The Prince of Wales
Poor Prince Charles. Why is the heir apparent so worthy of our pity? Let us count the ways.
His Son Won't Vacation With Him
Earlier this November, tabloids on both sides of the Atlantic announced that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate, refused an invitation to join Prince Charles at the Castle of Mey, in Caithness, Scotland, where he and Camilla like to spend time.
His Mother Isn’t Planning to Abdicate Any Time Soon
Prince Charles is heir to the throne, yes, but he's been waiting a long, long time—longer than any other royal in history. Rumors swirled earlier this month that he'll be waiting even longer, when tabloids proclaimed that the 92-year-old queen is not planning to abdicate her throne any time soon.
Most Brits Prefer That His Son Be King
In a 2017 poll, only 22 percent of Brits polled thought that Charles should succeed the queen—a number that has consistently fallen each of the last several years. In comparison, 59 percent of those questioned preferred Prince William—a number that is only rising. (That said, Prince Harry is the most popular royal!)
His Mother Didn’t Attend His Wedding
When Charles and Camilla finally wed, in 2005, the queen did not attend the civil ceremony at the Guildhall. As head of the Church of England, she "put church before Charles."
The Palace Refused to Pay to Renovate the Apartment He Shared With His Girlfriend
That same year, it came out that the Palace would not pay to renovate his and Camilla's suite at Clarence House, where they currently live. It was referred to as "an unnecessary humiliation."
He Couldn’t Sit With His Girlfriend
In 2002, Camilla Parker Bowles was excluded from the royal box at the Golden Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace and sat a row behind. "Camilla was a peripheral presence, shepherded carefully out of the spotlight," wrote the Daily Mail, in one of the kinder media mentions.
His Wife Called Him Out on National Television
In a now-infamous televised interview with the BBC, on November 20, 1995, Diana openly acknowledged Prince Charles' indiscretions. "There were three of us in this marriage," she said, "so it was a bit crowded." (To be fair, he had admitted to his relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles a year earlier.)
His Secret Conversations Were Made Public
In what was later dubbed "Camillagate," some of Prince Charles' private conversations with Camilla were made public in 1993. He had told his mistress that he would love to "live inside your trousers"—and then likened himself to a tampon. "The backlash was savage," wrote Ken Wharfe, Diana's former bodyguard, in his book about Diana. "Establishment figures normally loyal to future king and country were appalled, and some questioned the prince's suitability to rule."
Everyone Liked Diana More Than Him
Even to this day, Diana is considered "the most beloved royal."
He Married a Woman He Barely Knew
Prince Charles proposed to Lady Diana Spencer, then a mere 19, after only a dozen dates. Why? His father, Prince Philip, sent him a threatening letter, to propose or else move on, saying "reputation was on the line."
He Was Brutally Bullied in School
Even a prince isn't safe from the culture of bullying at British boys' schools. Just watch "The Crown."
