Prince William, Prince of Wales and King Charles III walk behind Queen Elizabeth II's coffin as it is transported on a gun carriage to Westminster Hall.
Prince William, Prince of Wales, and King Charles III walk behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II.Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
  • King Charles III has not said that he's going to give up the throne.

  • It is possible given his age and low popularity in the UK.

  • If Charles stepped down as king, what would happen?

The UK is mourning the loss of a queen that ruled for 70 years while also welcoming a new king.

The reign of King Charles III appears to have started well. He made his intentions clear in his first speech.

"As the Queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself, throughout the remaining time God gives me, to uphold the constitutional principles at the heart of our nation," he said.

Charles is the oldest person to become king of Britain. Speculation mounted that Queen Elizabeth II may have considered stepping down and handing the throne to Charles before her death.

After his divorce from Princess Diana, Charles' popularity among the public plummeted. According to a Newsweek poll, the British public wants Prince William to succeed his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Insider talked to experts about what would happen if Charles stepped down.

Charles couldn't simply step away from the throne

There are two different scenarios in which Charles is still alive.

The Regency Act can be triggered if Charles is physically incapable of speaking or moving. According to Dr. Bob Morris, the monarch's inability to carry out their duties would have to be certified by other people.

The regent would be Prince William if that happened. He takes over and has all the powers of the king except for some.

King Charles III.Getty Images

Abdication is one of the more controversial scenarios. Charles wants to follow in his mother's footsteps, so it's highly unlikely that it will happen.

Abdication is not easy. It was not possible for Charles to abdicate by himself. The Act of Abdication would need to be passed by the UK parliament.

He can't just say, 'Here it's yours, William' Nope, that's right. She said that the succession to the throne is legislated.

If Charles really wanted to step back, he could. No one could stop him if he wanted to. The law can allow for the lawful succession of William.

Abdication would shift the entire line of succession forward

One consequence of a monarch stepping down is that other royals in the official line of succession are given more responsibilities.

Prince George would inherit the Duchy of Cornwall if Charles stepped down. According to The Guardian, the inheritance consists of a large portfolio of privately-owned land and assets.

She said that if you abdicate, there would be a minor Duke of Cornwall who would be like Prince Charles when he was a child.

Prince George and Prince William at Trooping the Colour 2015.Samir Hussein/Contributor/Getty Images

William and his son would be put under a lot of pressure because of the sudden shift.

William has not yet had the total expertise. She said that he has only been to Duchy of Cornwall meetings to learn how to run it.

The last time a king stepped down, it was seen as a 'dereliction of duty,' Koenig said

Although abdication appears to have become a popular option among other European royal families, it's still regarded as a taboo in the UK.

Morris says that the religious vow of monarchs in places where abdication is frowned upon is the reason. "Our own monarchs have to be members of a particular religion and they feel that they made a religious vow and that they should stick with it."

Abdication doesn't correspond with British values. She said it wasn't in the British nature.

Prior to King Edward VIII, no British monarch had ever abdicated willingly.

There was a lot of noise when Edward did. She said that Edward's actions to the royal family were seen as a failure of duty. There was a constitutional crisis.

Charles III (left) and Edward VIII (right).Hugo Burnand-Pool/Getty Images, Erika Stone/Getty Images

The UK of the 1930s was a completely different place than it is today. "Heil Hitler was breathing down your neck." She said that the Soviet Union and the British fascists were present. It wasn't just a king who gave up.

She said that abdication was the parliament's way of saving the monarchy.

When it comes to Charles' reign as king, abdication would only be an option in a similar situation. She said something would have to happen in order for it to be a big scandal.

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