having to do some small tasks as King, as there’s no need to waste good sympathy where it’s neither wanted nor needed.

🤣 omg thanks this might be the best post I've seen today! (Although it's probably an insult to Waterbears!) ROTFL

I really am not a monarchist but as I have got older, and more able to appreciate shades of grey, I have developed a grudging respect for the monarchy and particularly the late Queen's sense of duty. Today's funeral was the ultimate display of 'soft power' alongside history and tradition. I increasingly think that there is a role for an unelected and non-political head of state considering the bloody shit show that we elect to represent us. 18 year old me, who has gone on to study social policy and politics to post grad level, and then worked for 20 years in child protection would be surprised. I think Charles could actually be really good for modernising the monarchy - it is much publicised he wants to streamline. Every society has a hierarchy of rich and powerful elite, very few have got there without privilege, connections and often questionable meddling with little thought for the welfare of others. Yes the whole idea of the monarchy seems outdated on every level but I am not sure I am ready to see them overthrown as yet.

I presume you have a place to live? Is that because you don't care about the homeless? It must be or you would have given a homeless person your house or paid the energy bill of someone worse off than you.

There is always someone worse off, according to you that means no-one cares about anyone else, if that's true why pick on the Royals for doing the exact same thing everyone else does?

You sound jealous. Most of us look at their lives and think Yeah I'd love that money but we don't assume they must be totally devoid of empathy because of it.

Does anyone actually know why the Queen has stayed on the throne for so long? I know she was made of incredible stuff, and had she abdicated at 73 years old then Prince Charles would have reigned since he was 50 years old in 1999 (quick maths)! So I think therein lies the answer as to why the Queen has reigned for so long. Her Majesty has had no end of her grown up kids' bad behaviour and it's not over yet by any means is it.
Sentiment and who is in line for the throne should have been addressed long ago, yes we all make mistakes but they are in the public eye and can't behave - their morals are shocking and we're all supposed to ignore it.
Charles wants his time on the throne - the family and country are in mourning, why doesn't he just step aside. The Harry issue is still rumbling on and that's never gonna end well, nor the Prince Andrew malarkey.

So you’d be perfectly fine that on the day of your mothers funeral strangers would start posting online about how you don’t deserve any sympathy at all from anyone because you don’t care about those less fortunate than you at all? You’d be happy to read that about you? And then these same posters saying nothing tragic has happened to you at all going “what tragedy”? Hours after watching your mothers coffin lowered into the ground?

I wouldn’t and yes my parents are both dead. I know how it feels.

If he abdicated, he would still be financially secure. He would not have to work.
If I decided to leave my job, we'd be fucked.

I have a place to live. I don’t have multiple palaces to live in. I do donate when I can afford to and volunteer with a local charity that helps those who have less than me.

This is an argument that’s often used to beat down those who point out uneven wealth distribution - oh so why don’t YOU give the clothes off your back to anyone who has less. Because I have only just enough. I can’t pay somebody else’s energy bill - some months we can only just pay our own. I give what I can while keeping what I need. I don’t hoard extravagant wealth while others sit in poverty. That’s the difference.

George can have a career / job if he wants too? Ok I don't think they will approve of him doing a plumbing apprentice but PW had a job at some point.

Really? you don't think taxpayers pay for football matches and provide the profits that pay those wages?
I don't want to pay taxes to cover policing and clean up after football matches but I do.

"Yes also nurses, teachers, police etc “we want a living wage” then leave the profession? Just go? Same as, no?" Erm yes @TerryChoc where have you been...that's EXACTLY what IS happening! We have massive shortage of teachers as they are under ridiculous pressure for the pay and are leaving teaching in their droves. Same with nurses, they cannot bribe poeple to be midwives at the moment! Charles could abdicate to relieve the pressure for himself but he'll never have to worry about putting food on the table even if he does! How can you even make that comparison?!