Would we feel differently about the monarchy if Prince Harry was the heir?

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Here are some photos of Dirty Ginger Snap Prince Harry unveiling the UK Invictus Team in London on Wednesday. These photos made me sigh deeply and think about his mother. I actually thought, “His mother would be so proud of him in this moment.” To turn his military career into something so positive for veterans… it’s a unique and wonderful thing. At this event, Harry spent a lot of time posing with veterans (and a dog!) – go here to read more.

The Invictus Games are in May, and Harry still has more to do to promote the games and work with some of the commonwealth teams. It’s just been announced that he will be traveling to Toronto on May 2 to launch the countdown to the games and meet the Canadian Invictus team. While Harry is in Florida next month, he’ll also be playing a polo match for charity, and he’s bringing his favorite horse.

With all of this positivity about Harry (HONKS!), would it be weird if we also discussed the recent comments by Dr Anna Whitelock? She’s a historian – a royal-history historian – and she gave an interview a few days ago about how the British monarchy will likely end in our lifetimes. Whitelock predicted that after the Queen has passed, there will be a larger conversation about ending the monarchy, especially when Charles takes the throne. Whitelock said, in part:

“All of those questions about ‘What the hell do we want this kind of unelected family (for)? What does that represent in Britain today?’, all these profound questions have been held in check because of the Queen. I think there’ll be a discussion and a debate in a way that there hasn’t before [after the Queen dies]. As the older generation who are generally more wedded to the monarchy die out, the question of the future of the monarchy will become even more pressing, and then potentially more critical voices will come to the fore. I would say by 2030 there will be definite louder clamours for the eradication of the monarchy. I can’t say that there won’t be a monarchy. I would definitely say that the monarchy – its purpose, what it’s about, will be questioned and challenged in a way that it hasn’t been before. I don’t think it’s out of the question that the monarchy would be potentially be on its last legs.”

[From The Express]

I do wonder what will happen after the Queen passes. I’ve stopped worrying about what Charles would be like as a king, just because he’s a workhorse and I believe he genuinely cares about public service. Charles has always been prepared to step up to whatever challenges would face him. But yes, when the queen passes and Charles becomes king, there will be these conversations and it will mostly be about what comes after Charles, whose reign will likely be brief. Because people are actually pretty concerned about Workshy Will. If Harry was the heir? If Harry was going to be the Prince of Wales? I think it would be a different story altogether.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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Thanks to Cele Bitchy