William Accused of Snubbing Camilla’s Rank After Reports He’s ‘Already Unofficially’ Become King Amid Charles’ ‘Deteriorating’ Health
The power dynamics within the British royal family are always an interesting thing for people to dissect from the outside. This is especially true because, in all honesty, we don’t actually know what’s happening. So, it’s all speculation and guesswork that, at some point, is either proven correct or wrong. But that doesn’t stop people from engaging in it.
And the state visit from the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his wife, first lady Oluremi Tinubu, was the latest chance for people to scrutinize the dynamics between King Charles and Queen Camilla and Prince William and Kate Middleton. William and Kate were the royal welcoming committee for the couple at a hotel in Windsor Great Park, then the foursome traveled to Datchet Road in Windsor for the ceremonial welcome from King Charles and Queen Camilla.
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Once there, the Princess of Wales greeted Queen Camilla with a kiss on each cheek, followed by a curtsy. Prince William, meanwhile, only did the cheek kisses to say hello to Queen Camilla. Kate was also seen dipping into a curtsy for the King, and telling him, “Good morning!”
There are no official rules to dictate when and if one must curtsy or bow to the King and Queen. However, members of the British royal family are usually known to bow or curtsy to the monarch and his wife when they greet them. Kate is typically very formal during these events. William, however, is not.
A state banquet in the Nigerian leader’s honor, with remarks from both the King and President Tinubu, is expected to come next. The President and first lady of Nigeria also participated in a traditional exchange of gifts with the King and Queen.
If this tiny thing is raising eyebrows, it probably has to do with earlier reports about the future of the British monarchy. Rob Shuter’s “Naughty But Nice” Substack reported just a few weeks ago that Charles is expected to hand over the crown to William within the next year, and recent calls for him to step down over the Andrew scandal have not helped the matter.
“The transition will look measured and dignified. Health provides the most unassailable explanation,” the source said, a reference to King Charles‘ battle with an undisclosed form of cancer.
“Charles will not be seen as pushed,” the source continued. “He has waited a lifetime for this role. When he steps back, it will be entirely on his terms.” And though Charles is still King, the source said that William has “unofficially” been king for a while.
“In many ways, he’s already king unofficially. The institution is preparing emotionally, even if the paperwork hasn’t caught up,” the source said, adding, “The monarchy survives because it adapts before it has to. If there’s a handover, it won’t feel like surrender. It will feel inevitable.”
This follows reports from Radar Online last year that the king’s health has “deteriorated” drastically recently. “He is now shuffling around with a cane – and hitting the bottle, and in particular whisky, to numb the pain and despair he feels,” the source said, calling the state of his health “a sad end for him.” The insider added, “His health has deteriorated significantly in recent months.”
