Most Brits want Prince William to be the next King… and over a third say Camilla Parker-Bowles should not become Queen if Prince Charles takes the throne
MORE than half of Brits want Prince William to be the next King, The Sun can reveal — while just a fifth reckon it should be his father Charles.
And in a further blow to the Prince of Wales, 36 per cent said his wife Camilla should be Princess Consort rather than Queen if he does take the throne.
It comes amid a backlash against Charles after Channel 4 broadcast controversial recordings by his former wife Diana.
An exclusive poll for The Sun by ICM reveals 51 per cent of Brits want William to be the next King — skipping the Queen’s eldest son.
Just 22 per cent back Charles — with the bulk of his support coming from the over-75s.
Camilla’s biographer Penny Junor said last night: “Gosh that’s got to hurt — after all the preparation he’s put into this. I think Charles will be devastated.”
Charles and Camilla were slammed on social media last week after Channel 4 broadcast Diana: In Her Own Words.
In the recordings Diana, who died in a car crash 20 years ago this month, claimed he told her he “refused to be the only Prince of Wales never to have a mistress”.
But out of 2,000 people surveyed, 28 per cent said they saw the programme while 70 per cent claimed they had not.
Of those who watched it, 60 per cent voted for William — suggesting the film had an impact but it does not alone account for the swing to the younger royal.
Ken Wharfe, Diana’s royal protection officer, said she always believed William would be King instead of Charles.
He said: “I cannot disagree with these statistics. No other monarch has ever reigned as long as The Queen - the thought of getting an ageing grey-haired King Charles is perhaps not the best option.”
YES: CHARLES SHOULD BE KING
Says Penny Junor, The Duchess author
THERE’S no doubt Charles will succeed the Queen and people who want William will have to wait a while.
This seems an overreaction in a very emotional period.
Once all of this hysteria around the anniversary of Diana’s death has calmed down, it will be fine for Charles to inherit the throne.
Sometimes you have popular kings and sometimes you have unpopular ones. If anyone ever deserves this role, it will be Charles.
He will be the best-prepared monarch ever to come to the throne.
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NO: CHARLES SHOULD NOT BE KING
Says Ken Wharfe, Diana's bodyguard
DIANA never said it publicly but she told me she never thought Charles would be king.
She always thought her son would be.
Her popularity was down to her style and delivery to the public. William is the same.
The Queen has said: “I’m 91, my husband is 96 . . . I need support.”
The poll’s percentages ring true — I believe the public are absolutely right.
The monarchy will always survive with the will of the people.
The younger generation will decide now where the monarchy sits.
But royal author Ingrid Seward countered: “Things go in waves and because of the anniversary of Diana’s death he’s not popular at the moment.
"Charles will be King. I think he’ll do pretty well.”
Our poll revealed Charles was only more popular than William among over-75s — with a narrow 45 to 43 per cent lead.
Just nine per cent of 18-to-34 year olds want Charles to become king.
William was also more popular among women — with 58 per cent preferring him to succeed the Queen rather than Charles.
Of those who saw the C4 film, 43 per cent wanted Camilla to be Princess Consort if Charles took the throne. Just 27 per cent wanted her to be Queen Consort.
Kensington Palace and Clarence House both declined to comment.
