The royal family has always been a world of intrigue, where loyalty, duty, and power collide in unpredictable ways. But right now, Buckingham Palace is abuzz with rumors about an escalating power struggle that has everyone talking.
In the spotlight are two of the monarchy’s most formidable kings: King Charles and Prince William. The king’s lower popularity score has been substantially driven by 18 to 24-year-olds, among whom 50% viewed him negatively compared to 33% who viewed him positively, resulting in a net approval of minus 17. He was most popular among over 65s, with 75% liking him and 24% disliking him, putting him on plus 51. Among 25 to 49-year-olds, he was liked by 53% and disliked by 36%, a net approval of plus 17.
Princess Catherine wore the crown of the most popular living royal, liked by 74% and disliked by 15%, putting her at plus 59. YouGov’s latest royal favorability data shows that King Charles is seen positively by six in ten Britons (59%) but negatively by a third (34%).
On the other hand, Chief Executive of Republic, Graham Smith, told: “I’m not particularly surprised. We’ve seen support for the monarchy drop over the last few years, and people are largely uninspired and uninterested in Charles. Obviously, various scandals continue to dent their popularity.”
King Charles III recently met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—a significant diplomatic moment following Zelensky’s meeting with Donald Trump. Royal editor Rebecca English emphasized that the meeting demonstrated Charles’s strong support for Ukraine. However, another important meeting—his discussion with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau—went largely unnoticed. During that conversation, Charles expressed support for Canada as it faces economic strain due to U.S. tariffs imposed by Trump. English noted that the king made it clear he opposes any notion of Canada becoming the 51st state of the U.S.
The monarch’s decision to host the Ukrainian president at Sandringham has reportedly unsettled a key world leader: Donald Trump. Sources in Washington suggest that the meeting left Trump feeling less special, leading to a noticeable cooling of relations with the UK. His show of support for Ukraine came shortly after an invitation for a state visit to Britain had been extended to the concerned leader. Insiders claimed that images of King Charles and Zelensky together created unease, diminishing the significance of the state invitation in the eyes of the recipient.
The king’s involvement in international affairs highlights his departure from Queen Elizabeth II’s traditionally apolitical stance. He has been outspoken about his disdain for Russian President Vladimir Putin, once comparing him to Hitler. In response, UK officials emphasized that it would have been inappropriate for the government to interfere with the king’s engagements, clarifying that the meeting was not meant as a slight.
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Meanwhile, concerns over King Charles’s health continue to grow. His cancer diagnosis has raised serious questions about the future of the monarchy. While Buckingham Palace has not disclosed the exact type of cancer, reports suggest his prognosis is concerning. Despite his illness, Charles remains committed to his royal duties. However, his long-standing health struggles—exacerbated by injuries from sports like polo and hunting—have fueled discussions about succession.
Between the general election and his father and wife being diagnosed with cancer back to back, many of the Prince of Wales’s plans for modernizing the House of Windsor’s MO were put on the back burner in 2024, a year he described as the hardest of his life. While in Cape Town for the Earthshot Prize back in November, it was also in South Africa that he let the assembled press in on his plans to do his job with a smaller “R” in the royal moving forward. In practice, that means more charitable projects—along the lines of Homewards, which isn’t without its critics—and less pomp and circumstance. William has around 30 royal patronages to Charles’s 669, for example.
Prince William, the heir to the throne, has taken on a more prominent role since Queen Elizabeth II’s passing and his father’s declining health. Many speculate that his ascent to the throne could come sooner than expected. Reports indicate that Charles’s condition is not improving, with some medical sources estimating he may have only a year to live. This has deeply affected Queen Camilla, who is struggling with the emotional toll of his illness.
Perhaps more interestingly, it seems likely that the brutal events of the last year have pushed William—always pitched as the more reserved brother—into being more candid in his communications with the public, as evidenced by his tribute to his wife on her birthday on 9th January.
