Prince Charles, 71, is first in line to the British throne and is due to take the crown from Queen Elizabeth II, 94, when she can no longer serve. However, Charles’s age has led to speculation that he could choose to forgo the throne and hand it straight to his son Prince William, 38.
But despite rumours William could easily become king instead of Charles, constitutional experts have flagged why it’s not that simple.
University College London’s Constitution Unit has addressed key questions around the succession including why William will have to wait to become king.
In answer to the question ‘Why can we not have Prince William as king?’, the UCL Constitution website states: “Under common law, Prince Charles will automatically become King the moment the Queen dies.
“Prince William could only become King if Prince Charles chose to abdicate.
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“That would require legislation, as happened with the Declaration of Abdication Act 1936.”
The constitutional experts flagged the line of succession is regulated by Parliament and cannot be altered by the presiding monarch.
This means Charles would have to seek Parliament’s approval as well as abdicating before William could be made king in his place.
The website continues: “The line of succession is regulated by Parliament (as in the Act of Succession 1700, and the Succession to the Crown Act 2013); it can be changed only by Parliament and cannot be unilaterally altered by the monarch.”
“The second is her declaration on her twenty-first birthday that she would serve for her whole life whether it be long or short.
“She is also said to regard her oath at her coronation as imposing a sacred duty to reign as long as she shall live.
“Having waited over 60 years as heir apparent, it would be perfectly natural for Prince Charles to want to assume the throne and perform the royal duties for which he has spent so long preparing in waiting.
“But it would be equally natural if, after reigning for a few years as an increasingly elderly monarch, he chose to invite Parliament to hand on the throne to Prince William.”
While the Queen is expected to remain in her royal role until her death, one royal expert has claimed she could handover more powers to Prince Charles when she reaches 95-years-old next year.
Royal commentator and author Robert Jobson has previously said: “I understand the Queen has given the matter considerable thought and believes that, if she is still alive at 95, she will seriously consider passing the reign to Charles.
“Her Majesty is mindful of her age and wants to make sure when the time comes, the transition of the Crown is seamless.”
The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically altered the type of work the Queen can carry out.
Earlier this week Buckingham Palace confirmed all large-scale engagements would be cancelled until next year.
