King Charles III

[InsaneApache]

Ol' Charlie boy is getting ideas about spouting forth his wisdoms to the great unwashed. I say that if he wants to speak out and spread his ideas he should run for office.

Members of Prince Charles’s inner circle are preparing the ground for him to break the monarch’s traditional vow of silence when he is king.

The Prince of Wales, who celebrated his 60th birthday on Friday, has told confidants he would like his role to “evolve” so that his knowledge and experience are not wasted once he inherits the crown, Jonathan Dimbleby, his friend and biographer, reveals today.

Writing in The Sunday Times, Dimbleby says that “there are now discreet moves afoot to redefine the future role of the sovereign so that it would allow King Charles III to speak out on matters of national and international importance in ways that at the moment would be unthinkable”.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle5162710.ece

Git.

[Prince Cobra]

Isn't it more appropriate to have a younger King? There are many cases in history of grandchildren inheriting his grandparent...

[JR-]

i am all for Charlie III in principle, and the monarchy in general, but whether we need an outspoken monarch is another question entirely.

i shall need to give it more thought.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

I was under the impreshion that the current Queen was the first monarch to be truely neutral, and mainly because the last time she intervened she messed up, badly.

[CrossLOPER]

Hooray! I look forward to a Saudi Arabia in Europe.

[KarlXII]

Hooray! I look forward to a Saudi Arabia in Europe.

LOL.

[GeneralHankerchief]

This is exactly the reason why the Queen is hanging on for as long as she is.

[rory_20_uk]

Outspoken? No. Able to give opinion? Yes.

It is a shame that politicians aren't so self censorial when they screw up.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Suddenly, the thought of being ruled by Brown or Cameron doesn't seem so bad anymore...

[JR-]

I was under the impreshion that the current Queen was the first monarch to be truely neutral, and mainly because the last time she intervened she messed up, badly.

i'm not aware of that.............

[King Henry V]

I don't think the Prince of Wales would make a bad king. I hold a great deal of respect for his views on conservation, urban planning and architecture, views which have often been proved to be correct in the long run, and stand in stark contrast to the short-sighted culture of greed the results of which we can all see the results.

[The_Doctor]

The Federal Republic of the British Isles.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Long live her Britannic Majesty, and long may she reign!

[King Henry V]

The Federal Republic of the British Isles.

I think the Southern Irish would disagree...

[Rhyfelwyr]

Bring back the Commonwealth!

[Kralizec]

I don't know how it works for you Brits, but over here our cabinet is held completely responsible for everything the queen does or says. Just about everything she says in public is written beforehand by someone else.

Personally I think that if Charles wants to do something useful he should renounce his right to the throne and get an honest job.

[CountArach]

Australia looks set for another Republican Referendum in 2012... this time it won't be rigged.

So the Queen just has to hold out another 4 or 5 years. I never thouht I would ever say this in my life, but in all seriousness... Long Live the Queen...

[The_Doctor]

I think the Southern Irish would disagree...

After they see our prosperity then will be begging to join the union.

[Incongruous]

Ol' Charlie boy is getting ideas about spouting forth his wisdoms to the great unwashed. I say that if he wants to speak out and spread his ideas he should run for office.

Git.

Umm, okay. Anyone who thinks that the Commons is any better at working for the people needs to slap themselves. To be honest I would rather have a more active monarch than a quite one, the Commons has become so vile that almost anything would be better.
Charles would be able to publicise the more disgusting excesses of the "representative government" the Commons pretends to be.

[JR-]

Australia looks set for another Republican Referendum in 2012... this time it won't be rigged.

So the Queen just has to hold out another 4 or 5 years. I never thouht I would ever say this in my life, but in all seriousness... Long Live the Queen...

it would be a sad thing for Oz, NZ or Ca to become a republic, but if that is there choice then they have my full support. regardless of whether they have the queen as head of state they will always share a common ancestry, shared ideals, similar goals, and much the same methods. in short they are family that the UK can depend on, much like the US.

[Mikeus Caesar]

For the love of the gods, Long Live the Queen. The last thing the country and the Commonwealth needs is King Charles. We can only hope Her Majesty outlives her son. A terrible thing to say, i know, but at least that way William can become King. I have the feeling he would make a great King.

[InsaneApache]

Australia looks set for another Republican Referendum in 2012... this time it won't be rigged.

So the Queen just has to hold out another 4 or 5 years. I never thouht I would ever say this in my life, but in all seriousness... Long Live the Queen...

I know where you're coming from mate, the thought of an ex PM being shoehorned in as the gaffer scares the outta me.

Long live the queen!

[Incongruous]

For the love of the gods, Long Live the Queen. The last thing the country and the Commonwealth needs is King Charles. We can only hope Her Majesty outlives her son. A terrible thing to say, i know, but at least that way William can become King. I have the feeling he would make a great King.

What in God's name is the reason for your hatred of Charles to the point of you wishing him dead?
Where has this absurd sentiment sprung up from? His awful marriage to an awful woman?

[Mikeus Caesar]

What in God's name is the reason for your hatred of Charles to the point of you wishing him dead?
Where has this absurd sentiment sprung up from? His awful marriage to an awful woman?

No, just that the man's a complete muppet. If he is to inherit one of the most respected positions in the world, he'd do best to keep his opinions to himself, or risk making us a laughing stock.

[PBI]

A terrible thing to say, i know, but at least that way William can become King. I have the feeling he would make a great King.

I must say I'm not sure I can see where you're coming from there; I've always got the impression he's a bit of a twit. In many ways a younger version of his father, in fact.

EDIT: But I do agree that if and when Charles becomes King, he would do well to take note of one of the things that has made his mother such a popular monarch, and keep his mouth shut on politics.

[Incongruous]

No, just that the man's a complete muppet. If he is to inherit one of the most respected positions in the world, he'd do best to keep his opinions to himself, or risk making us a laughing stock.

Why is he a complete muppet?

[Mikeus Caesar]

Why is he a complete muppet?

Irrational views on subjects such as homeopathic medicine, horse of a wife.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Well, hopefully he ends up being a good, strong, and quiet King. Either that or exactly like the Duke of Edinburgh - entertaining.

God Save the Queen.

[CountArach]

Well, hopefully he ends up being a good, strong, and quiet King. Either that or exactly like the Duke of Edinburgh - entertaining.

God Save the Queen.

I thought you favoured an Interventionist King?

[Banquo's Ghost]

What amuses me about the British and conversations on the succession, is the quaint idea that you have any opinion that counts.

To quote one of the finest French philosophers, Denis, "You don't vote for kings."

The essence of monarchy is heredity. Charles succeeds as your head of state whether you like it or not. Otherwise, get a republic - and then you can decide on the basis of looks, youth, quality of wife, just as the rest of the world does.

Having said that, the Prince of Wales is just kicking against the traces. He knows all too well the wearisome burden of the Crown's inability to comment on almost anything - save in private. This has been tradition pretty much since the usurper William of Orange. The monarch who abrogates this tradition will, in all likelihood, be the last of their line to hold a role beyond an elaborate method for relieving tourists of their dollars.

The Prince is a decent cove, and makes fascinating conversation in private. He suffers from a serious disconnect to real society, but is warm, passionate and well-informed in a theoretical sense. In this, he is not much different from many politicians I have met.

The biggest mistake the monarchy has made is to try and pander to the people. Monarchy stands on its own, and relies on mysticism and ancient right. If a modern country is going to have one, they better get used to the unfairness inherent in the system.