King Charles is facing a somewhat awkward start to 2024, by which I mean everyone's discussing whether or not he should abdicate the throne. According to Newsweek, there have been calls for Charles to pass the crown to Prince William amid the abdication of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
Newsweek notes that multiple British outlets (including ones that are normally "royalist") have published articles on the prospect, including the Guardian which ran an op-ed headlined "King Charles should follow Denmark's example—and tell us when he'll abdicate."
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail published an "exclusive" about a potential abdication, speaking with royal author Phil Dampier who said "It must make you wonder if in five or ten years’ time King Charles might think about doing the same if his health suffers or he just thinks it is a good time to pass on to William and Kate while they are still young. Our late Queen would never abdicate because of what happened in 1936 when her uncle abdicated and her father came to the throne. But times change."
Calls for abdication come amid the Daily Beast reporting that there's some tension brewing between William and Charles—specifically because William wants more control.
"I am sure they will butt heads as Charles is allergic to anyone telling him what to do, and William is not exactly famed for his subtlety," a former Buckingham Palace staffer explained. "But I think it is broadly seen as a productive rivalry, rather than a destructive one, because William respects his father’s ‘rank’ as head of The Firm."
And a source who worked for both royals said that "William and Kate would do things like give you two weeks off if your father died, while Charles’ office has a more workaholic vibe."
Guess we'll...see what happens?
