The news fell like a cannonball on February 5, 2024. King Charles is suffering from “form of cancer“, which was detected during his benign prostate operation, as Buckingham Palace explained in an official statement. He who has just had his face printed on stamps, and engraved on British currency, has started of the “regular treatments” since this Monday. At 75 years old, he wants to be reassuring and clarified that he will continue to “take care of state affairs”even if his doctors “advised to postpone his public activities”.
If he has to be absent
Meanwhile, Prince William, his heir apparent, cleared his schedule to be with his wife, Kate Middleton, and take care of their three children, George, Charlotte and Louis. The Princess of Wales is also recovering until Easter after a planned abdominal operation which went well. We wonder who will be able to replace Charles III in his travels. And the answer is: by senior members of the Firm, namely the Queen Consort, Camilla, but also the King’s sister, Princess Anne, or even Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
If he passes the weapon to the left
If the monarch’s health were to decline, however, the order of succession is already provided for by law. Prince William is in first place. Then follow his three children, in their order of birth. In fifth place, it is Prince Harry who would next inherit the throne, then his children, Archie and Lilibet, in sixth and seventh place.
In the rest of the list, the torch then passes to Prince Andrew, and his daughters, and grandchildren, before arriving at Edward, his descendants and finally Anne and hers.
F.A.