King Charles' Concerns Over Monarchy's Future with First Grandchild

King Charles, at 76 years old, is known for his loving nature as a grandfather, deeply caring for his grandchildren and step-grandchildren. When he learned that Prince William was expecting his first child, he was excited yet simultaneously anxious about the potential ramifications for the royal lineage, particularly if the baby were a girl.

In Valentine Low's new book, "Power and the Palace," it is disclosed that Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales, raised concerns about the monarchy’s future in light of the Succession to the Crown Bill. This became a point of contention during a meeting in 2012 at Clarence House with Richard Heaton, the former Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office, where instead of discussing charitable matters, Charles inquired about the implications of having a daughter as William's first child. Specifically, he wanted to understand whether the royal house name would change if a granddaughter ascended to the throne and later married someone with a different surname, such as Smith, questioning if it would still be the House of Windsor.

Charles's apprehensions extended beyond nomenclature; he also expressed worries regarding the monarchy’s stability if William’s daughter were to become Queen and marry a Catholic, reflecting a deeper concern for the institution's future in a modern context.