King Charles is set to make a significant appearance at next week's Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration, as announced by Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
While the King will not be physically present at Westminster Abbey due to his ongoing cancer treatment, a pre-recorded message from him will be played during the service. This annual event, themed "One Resilient Common Future: Transforming Our Commonwealth" for 2024, aims to honor the network of 56 countries.
About 2,000 guests are expected to attend, including various members of the royal family. Queen Camilla and Prince William are confirmed attendees, along with Prince Edward, Sophie the Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, Prince Richard, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and Prince Edward the Duke of Kent. Notably, it marks a rare appearance for Queen Elizabeth's cousins, with the Duchess of Gloucester having attended only once before. It's the first time for the Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.
This year's theme of resilience is particularly pertinent given the health challenges the royal family has faced. Prince William's presence at the televised event, alongside Camilla, is significant, especially after his recent last-minute withdrawal from King Constantine of Greece's memorial service due to personal reasons.
Despite ongoing medical treatment for their spouses, both William and Camilla continue to fulfill their royal duties. Among the guests at the Commonwealth Day Service will be Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, the President of Malta, foreign ministers, high commissioners, politicians, faith leaders, school children, and young people from across the UK.
Following the service, there are plans to strip Prince Harry of his Regency role due to King Charles's health concerns. Should King Charles become permanently incapacitated, William would assume the role of Regent, and upon the King's passing, William would inherit the throne. Prince George would then step into the position of second in line for Regency.
However, if George is underage, Catherine would likely act as Regent until he comes of age, drawing a parallel to the situation with young Princess Victoria in history. The sudden seriousness of King Charles's illness has reignited discussions about the line of succession and the royal family's future, sparking anxiety and calls for swift action among some quarters, including the possibility of stripping Harry of his titles and place in the line of succession. If it were revealed that Harry's children were born through surrogacy, it could expedite such actions.
