Prince Charles: Future King, Or Not?

Renewed Focus On His Future, Now That He's Turned 60

(CBS/AP)  Prince Charles' office says Rod Stewart will headline a star-studded bash for the prince's birthday.

The pop star known for the songs "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" and "Maggie May" will perform at a party Charles' wife, Camilla, is giving Saturday at their Highgrove estate.

It's the latest celebration in a festive week for the prince, who turned 60 on Friday.

It began with a comedy performance on Wednesday. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, held a dinner party and concert at Buckingham Palace on Thursday. On Friday, Charles was honored with cannons booming a 41-gun salute across central London, at Hyde Park, and with a celebration with young people, sponsored by his charity. He skipped the Hyde Park salute to go to the charity event. He was also scheduled to attend a children's concert at the Royal Opera House.

But amid the hoopla, the omnipresent question remains, will Charles ever ascend to the throne and become king?

He's already the longest monarch-in-waiting in British history.

Do Britons really want him on as king, or would they prefer he be passed over in favor of his popular son, Prince William?

"Evybody is sort of saying, 'What’s going to happen now for him?' longtime royals-watcher Neil Sean pointed out from London on The Early Show Saturday Edition, "and I think the bottom line for him is that he just wants to enjoy his life. You know, everybody is saying, 'Will he become king?' Well, yes, he will become king, but not in his time, until the queen decides.

" ... As everybody knows here in England, her majesty the queen has got no plans to abdicate, to move over, to even retire," Sean told co-anchor Chris Wragge. "It’s just not a word that would be associated with the queen, and Prince Charles knows this.

"What we can tell you is that Prince William (the eldest son of Charles and the late Princess Diana) has no desire ... to sidestep Prince Charles and take over from the queen. You know, Prince William openly admits he wants his father to have a crack at the job, as they say, and Prince Charles would be ready.

"Earlier this week, Her Majesty stated on TV that Prince Charles would make a fine king, so she has given an endorsement, but it's not the sort of job [you can just make your way into. Something bad would likely have to happen to the queen first]."

How popular is Charles in Britain?

"Ten years ago," Sean said, "after the sad loss of Diana, etc., his rating was very low, but he slowly built it back up. We have to say that’s partly due as well to Camilla, his wife. She's a great supporter of Prince Charles, whatever you may think. I think without her, it would have been a longer and harder battle for him to win the approval of his subjects. His rating here is very high right now, and I think, particularly over the last couple of days, this documentary (about Charles at 60, on the BBC) has warmed Britain to the fact that, in fact, Prince Charles is a very nice person. Remember, he used to talk to plants, and he talked about being organic!"

[boatdocster]

Charles is weak and rotten to the core.

William would be 10 times the King.

Camilla is a psychotic wench and a non-starter!

[ptsd6869]

HOPEFULLY QUEEN LIZ WILL OUTLIVE CHUCKY & ON HER DEATH BED DISSOLVE THE MONARCHY. LONG, LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!!!

[whitemale08]

Stop the clown show and throw this bum off the welfare rolls of England.

I don''t know who he is the Prince of or who made him King but he''s not recognized by anyone outside the U.K.

Besides him and a few others are avowed enemies of humanity where they want to take advantage of the ''gloval financial crisis'' to reduce the world''s population by 2/3rds.

I say let them die first to save humanity.

[wwudiver]

Why are we talking about royals in our news? Didn''t we send our feelings on the matter around 1776 to monarchs? Oh well, we are a corporate occupied state so maybe, being comfortable with our new rulers, we long for the inbreeds of old.

[Keith Geddes]

Charles didnt choose Diana, someone else did, this is all assuming as usual the Royal family is `normal`. It never was. Yes hes eccentric.. in fact what DOES he do for himself.. they are not of our world. Let him do as he wants.. Wills will likely be in line. Thats why they chose Diana.. Plantagenate.

[Keith Geddes]

Where did the Muslim comment come from? This is Britain, we know nothing of the various middle east religions.. they want us to fear them, well SORRY!!

[Keith Geddes]

Er no, Charles doesnt want to be King.. when the time comes he may step down like his Uncle did and move away with the `woman hes always loved..` or rather that always chased him. The Queen has to die first.
Charles is not King material..

[gaye5]

I feel that if he becomes king, many British colonies will leave the ship, I know here in Australia that would be so.. People don''t like Charles, they don''t like what he did to Diana, and he is eccentric, always has been and still is.
He has not had the brains to read the WHOLE Quran and other Muslim books to see what they intend for us, so he would put the country in danger with his desire to plicate Islam would leave Britain hanging..

[barbaraf4]

Such a wasted life.

[ic1ssbill]

Take a hint from the Scots--- UP THE KING

[cdfoxtrot5]

Prince Charles: Future King, Or Not?

Not.