King Charles waited a very long time indeed to finally become king. The late Queen Elizabeth lived on longer than perhaps even her staunchest fans had hoped, thus making Charles the oldest monarch in history to take the throne.
But is it necessary for Charles to remain on said throne for much longer, especially considering the health issues he has battled in recent times?
No, perhaps it would be better for everyone if Charles said his fond farewells, retired to the many comforts of his Sandringham estate, and let Prince William be the one to focus on saving the monarchy and its future.
Though no one actively wanted the beloved Queen Elizabeth II to pass away, it’s safe to say that King Charles had been preparing for the role of monarch for many, many years.
King Charles – is it time to abdicate?
In fact, Charles broke the record in becoming longest-serving monarch-in-waiting in British history, surpassing Edward VII’s record of 59 years. He also became the oldest person to ever succeed to the British throne.
As we all know, the King’s reign so far has been quite turbulent. The Royal Family has been dealing with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s many outbursts and allegations, and the popularity of Charles and his fellow senior royals plummeted for a while. At the same time – and though the royals don’t publicize their political views – crucial subjects such as climate change have affected them, too.
While the Royal Family still has excellent support from many fans worldwide, it also faces a crisis of legitimacy. In recent years the monarchy has been accused of being out of touch with current social issues, and not attracting or being appealing to the younger population. With that in mind, is King Charles, a 73-year-old man, really the one who can steer the Royal Family towards being more trendy, relevant, and, quite frankly, up to date?
Personally, I don’t think he is.
Understandably, Charles wants to continue his reign and remain king for many years. He’s been waiting for decades for the role, though perhaps comparing other monarchies in Europe would be helpful.
“Leave room for the next generation of kings and queens”
In the past decade, many European monarchies have gone through the same thing. In 2013, at age 75, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands signed her abdication. That same year, Albert II of Belgium decided it was time to step down for health reasons.
Meanwhile, in 2014, the disgraced King Juan Carlos of Spain left the throne.
In Europe today, three monarchies are ruled by older kings: Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf XVI (age 78), King Harald of Norway (age 87), and King Charles (age 75).
In The Guardian, Simon Jenkins writes that the abdications of older monarchs show signs of a “sensible constitutional monarchy.”
It’s better to leave room for the next generation of kings and queens before the older heads are too ill to act out their royal duties—and given the pace of technology development in just the last few years, this might be more critical than ever, not only for the UK but also for other monarchies as well.
So, therefore, isn’t it time for Charles to abdicate? It’s time to do what’s right, and leave room for the younger generation.
Natural to “hand the throne to Prince William”
Experts at University College London’s Constitution Unit stated in 2022 that while it would be “perfectly natural” for Charles to assume the throne and perform royal duties “which he has spent so long preparing in waiting,” it would also be as natural to “hand the throne to Prince William.”
There aren’t many monarchs that welcome the idea of abdication, but in King Charles’ case, it could actually be a positive thing.
Firstly, by acknowledging that it’s time for a new era with a “King William,” Charles can somewhat revolutionize the monarchy and break old traditions, leading the Firm into a new modern world.
At the same time, the Royal Family has received plenty of criticism for being out of touch with many issues, and a younger monarch could be helping the Firm to remain relevant and trustworthy. With that said, Charles has already taken a step towards transforming the royals into a more modern institution by opening up Balmoral to the public.
King Charles could “prioritize the future of the Crown” with abdication
Social media is a huge thing today, and Prince WIlliam and Kate MIddleton have already shown that they are in touch with the younger generation. It’s something that seems crucial for the Royal Family’s survival, and if Charles abdicates, they could do even more.
For example, William is already very much involved in issues such as global warming, and with him in charge, it could pave the way for new visions and ideas that could help the country as a whole.
No one wants to take the Crown away from King Charles on a whim, but if he abdicated, it would also imply that he is not staying in power just because he has the right to. Public support for the monarchy could even increase if he stepped down, with Charles choosing to prioritize the future of the Crown more than personal winning and power.
Prince William will become king one day, though just now we have no idea when that might be. I for one believe that the earlier he does so, the better, and King Charles has the power to do something as radical as it is positive by stepping down and helping his family for future generations.