Balmoral Summit Showdown: Prince William Takes the Reins in 'Royal Family's Future' Amid Tense Talks With King Charles
King Charles III and Queen Camilla are hosting most of their family at Balmoral Castle until either late September or early October, and reports suggest this will include a summit of sorts led by William, Prince of Wales. The gathering is expected to address the "whirlwind of a royal year" so far, and the monarchy's future in light of recent setbacks.
"I have no information that there is going to be a royal summit at Balmoral," former royal correspondent Jennie Bond shared. "But it would be slightly odd if the family were all together for once and didn't mull over what has happened and how they proceed in the future."
Such summits were reportedly a common focus of "around a week or two" of the late Queen Elizabeth II's long Balmoral summer and early fall vacations.
"Back in the '90s, there was a more formal setup when senior royals discussed strategy in a forum known as The Way Ahead Group," she added. "Its aim was the ensure that the monarchy stayed relevant to the modern age."
This year's Balmoral sojourn will also include Charles III's "Accession Day" on September 8, which celebrates his two years as monarch while reflecting on Elizabeth II's death on the same day. Talks of "modernity" have become a common running thread throughout the Carolean Age thus far, with the King preferring to introduce change "slowly." The Prince of Wales is said to want to make modifications to the Crown "on a massive scale," which some say causes monarch and heir to clash.
"There may be some similar discussions at Balmoral, William is certainly preoccupied with keeping the monarchy relevant, but essentially this is a holiday for the royals, a time to stop worrying about everything and like other families on holiday just breathe in the fresh air, relax and enjoy one another's company," Bond concluded.
The King became the oldest monarch ever to accede to the British throne at the age of 73. If he were to live as long as his mother, his reign would barely approach the 24-year mark, which means he would not celebrate any jubilees or milestones. This would also mean that William and Kate, Princess of Wales, would be in their 60s by the time they become King and Queen.
With some reports suggesting the monarch's cancer could still be "quite serious" despite palace efforts to conceal Charles III's discomfort, equal concern faces the heir to the throne. The Princess of Wales is also still receiving preventative chemotherapy treatments for an unknown form of the disease.
The Prince of Wales will not become the monarch until his father's death.
Daily Express reported on Bond's remarks.