Who Do The British Really Want As Their King, Charles Or William?

Centuries ago, the British monarchy clung to the idea of the divine right of kings, which meant God chose them to rule the nation (via Britannica). Now, British citizens want more say.

As Queen Elizabeth II grows older — the monarch is 95 years old and was officially crowned in 1953, per Biography — the people living under her rule are considering what will happen once she passes. Naturally, measures are in place, as the U.K. has an established line of succession. According to the BBC, Prince Charles is first in line for the throne while Prince William is second. William's children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, are third and fourth in the line of succession, respectively.

However, tides in the world are shifting, and citizens of some countries want younger leaders to whom the younger generations can relate. Is this the case for the U.K., though? After all, Charles may not want to be king, and recent scandals may have impacted Charles' chance as king anyway. Still, the British citizens have spoken, and we can now feel out who they want as their next monarch.

King Charles or King William: This is the current predicament facing British citizens. While King Charles is next in line for the throne after Queen Elizabeth II, a recent survey from the Daily Mail shows that British citizens actually want Prince William to ascend to the throne instead of his father. The survey results, which were posted on October 16, show that 41% of the poll's respondents thought that William should succeed Queen Elizabeth, while only 30% voted for Charles.

Interestingly, both options could happen. According to The Constitution Unit at University College London, Charles could hand the role over to his son. "Having waited over 60 years as heir apparent, it would be perfectly natural for Prince Charles to want to assume the throne and perform the royal duties for which he has spent so long preparing in waiting," UCL experts explain, "but it would be equally natural if, after reigning for a few years as an increasingly elderly monarch, he chose to invite Parliament to hand on the throne to Prince William."

If this were to happen, British citizens would perhaps get the best of both worlds. Charles would achieve his longtime goal of ruling the nation and its commonwealths, while William could soon thereafter help usher the nation into a new age that better understands the plights of younger generations.

So, which prince do you want to see assume the title of monarch after Elizabeth?