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Will Prince Charles Retire While His Mother Is Still Queen? Camilla Makes Rare Comment About Their Long-Term Plans

It was just your average (socially distanced) royal engagement when Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles stepped out at the Bristol Distribution Centre to thank some of the 700 workers there for their efforts to keep food supplies moving during the COVID-19 pandemic. But, as it turns out, that’s not all that was discussed in conversations between the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and various staffers on site.

Per Hello magazine, Charles and Camilla chatted with Richard Sigward, a warehouse operator who has worked for the ASDA supermarket chain for 17 years and—at age 74—still has no plans to retire.

Apparently, this rung familiar for the royal pair, and Camilla, in particular, was quick to agree with his mindset. Steward says: “The Duchess was saying to me she definitely agrees that if people can work and are happy to do it, they should carry on.”

But that’s not all: “She said she refuses to retire herself. The prince was the same,” Steward added.

Whoa, that’s a pretty major revelation, which if true, confirms that Prince Charles—who’s 71 and next in line to the throne after his mother Queen Elizabeth—has no plans to abdicate the throne and let his son Prince William take the lead ahead of schedule. Better yet, his wife Camilla is on the same page. (Reminder that just last week Camilla turned 73 years old and assumed the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Rifles.)

Slowing down? They are not. (And, we have to admit, we’re quite thrilled to hear that.)

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Rachel Bowie

Royal family expert, a cappella alum, mom

Rachel Bowie is Senior Director of Special Projects & Royals at PureWow, where she covers parenting, fashion, wellness and money in addition to overseeing initiatives within...
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