By royal biographer Emily Andrews
SHOULD KING CHARLES RESIGN?
I know, it sounds a crazy idea – particularly after he waited almost his entire life to accede to the throne.
But I only ask as that’s exactly what Europe’s oldest and longest-serving living monarch has just done.
On Sunday, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II stepped down, having announced her surprise abdication in a New Year’s TV address.
The 83-year-old Danish monarch took her country, and indeed the world, by complete surprise in handing over to her son, now King Frederik X and his Australian wife Queen Mary.
Queen Margrethe ruled for 52 years, and following in the footsteps of Spain and the Netherlands’ monarchs, has now retired, rather than let her death ensure an uncertain succession.
I remember seeing her as she came to pay her respects to her cousin Queen Elizabeth II when her coffin lay in state in Westminster Hall. She wiped away a tear and was visibly moved by our Queen’s death; I do wonder if that prompted a reassessment of her own retirement (our Queen famously declaring she would never abdicate).
The spectre of King Edward VIII and the 1936 abdication crisis always haunted Elizabeth but it meant that Charles didn’t know how long he had to wait.
So too, the Prince and Princess of Wales have no idea how long they’ll have to wait in line.
The behaviour of a past King (almost 90 years ago) shouldn’t have to limit the options of his successors. How refreshing (and dare I say modern) for a bold King Charles to declare that once he turns, say, 80, he will step down and hand over the throne.
Future sovereigns could then choose to be crowned and consecrated for fixed terms.
An end date would give him a focused reign and the promise of a well-earned royal retirement.
It would be the action of a truly visionary monarch who accepts the limitations of longevity and turns abdication from a negative threat to a positive outcome.
And of course, it would inject the monarchy with a perhaps much-needed youthful shot of glamour in the form of King William and Queen Catherine.
Charles could even follow Margrethe’s example further in stripping his grandchildren via his second son of their prince and princess titles.
