King Charles holds the record of longest-serving monarch-in-waiting in British history, surpassing Edward VII’s record of 59 years. At the same time, he’s the eldest person to be crowned king in Britain.
When he witnessed his mother becoming the head of the monarchy, King Charles was a three-year-old boy. Back then, he was totally unaware that one day he would be the one overtaking the monarchy.
That day arrived with the passing of his mother, late Queen Elizabeth II, who ruled the country for over 70 years. Her reign spanned 14 US presidencies, from Truman to Joe Biden, and met all but one.
Last year, King Charles disclosed with the public his cancer diagnosis, sharing that he’s been receiving treatments in London.
After a short period of being out of the spotlight, he has again returned to his royal duties his wife and his older son performed during his absence from public life.
As the public speculated about his health condition, many raised the question of his possible abdication.
In December of last year, a source close to the monarch told Woman’s Day that Charles has long ago “came to terms” with the fact that he won’t be ruling the country for many years.
“He’s a lot weaker and tires easily, and doctors are begging him to slow down,” the source said, adding that the monarch contemplates over whether it’s noble or not to abdicate.
“Charles will have been told worst and best-case scenarios in terms of his health, but it’s clear some of his royal priorities have had to be sidelined.”
He and William, however, did discuss the future.
“As devastating as it’s been, he’s had to step away from some of his plans or leave them to William. He has no choice,” the source said. “Cancer has changed him, made him reassess what’s important, and there’s no one he’d rather spend his time with than Camilla. Stepping aside could be what gives him more time with her.”
Royal commentator Sally Bedell Smith told People that King Charles has to “accept limitations” during his cancer treatment.
“Although the King is carrying out his duties with typical determination, he has had to accept limitations during his cancer treatment,” Bedell Smith said. “As a result, William has been taking on more responsibilities, and he and Kate have been preparing for their future roles sooner than they would have expected.”
According to experts, “abdication would be a significant departure from all tradition.”
Hilary Fordwich, a royal expert, argued with Fox News that when the last time a monarch abdicated, Queen Elizabeth II’s uncle, Edward VIII, it triggered “a constitutional crisis.”
British royal broadcaster Jonathan Sacerdoti told Fox that it is “unlikely” that King Charles will step away from his royal duties any more than “strictly necessary.”
“Of course, he is not a youngster, and the example of his late mother’s older years shows that, when needed, the royal family can accommodate sharing the burden, if necessary,” Sacerdoti said. “But just as Queen Elizabeth II continued to work well into her old age, and even when she was not entirely healthy, I am sure that the king will want to do the same and keep going as much as is possible.”
“King Charles will never abdicate through his own volition, especially as he has waited a lifetime to become monarch,” royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital.
Over the last few decades, several European countries have seen their monarchs abdicate in favor of the younger generation of royals.
Most recently it was Denmark, when Queen Margrethe II of Denmark became the first Danish monarch to abdicate in more than 900 years. The country celebrated their new head of the monarchy, King Frederik X, in the capital of Copenhagen on Sunday and the Prince and Princess of Wales have closely followed the events unfolding.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark announced her abdication on TV during her yearly speech on New Year’s Eve. The nation was shocked because no one expected it. She explained that she believed it was time for her son to take her place. Queen Margrethe II, 83, took the throne after her father, King Frederik IX, died in 1972.
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