Across the Atlantic, a plethora of hypothetical issues have been raised by the announcement that King Charles III may be suffering from cancer.
One possibility is that the sickly monarch chooses to step down and take care of his health, which would immediately highlight Prince William, his eldest son and heir apparent.
If Charles were to pass away, that procedure would undoubtedly quicken and establish King William V, barring him from selecting another name. A different query emerges in such case: What becomes of Queen Consort Camilla? Royal specialists say the answer is subtle.
The nuanced fact is that, although King Charles undoubtedly detailed his wishes for his wife, the reigning monarch—in this case, King William—determines the extent to which Queen Consort Camilla will play a role in her latter years.
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What’s After King Williams
Furthermore, upon the accession of King William to the throne, Princess Kate, his spouse, would be crowned queen. Kate, in her capacity as the mother of Prince George, the prospective monarch, wields considerable influence in terms of both regal status and public esteem.
However, that does not mean Camilla would be forgotten immediately. Camilla, arguably King Charles’ first love, was anointed alongside her spouse in an elaborate coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey last May, to the excitement of many Britons, notwithstanding the made-for-television scandals that surrounded their union.
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Prince Harry and King Charles’s Reportedly Meeting
Less than a day after Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III had been diagnosed with a “form of cancer,” Prince Harry arrived in London on Tuesday afternoon. The Independent reported that the two spent less than an hour together before the monarch and his wife, Queen Camilla, left for Sandringham by helicopter. At 2:42 p.m. local time, Harry was spotted at Clarence House, and the newspaper was informed by sources that their encounter lasted roughly forty-five minutes.
The outlet further notes that since Queen Elizabeth’s death in 2022, the father and son had not had a face-to-face communication until their sit-down. While visiting King Charles’s coronation last year, Harry and his spouse Meghan Markle did not speak with Charles of Camilla.
Due to Charles’s upcoming leave, Prince Edward is anticipated to resume his regal responsibilities early. Since returning from vacation on January 26, he has nothing scheduled, but he is anticipated to fill in for the king during his treatment. In the coming weeks, additional responsibilities will be assumed by Queen Camilla, William, the Prince of Wales, and other royals, particularly as Kate Middleton recovers from abdominal surgery.