CHARLES' SHOCK DECISION ‘I CAN'T GO ON!'

A ‘wounded’ heir apparent wants to walk away and let his son rule

As the Queen struggles to return to public life after a mystery illness, courtiers are deep in planning mode for the coronation of King Charles III – which most palace insiders admit could come sooner rather than later.

The only problem is, the world’s longest-serving monarch-in-waiting is getting cold feet when it comes to finally claiming the crown.

Sources tell Woman’s Day that Charles is “consumed with dread” at the thought of fulfilling his birthright, to the point where he’s raised the idea of standing aside for his son, 39-year-old Prince William.

“Charles is feeling rather glum about it all. He’s lost his father, his mother is ill, he’s served as an unofficial regent for several years now and still the British public hasn’t really warmed to him,” we’re told.

“He knows he’s not popular, and despite being a trailblazer on things like climate change and the environment decades before they were hot-button issues, people still tend to see Charles as an out-of-touch old duffer. He’s starting to wonder if passing the baton down to William, who is very well liked and often tops royal popularity polls, wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.”

At 73, Charles has been preparing to rule for most of his life, but just as he’s reached the precipice of that destiny, there’s little doubt the cards are falling around him.