Is King Charles Planning To Abdicate His Throne To Prince William After Cancer Diagnosis?

King Charles III's cancer diagnosis has not only prompted concerns about his health but has also raised questions regarding whether he may abdicate and pass the throne to his eldest son, Prince William.

On Monday, Buckingham Palace announced in a statement posted to social media that King Charles has cancer and has begun undergoing treatment.

However, the statement did not indicate that the 75-year-old monarch plans to step down amid his diagnosis.

Despite postponing public-facing duties during the treatment, the palace emphasized that King Charles would continue to "undertake State business and official paperwork as usual."

Before the revelation, some royal commentators and watchers had already speculated that, unlike his mother Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles was more likely to choose to abdicate and hand over the throne to Prince William before his death.

Former royal butler Paul Burrell recently suggested that the U.K. could have a new monarch within a decade.

"I think the king and queen have given this job 10 years, I think this is a 10-year plan," Burrell told the New York Post last month, adding that Charles might be "buying time" before abdicating.

Burrell's suggestion echoed a trend among European monarchs who have recently passed their crowns to heirs.

Royal biographer Phil Dampier shared a similar sentiment, hinting that King Charles might contemplate stepping down in the coming years.

Comparing the situation to Queen Margrethe II of Denmark's recent voluntary abdication, Dampier raised the question of whether Charles would follow a similar path, especially if health concerns or other factors influenced his decision.

"It must make you wonder if, in five or 10 years' time, King Charles might think about doing the same if his health suffers or he just thinks it is a good time to pass on to William and Kate while they are still young," Dampier told the Daily Mail last month.

The last British monarch to abdicate was Edward VIII in 1936. However, it was not due to his health but rather his decision to marry divorcee actress Wallis Simpson, The Independent noted.

Queen Elizabeth II chose not to step down despite reportedly suffering mobility and health issues in her final years. She passed away on Sept. 8, 2022.

Buckingham Palace said Monday that King Charles was diagnosed with cancer after undergoing a procedure to treat an enlarged prostate last month.

In its statement, the palace said the King "remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible."

People reported that King Charles personally informed his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, about the diagnosis.

While Prince William maintains regular contact with his father, Prince Harry is expected to return to the U.K. in the coming days.