New era begins for UK’s longest serving heir

Will the British monarchy change with Prince Charles as deputy head? After Prince Philip’s funeral tomorrow, many believe the Queen’s closest adviser will become her son – the future king. The eyes of the world will be on Windsor Castle tomorrow. Just before 3pm, bells will toll and guns will fire. Prince Philip’s coffin, draped in a flag, will make its final journey in a modified Land Rover. Members of the Royal Family will process solemnly behind the vehicle, dressed in black and with their heads bowed. Their destination? St George’s Chapel, where the Queen will bid farewell to her beloved husband. For each of the 30 people attending tomorrow’s service, the loss of the Duke of Edinburgh is deeply personal. For Princess Anne, he was a “leader, supporter and critic”. For Prince William, he was the “extraordinary man” who dedicated his life to serving the Queen. Prince Harry put it more simply – his grandfather was a “master of the barbecue”. But for the Duke’s eldest son, the funeral will mark not only a moment of profound personal grief but also a new era of responsibility. For 73 years, the Duke of Edinburgh stood beside the Queen’s side, accompanying her as she led the monarchy into a new millennium. Now, with Philip gone, it will be Prince Charles who becomes the Queen’s closest confidant. “Prince Charles is stepping up into the role of family patriarch now,” writes royal journalist Emily Nash. “It is a big moment for him.” So what will Charles’ new unofficial role mean for the monarchy? Those looking to predict the future will not be short of clues. Prince Charles is the longest ever serving heir to the British throne. In his 69 years as King-in-waiting, he has promoted everything from traditional architecture to interfaith dialogue. He is also a committed environmentalist – last year, Charles revealed that in the 1970s, many thought he was “mad” for discussing climate change. But Charles has faced bigger scandals. In the 1990s, the Royal Family was rocked by the public breakdown of his marriage to Princess Diana. His relationship with his father could be strained. Indeed, despite their shared passion for the environment, Charles and Philip had vastly different personalities. “He is a romantic and I’m a pragmatist,” declared Philip in 1999. “That means we do see things differently.” Now, it is his youngest son who Charles appears to have fallen out with – last month, Prince Harry told Oprah he felt “let down” by his father. These fraught relationships mean more than just a family crisis. With an approval rating of just 38%, many Britons are sceptical about Charles’ role as second-in-command. In one 2014 play, King Charles III, playwright Mike Bartlett even imagined a future in which Charles is forced to abdicate by a scheming Duchess of Cambridge. But not everyone is so pessimistic. “It is easy to identify Charles’ faults,” wrote journalist Mark Hastings in March. “But he is sober, serious, conscientious about duties, happily married to the love of his life – and the only Prince of Wales we have.” Will the British monarchy change with Prince Charles as deputy head? Stepping up It is most likely, say some. Charles’ character is very different to that of the Duke of Edinburgh or even the Queen. Unlike his parents, he is open about many of his opinions and principles – including on important issues such as climate change. With the Queen now turning to her son for support, rather than to Prince Philip, it is possible we will see changes at the top of the Royal Family. Definitely not, say others. For now, the Queen remains in charge. Her style of leadership has not changed for nearly 70 years, and it will not change now. She will not do anything that may risk her support amongst the public – especially when her approval rating stands at 59%. The monarchy may well modernise when Charles becomes King, but not before. KeywordsPatriarch - Male authority figure.