Queen's reign ‘effectively over' as Covid-19 has 'practically' put Charles on the throne, says royal expert
The Queen can no longer carry out her royal duties and her reign as the monarch is "effectively over" because of the coronavirus pandemic, a royal biographer has claimed.
Andrew Morton, who has written on royal figures like Princess Diana, as well as celebrities like Tom Cruise, Madonna, and Angelina Jolie, said he doesn't believe that the Queen will be able to resume her official duties because of COVID-19.
According to the coronavirus live-tracking dashboard by Johns Hopkins University, the United Kingdom has the fourth-highest number of COVID-19 cases in the world, with over 292,000 infected with the disease.
More than 41,000 have died from the virus, with the figure second only to the U.S, where over 113,000 have succumbed, and the Queen's and Prince Phillip's advanced age means they are in the high-risk category and are particularly susceptible.
Following the government restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19, both the Queen and Prince Philip have been social distancing at Windsor Castle and carrying out their royal duties via video call and on the phone.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Morton said he thinks that the Queen would love to go out and start meeting people again but that it just isn't possible because of the pandemic.
"The brutal truth is that her reign is effectively over," he said. "Covid-19 has done more damage to the monarchy than Oliver Cromwell. Corona[virus] has practically put Charles on the throne."
"It’s terribly sad but I can’t see how the Queen can resume her job," he continued. "The Covid-19 virus isn’t going away soon and will be with us for months if not years. If she gets the bug it could be fatal and would put Prince Philip at risk as well."
Royal experts had previously claimed that Prince Charles would be the "best-prepared monarch" the United Kingdom has ever had but that he would have to tame his outspoken nature and learn to "keep his mouth shut."
British royal author Penny Junor, who has written books including 'Diana, Princess of Wales' (1982), 'Charles, Prince of Wales' (1987 and 1998) and 'Charles and Diana: Portrait of a Marriage' (1991), said the public's perception on Charles had changed over the years since his separation from Princess Diana and that he would make for a good king.
"Prince Charles will be King, and he will be the best-prepared monarch this country has ever had," she said. "I think the nation has changed in its attitude towards Charles. Years ago we wrote him off as a nutter who talked to his plants but today he is in a really good place."
"He laughs again, he jokes, he's relaxed and I think that makes him a much better prince, a much better father and much better man all around," she added.
The Prince of Wales' goddaughter India Hicks had similarly given a glowing assessment of his credentials as king. "Charles is a man that is utterly, utterly dedicated to hard work. He has been brilliant in waiting because my god it's been a long time in waiting," she said.