Charles III has now officially been crowned the King of the United Kingdom (as well as 14 other Commonwealth nations) in his royal coronation at Westminster Abbey—the first to take place in 70 years. While the ceremony was a grand spectacle, it was largely performative: Charles technically took on the title of King immediately following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8, 2022.
At 73 years old, Charles is the oldest royal in British history to ascend the throne (his mother was just 25 at the start of her 70-year-long reign). In addition to his new title, Charles' wife Camilla Parker Bowles, 75, has also assumed a new role as Queen Consort, and will be known from now on as Queen Camilla.
What will happen when King Charles dies?
Just as the death of Queen Elizabeth II was anticipated in the
contingency plan known as Operation London Bridge, so too are there
protocols in place in the event of the King's death: Operation Menai
Bridge.
The exact details of Operation Menai Bridge—which was put
in place as soon as the Queen passed away in September 2022—are a secret,
but it will likely follow a similar pattern to London Bridge, beginning with
the British government and Commonwealth leaders being informed, and flags
all around the country lowered to half mast.
Funeral arrangements
for King Charles would be expected to begin immediately after the news of
his death is announced, and following a period of national mourning, he
would be laid to rest in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor
Castle.
If King Charles dies, will Camilla become queen?
Following the death of the King, is believed that Camilla would
retain her official title of Queen Consort. However, Camilla will not be
Queen Regent (the head of state), but rather continue in her duty to the new
head of state, as she is not named in the royal line of succession.
Who is next in line of succession?
Following the death of King Charles, his oldest son William,
Prince of Wales will become monarch, assuming the title of King William, and
his wife Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales will become Queen
Catherine.
After William, the line of succession runs through his
children: Prince George of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, and Prince
Louis of Wales. William's brother Harry, Duke of Sussex is next in line to
the throne after them, followed by his own children, Prince Archie of Sussex
and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
From there, the line of
succession becomes more controversial, as Prince Andrew, Duke of York, is
next in line. Prince Andrew stepped away from public life and ceased
performing his royal duties in 2019 following several news stories in which
he was accused of sexual assault and linked to the sex offender Jeffrey
Epstein.
