Britain's Prince Charles says: I won't meddle when I am king

 

Britain's Prince Charles visits the British Council festival in Lagos, Nigeria, November 7, 2018. Sunday Alamba/Pool via Reuters

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Prince Charles said he will stop speaking out on issues he feels strongly about when he becomes king as he is "not that stupid".

 

Speaking to the BBC ahead of his 70th birthday next week, the son of 92 year-old Queen Elizabeth said that the role of monarch was completely different to his current position as Prince of Wales.

 

"The idea, somehow, that I'm going to go on in exactly the same way, if I have to succeed, is complete nonsense because the two - the two situations - are completely different," he said.

 

Asked whether his public campaigning will continue, he said: "No, it won't. I'm not that stupid."

 

Britain currently has a constitutional monarchy, where the monarch has a formal role in the formation of governments but an obligation to remain neutral and no practical political power.

 

Charles has been outspoken on topics such as the environment and social issues. In September Charles said in an interview with GQ magazine in September that "My problem is I find there are too many things that need doing or battling on behalf of."

 

But he told the BBC that he would operate within "constitutional parameters" as king.

 

"I do realise that it is a separate exercise being sovereign. So of course I understand entirely how that should operate," he said.

 

But he defended his activism as heir to the throne, which includes founding the Prince's Trust charity in 1976 to support vulnerable young people.

 

He said: "If it's meddling to worry about the inner cities as I did 40 years ago, then if that's meddling I'm proud of it."

 

(Reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-11-08

God I hope Australia denounces the royal family if he decides to be king.  Despise this guy.  Harry would be the best choice but we know that can't happen

Will he ever be King though ?

His Mother may out live him 

He will be King for a day. Then he will drop the mace like its hot...

Charities that he's a patron of do a hell of a lot of good work in inner cities .. The chap's not a wrong 'un and should be given the chance to govern if Her Maj' calls it a day though given the Queen Mother clocked up more than a ton Queen Liz' may have a few more laps in her yet .. 

Anybody think that is going to be a reality?

8 hours ago, Thechook said:

Despise this guy. 

But he speaks highly of you.

9 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

Charities that he's a patron of do a hell of a lot of good work in inner cities .. The chap's not a wrong 'un and should be given the chance to govern if Her Maj' calls it a day though given the Queen Mother clocked up more than a ton Queen Liz' may have a few more laps in her yet .. 

The Prince’s Trust does a lot of fantastic work with young people across the country.

 

Very particularly bringing together older people with skills and experience to share with kids who often lack a positive role model to follow.

 

Fantastic bloke, fantastic positive contribution to society.

I will be happy if Charles ever becomes King. He would be a good One. Sadly he may be the last King of England and the commonwealth.

I ran a photography work shop for teens on a very large council estate with high rate of drug addicts and burglaries , it was a great project and funded totally by the princes trust...no expense spared for a full monty dark room and Cannon T70 cameras.

14 hours ago, HappyAndRich said:

Anybody think that is going to be a reality?

No. After divorcing Diana and marrying that silly old moo, he shot his bolt. Must go to William.

Conspiracy troll post removed

20 hours ago, Thechook said:

God I hope Australia denounces the royal family if he decides to be king.  Despise this guy.  Harry would be the best choice but we know that can't happen

Harry? The Prince who wore a Nazi uniform in public? Oh, that is in keeping with Windsor tradition.

20 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

Charities that he's a patron of do a hell of a lot of good work in inner cities .. The chap's not a wrong 'un and should be given the chance to govern if Her Maj' calls it a day though given the Queen Mother clocked up more than a ton Queen Liz' may have a few more laps in her yet .. 

 

The royal family, king or queen do not govern in the UK. 

I shall celebrate his birthday like its my own. Such as I've been doing for over some six decades.

...''won't meddle ''........ what with... some other Army Major's wife !! ? 

9 hours ago, Kiwiken said:

I will be happy if Charles ever becomes King. He would be a good One. Sadly he may be the last King of England and the commonwealth.

For me I would be happy if he would ride his horse Camilla. Becoming king would be a desaster. What more shall Brits suffer from? Cameron, May, Charles? Will there be an end? 

Is anyone seriously looking forward to the cretinous reign of Charles III the Chinless and his royal consort Horseface?

 

One pound sterling will equal just one Baht.

2 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

The royal family, king or queen do not govern in the UK. 

you're right, it's another bunch of Germans based in Brussels

Troll style posts removed.