Being King In Waiting not all it’s cracked up to be



How would you like to be starting your career after all your peers have retired and fled to Boca?

That pretty much sums up the fate of Britain’s Prince Charles – except for the Boca part. He just turned 60 and he’s still waiting in the wings to take the throne.

Don’t expect Queen Elizabeth to make it any easier for her firstborn. At 82 she’s planning to retain her regal role until death do us part.

And it’s no consolation to Charles that her mother, the late Queen Mum, lived until she was 101. At that rate, Charles will be about 80 before he takes his first job.

Not that he’ll be an OJT king. He’s been apprenticing for the Crown since he was 4, when his grandfather, King George VI, died, leaving Elizabeth heir to the throne as a mere babe of 25.

Charles has paid his dues, serving as the most active Prince of Wales since, well, the invention of Wales, I suppose. He’s bided his time establishing his own interests in architecture, organic farming and alternative medicine.

As Prince of Wales he oversees thousands of acres of property, forming in a sense his own monarchy.

On an official level, Prince Charles fills in for his mother at state funerals and other occasions that she finds less than appealing, and is a sort of VP to his father, Prince Philip.

So, you can see that Charles has lots to do. But when you think about what all he’s missed out on ...

For instance, Charles never needed to go to job fairs. There just wasn’t a booth for those interested in becoming monarchs.

“Sir, might I try on the crown? I’d like one day to become king.”

Do you think Prince Charles drives his own car? I read that he owns a 38-year-old Aston Martin that runs on wine.

But I doubt that he’s allowed by his handlers to take it out on the English roadways. In any event, would he be required to carry a drivers license?

“But officer, I’m the Prince of Wales.”

“Yeah, and I’m the bloody queen.”

Some things Charles wouldn’t wish to experience – being strip searched at an airport, standing in line at the bank on payday, trying to balance a household budget or cleaning the gutters at his official residence, Clarence House.

Being a prince has its perks. Charles was never turned down when he applied to summer camp, college or a Stones concert. I’m sure he can get into any sporting event he chooses.

But there are negatives to being a prince. Charles has to maintain a posture of dignity at all times, which probably creates the impression that he’s aloof.

He’s the brunt of criticism that private citizens don’t have to bear. On the other hand, he has his own bully pulpit at his disposal.

What he doesn’t have – so far – is the title of king. But if he outlives his mother that will come.

I just hope he can walk to the throne on his own power.



Larry Penkava, who has written Now and Then since 1994, would neither a prince nor pauper be.