King Charles' 'concerns' before Prince George was born over 'the future of the monarchy'
He reportedly had "questions" over a lawKing Charles had some concerns ahead of his grandson Prince George‘s birth, a new royal book has claimed.
Royal author Valentine Low’s new political book, Power and the Palace, has revealed why the news of a grandchild, and most importantly, whether they would be a boy or a girl, was allegedly a troubling matter for the monarch.
King Charles’ ‘concerns’ before Prince George was born
According to Low, former royal editor of the Times, King Charles, 76, was worried about the future of the monarchy if his eldest son, Prince William’s first child was a girl.
In late 2012 and early 2013, the Succession to the Crown Bill was debated in Parliament. At the time, Kate was pregnant with her first child, who of course turned out to be a boy, Prince George.
The bill was passed in April 2013, three months before George was born on July 22.
Under this new law, gender would no longer play a part in determining the order of succession to the British throne. In other words, younger brothers would no longer overtake their older sisters in line to the throne.
According to Low’s book, the king was worried about what it would mean if Kate gave birth to a baby girl. His main concern was apparently over whether the royal house name of Windsor would change if he had a granddaughter who became queen and then married.
Since the monarch is also head of the Church of England, he also reportedly “had questions” about what would happen if said granddaughter married a Catholic.
Charles’ ‘tension’ with Richard Heaton over succession bill
The king’s alleged concerns were apparently so great that they caused tension between him and Richard Heaton, the permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office at the time.
According to Low, Charles invited Heaton to Clarence House to discuss his charity work and government ties. But he reportedly ended up instead quizzing him about the Succession to the Crown Bill.
At the time, reports emerged claiming that Charles “voiced serious concerns” about “rushed plans” to change the laws over the royal line of succession.
As it was, the king’s worries were in vain as William and Kate’s first child ended up being a boy, Prince George.
George was born in July 2013. William and Kate then went on to have Princess Charlotte two years later. Meanwhile, Prince Louis was born in 2018.
What else does the book reveal?
Power and the Palace makes several more explosive claims about the royal family.
The book gives a terrifying account of Queen Camilla fighting off an attempted assault on a train when she was a teenager.
Royal Insider has contacted reps for Buckingham Palace for comment.
Read more: King Charles’ real powers when it comes to a general election and dissolving parliament
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