"Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70" (2018) - BBC One Documentary


If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
See posts with no answers
Gosh. I will look out for that one turning up on Aussie TV. Thanks, Dman!
 
'I will NOT be a meddling monarch... I'm not that stupid': Charles gives extraordinary TV interview on eve of his 70th birthday as his family open up about what he is REALLY like.

In a major documentary to mark his 70th birthday next week, the heir to the throne tackles head-on the issue of his controversial lobbying.

And he vows to stop campaigning on the environment, architecture and homeopathy as king, insisting: 'I'm not that stupid.'

Speaking for the first – and, aides insist, last – time on a subject that has dogged much of his time as Prince of Wales he says: 'I do realise it is a separate exercise being sovereign. So of course I understand entirely how that should operate.
Click to expand...

The REAL Prince Charles: Future King is a workaholic and I wish he could spend more time with his grandchildren (who he loves crawling around with) reveals doting son William.

The REAL Prince Charles: Future King is a workaholic and I wish he could spend more time with his grandchildren (who he loves crawling around with) reveals doting son William
  • Charles is so dedicated to his work, his sons say he sometimes falls asleep with documents he is reading stuck to his face
  • William would like to have more ‘family time’ with his hard-working father
  • Harry reveals his father is 'a stickler for turning lights off' - and now Harry and William are both obsessed with turning light switches off too
  • Camilla says of Charles one day becoming King: 'I think his destiny will come, he’s always known it’s going to come'
Click to expand...

I'm so proud of how he stepped in to walk Meghan down the aisle, says Harry as he and William give candid interview about their relationship with their father:

I'm so proud of how he stepped in to walk Meghan down the aisle, says Harry as he and William give candid interview about their relationship with their father
When it was clear Meghan wouldn’t have her reclusive father Thomas Markle to support her on her big day, Harry went to his
Harry: 'He’s our father so of course he’s going to be there for us'
William: 'I want to be my own man and take my own style... It’s important that each generation does things a little bit differently’
Click to expand...

I feel this is going to be a beautiful documentary, that finally shows Charles how we have all seen him.
 
It is excellent that the 'Man himself' has finally made it crystal clear that he will abide by the parameters of Kingship, and cede the role of 'campaigner Prince so his Sons, when the time comes..

It is a pity tho' that clarification of the Title and role of his wife [when he accedes] wasn't given in the same interview...
 
wyevale said:
It is excellent that the 'Man himself' has finally made it crystal clear that he will abide by the parameters of Kingship, and cede the role of 'campaigner Prince so his Sons, when the time comes..

It is a pity tho' that clarification of the Title and role of his wife [when he accedes] wasn't given in the same interview...
Click to expand...


why would he do that?
 
I don't believe that he would do any such thing. if a decision has been made as rto what titlte Camilla will take, I'd say they will sit on an announcement until it is necessary.
 
I'm with Denville on this one. When the time comes, it'll be stated as fact and that will be that. Why announce something in advance that would just lead the media to have a feeding frenzy about Camilla's title when the focus of the documentary is Charles at 70?
 
Osipi said:
I'm with Denville on this one. When the time comes, it'll be stated as fact and that will be that. Why announce something in advance that would just lead the media to have a feeding frenzy about Camilla's title when the focus of the documentary is Charles at 70?
Click to expand...

Precisely. THey may not even have a made a decision but will take soundings of the public mood... as the queen gets older. I think that in the past year or so Charles has fallen back a little bit in popularity, as his sons grow older, get married etc, and are seen as becoming mature members of the family.
and last year the 20th Anniversary of Diana's death, caused a certain cool reaction to him... To make some remark about Camill'as title will just set off the people who feel that he shouldn't be King or she should nto be queen...
 
It's lovely to see how fondly William and Harry speak about their father. Especially when they were talking about things that normal families can identify with, the litter picking and the arguments about the lights. I also like how Charles, when he was discussing how he wouldn't interfere as much when he is King that he is not stupid and knows what it means to be a monarch. I particularly like the quote "I understand entirely how that should operate". I don't think anyone has ever been so prepared to do a job!
 
Last edited:
A very interesting documentary. Especially nice to hear Camilla talk about 'my husband'; and Charles himself about how different the positions of heir and sovereign are.
 
Rudolph said:
Click to expand...

Thank you for the link. Prince Charles is criminally underrated. I have no skin in the game per say, but if I were British I would want a leader, figurehead, that cares about the welfare of the people rather than simply take up space. Prince Charles is clearly well-versed and well read on much of what he advocates. And very much ahead of his time.
 
Thank you Rudolph, thoroughly enjoyed that !!!
 
