King Charles’ cancer diagnosis has stirred somewhat of a quiet panic not only in the public but also within the palace wall, or so it seemed.
Buckingham Palace has maintained that the King has shown optimistic signs of recovery year after his diagnosis in February. Meanwhile, reports have also claimed that Prince William is also being prepared for his destined role.
While the general assumption is that the monarch’s health condition has triggered a chain of events in the royal household, the truth is actually different to the common perception.
“The people I’ve spoken to have said that the succession planning, as they call it, began even before Charles’ diagnosis,” royal author Tom Quinn told Harper’s Bazaar. “I mean, he’s the oldest Prince of Wales to become king in history, so succession planning had begun before Charles came to the throne simply because of the age issue.”
Meanwhile, Charles had the longest tenure as the Prince of Wales, suggesting that his apprenticeship would have prepared him for the throne. However, royal author Robert Hardman explained that there is no formal preparation when it comes to learning how to be a monarch.
“It’s always a role where you learn by example,” he said.
Hence, William isn’t necessarily undergoing training for the top job, but “they’re preparing William by giving him more of the sort of work that Charles would do,” Quinn added. “Obviously, the cancer diagnosis has made everything more urgent.”
Meanwhile, royal author Christopher Andersen said that the “palace is putting on a good front, but the situation, in reality, is still very fluid.” When it comes to the king “it’s still touch-and-go.”
However, the concerns regarding the King's health have not silenced speculations despite reassurances from the Palace.
As Charles wrapped his four-day state visit to Italy alongside wife Queen Camilla, the king had planted a tree.
He poignantly quipped, “Well, I do hope that I shall live long enough to see a little bit of growth in the tree.”
Reports have suggested that Charles is well-aware of his son being prepared and supports the decision.
