COMMENTARY
FORGET the two royal weddings or the birth of Prince Louis. For the British monarchy, Prince Charles's 70th birthday is the central event of 2018.
That became clear when the heir to the throne's love of art, rather than the Duchess of Sussex's wedding dress, was chosen as the theme for the special exhibition at the summer opening of Buckingham Palace to tourists earlier this year.
Charles's birthday is not only the cause for a family celebration but also a milestone around which The Firm can take stock and think about the next steps towards his reign.
There was a time when courtiers regarded any mention of what happens after the Queen is gone as in poor taste. But for the past few years, they have been gradually preparing us for RICHARD PALMER the handover to King Charles III.
In the 2014 New Year's honours list, the Queen's then private secretary Lord Geidt (Sir Christopher at the time), was awarded a second knighthood for “a new approach to constitutional matters... [and] the preparation for the transition to a change of reign”.
He was forced out last year amid tensions with Charles's people, who increasingly hold sway inside the Royal Household, as the heir to the throne takes over more responsibilities and the Queen
cuts her workload. In April, the Queen helped persuade the leaders of 53 nations to choose him as the next head of the Commonwealth after her, an appointment that was not automatic. Will she formally step down? There have been claims she might invoke the Regency Act and make Prince Charles a stand-in sovereign, the Prince Regent, when she reaches 95.
Nothing can be ruled out if she is no longer physically or mentally able to undertake her duties as Monarch but it would be surprising.
Many may think she has earned the right to put her feet up but abdication is anathema to her and at the start of her Diamond Jubilee year in 2012 she reaffirmed the commitment she gave on her 21st birthday “that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service”.
Barring serious illness, it is more likely that Charles will continue his gradual takeover of her duties, leaving her head of state in name at least and him a king-in-waiting.
Last week, Charles took a huge step towards gaining wider acceptance as that king-in-waiting after tackling one of the main questions that has dogged him for years.
He insisted he would no longer wade into public controversies when he is king.
“I’m not that stupid. I do realise that it is a separate exercise being sovereign,” he said. Charles will modernise the monarchy, almost certainly slimming it down, and do things his way up to a point. But it seems he will not deviate in a major way from his mother’s avoidance of controversy.
The big challenge he and his courtiers still face is convincing the British public, particularly older people, that Camilla should be his Queen because of the complicated history of their relationship. Back in 2005 when the couple married, Clarence House said it was intended that she would use only the title Princess Consort out of deference to those who blamed her and Charles for Princess Diana’s years of unhappiness.
Opinion polls have varied but for the moment at least, it appears most Britons continue to believe that Camilla should never be made Queen Consort.
Trying to change opinions will, no doubt, be next on the Clarence House to-do list.