Thank you so much Rudolph! What an enjoyable and thoroughly fantastic program to watch! I willingly admit that I was not always a fan of Prince Charles but that has completely changed since I saw the tremendous support that he has given to Meghan and her mother.
 
Thanks Rudolph!!! It is a delightful and heartwarming documentary!!!
 
Wonderful documentary. Loved the interviews of Charles, William, Harry and Camilla. So much insight into how hard Charles work, his family life and how he set the record straight on how he will conduct his role as sovereign.

I also love the way he finds ways to employ people, young and older, in worthy jobs. Something politicians for some odd reason find hard to do. Perhaps he can give many of our elected officials in America some advice. Invest in people and businesses and people will get back to work and the economic benefits will take care of itself. Good work, Charles!

I’m always saying that we need to see some behind the scenes of the royals day to day working lives, and this documentary for his 70th did just that. Brilliant!
 
What is even more impressive when I stop to think of it (and building on your post, Dman), Charles does what he does because he *wants* to and not because he *has* to. He, very easily, could have lived a lush, hedonistic life if he had wanted to. He actually works without a paycheck to show for it (which makes me think he more than earns his funds from the Duchy of Cornwall) and he has totally defined and wrote the book on how to be a successful Prince of Wales.

There is no doubt in my mind that his sons love and appreciate him and he has a wife that adores him. He has a strong support team in his family and at 70, Charles is starting to come into his own and he's more than ready to be King. What's even more amazing is that he didn't wait to become King to make his mark on the world. He's been doing that all along.
 
I have not heard or seen something new, which was not already known. But it was fascinating to see the interaction of the Prince with the public. Also the Duchess was so charming, I could see the symbiosis between the two. Looks like a fun couple. Charles and Camilla surely will make a fine royal couple.

What was interesting: the more outspoken, more passionate and more prominent role of Prince Harry. Sometimes I thought: "Hey, the dude next to you actually is the heir!", as Prince William was a bit low profile in this.

The words in which Charles stressed he wanted to remain within the constitutional parameters are very much alike with what the Prince of Orange stated about his (then) coming kingship: "When something has gone through all proper constitutional and democratic processes, I will assent it. Always." (With this ruling out any "meddling" or follow an own agenda).
 
Last edited:
The most interesting bit to me in the documentary was how Charles defines the role of Prince of Wales vs the monarch. He talks about how there is no rules or expectations for the role of Prince of Wales,but you have more freedom than the constraints of the role of monarch.

I think Charles more than anyone else has looked very deeply into the role an purpose of the Prince of Wales position and he sees the position of the POW as a much more active hand-on role in contributing to society and shaping the lives of the people in the UK for better but sees the role of the monarch as a much more passive hands off role limited strictly to ceremonial duties.

POW is a much more about using your influence to change things for the better for everyone in the UK while the role of the monarch is simply to observe and provide stability.

That's very different than what I think most people think the Prince of Wales position to be about.
 
I was impressed (together with his sons) that allready back in the early 1970’s he was talking about the problem of plastic trash.
 
I hope that this will air in the States eventually because it looks like a wonderful program. It’s nice to see William and Harry being so loving towards their father considering everything that’s been said about their relationship.
 
You can watch it on youtube...the link is posted in the thread...I did this morning, was very good.


LaRae
 
back in the early 1970’s he was talking about the problem of plastic trash.
Click to expand...

I was deeply moved by his prescience on that issue.. it is TRAGIC that he was not merely ignored, but ridiculed for it..
Truly 'a Man ahead of his time'.
 
thank you for posting the link to the video. i started to view him in a much more postive light over the last years. william has big steps to follow when he becomes the prince of wales. future prince of wales will be measured against charles as pow. i think charles will be a great king
 
:previous: I also see him more positively these days. But also think he's become more positive. Pre Cams he could just be so preciously demanding, uppity and easily offended. And dour in aspect.
I think he is now far more laid back than he was pre Camilla. Still a bit precious, but certainly finding more to be happy about and look happy seeing these days. JMO.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

G
Heir to the Dormant Earldom of Breadalbane and Holland?
Replies
18
Views
4K
Toledo
Toledo
Blog Real
Prince Friedrich of Prussia (1911–1966) - Son of Wilhelm, German Crown Prince
Replies
1
Views
1K
CyrilVladisla
CyrilVladisla
Blog Real
Emperor Taishō (1879–1926) and Empress Teimei (1884–1951)
Replies
1
Views
443
CyrilVladisla
CyrilVladisla
Marengo
General News for Charles III and Queen Camilla 3, Oct 2025 -
2
Replies
33
Views
4K
iceflower
iceflower
Blog Real
Prince Hubertus of Prussia (1909 - 1950) - Son of Wilhelm, German Crown Prince
Replies
2
Views
1K
CyrilVladisla
CyrilVladisla

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom