Charles quells succession rumours
In an effort to quell a frenzy of speculation about Prince Charles prince becoming king, a spokesperson for Prince Charles has issued a statement to say there have not been any talks about Queen Elizabeth retiring at age 95 — nor will there be.
“There are no plans for any change in arrangements at the age of 95 — or any other age,” the spokesman said.
A source at Buckingham Palace told People magazine that there have been “over-interpretations” doing the rounds in the media about Prince Charles’ role in the monarchy once the Queen reaches 95 in two years, and about how the demotion of Prince Andrew has been handled. The source told People that the Queen, not Charles, had made the call to push Andrew into the background.
That contradicts reporting from the U. K ., which indicated change would soon be afoot. Charles, it was reported, was central to the forced “retiring” of Andrew, who has been engulfed in scandal over his ties to dead financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“Planning for Charles to become king has been going on for some time. A transition is plainly already underway. Her Majesty is in her nineties and can understandably only do so much,” a source told U. K. tabloid the Sun in recent days.
“The scandal surrounding Andrew and Epstein gave Charles an opportunity to step in to show that he can run The Firm. No one is bigger than the institution of the Royal Family. Not even Andrew, the Queen’s favourite son. Charles recognized that and acted decisively — like the king he may well soon be. This was the moment when Charles stepped up as Prince Regent, the Shadow King.”
Charles was reported to have met with Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, to discuss the move into the new role. Now, though, it would appear he has taken the opportunity to clear the air.
One royal biographer told People that even if such a plan were in the works, it would be far more complicated than recent reports were making out — with family, senior courtiers and civil servants all involved.
“The Queen can’t just wave a queen wand and say Charles you are my regent. It’s not her call — and it’s not his call,” said Sally Bedell Smith.
It has been another tough week for the Queen, with the interview on BBC Monday with an American woman who says she was forced to have sex with Andrew when she was 17 years old.
Virginia Giuffre says she was trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with his friends, including the British prince. Andrew categorically denies the allegations. In the interview, Giuffre said she was brought to London in 2001 by Epstein and taken to meet the prince, one of three occasions when she says she had sex with him.