Prince Charles is not the Oldest Heir to the British Throne

Sophia, Electress of Hanover. Image: Wikimedia

While it's true that it's been taking a lifetime for Prince Charles to finally succeed to the throne, it's not entirely true that he's the oldest heir to the throne.

Prince Charles officially became the oldest king-to-be in over 300 years last Friday. The Prince has made himself a national lampoon when he told the media how really "impatient" he was to take on the largely ceremonial responsibilities of a monarch and that he's "running out time" to make an impact as a sovereign.

True, indeed. How could an almost 70-something leave a stunning mark in history? His mother, good old Queen Liz is still in sound health and kindred spirit. She has been reigning so long that she already merits to stand at par in the likes of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth I. But it seems Prince Charles--should he ever reign--might want to content himself in going down the line with the likes of King William IV, unless his reign is marred by historic events or he becomes too overbearing to become highly unpopular, like George IV.

The press might have picked it up the wrong way. While Prince Charle is not the oldest heir, he might after all be the oldest person to succeed as king. That is if he manages to outlive his mom.
So who is the oldest heir to the British throne?

It's actually Electress Sophia of Hanover, mother of King George I and a granddaughter of King James I, the first Stuart king of England.

By virtue of the Act of Settlement of 1701, Parliament declared her heiress presumptive to Queen Anne and she died at the age of 83, just a few weeks before the queen's own in 1714. Sophia's son succeeded her as the "first" in line to the British throne and he reigned as the unpopular George I.

Sophia was born in 1630, the daughter of Frederick V, Elector Palatine and Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of James I, King of England and, as James VI, King of Scotland. In 1658, she married Ernest Augustus of Brunswick-Luneburg, who later succeeded as head of the House of Hanover and was eventually raised as one of the Electors the Holy Roman Empire.


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Willem-Alexander sworn as king of the Netherlands

King Willem-Alexander is sworn as king 

BBC reports that Willem-Alexander has been sworn in as the new king of the Netherlands. The festivities heightened with the water pageant. The people rejoiced as they watched the new king sail down the River IJ in Amsterdam.

More than 200 boats joined the orange-decorated flotilla.

Following the abdication of the king's mother, Queen Beatrix, the new king swore to uphold the Dutch constitution. The colorful enthronement ceremony was celebrated at the Nieuwe Kerk before the joint session of the Dutch Parliament.

"I swear that I shall defend and preserve the independence and territory of the state with all my powers," he said.

"That I shall protect the general and individual freedom and rights of all my subjects and shall use all available means granted to me by law for preserving and promoting general and individual prosperity as I befitting of a good king.... So help me God almighty."

More than 25,000 people were present at the square outside the church to witness the event and cheer as the new king was officially inaugurated "amid a trumpet fanfare," reports BBC.

To add glitter to the event, dozens of royals from all over the world flocked to the decommissioned church to witness the event, all in their best finery.

Queen Beatrix abdicates, King Willem-Alexander succeeds Dutch throne

Queen Beatrix, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima
waves to cheering crowds. (Image copyright AP)

Queen Beatrix, whose infectious smile and warm personality endeared her not only to her subjects, but also the entire world, abdicated today. His eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander succeeds to the Dutch throne. He is the Netherlands' first king since 1890. 

The Mail Online reports that the former queen was rather "emotional" as she passed her throne to her eldest son before thousands of adoring subjects that "poured on to the streets of Amsterdam to welcome their first king in more than 100 years."

The 46-year-old king clutched his mother's hand after each has placed their signatures on the instrument of abdication at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam.

The 75-year-old queen was on the verge of tears while making her appearance on the balcony. More than 200,000 flocked in front of the royal palace to witnessed the historic event.

"Today, I make way for a new generation," she said.  

"I am happy and grateful to introduce to you your new king, Willem-Alexander."

Moments later, as a sign of passing the reins of the kingdom to the new king, the queen left the balcony. The king, his wife and three daughters (children in matching yellow dresses and head bands) were waving before the crowd.

The king, himself, was emotional. He said, "Dear mother, today you relinquished the throne. 33 years moving and inspiring years. We are intensely, intensely grateful to you."

Queen Beatrix signs the instrument of abdication.

Queen Beatrix holds the hand of son and successor King Willem-Alexander.

King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and daughters (in matching yellow clothes)
at the balcony of the Royal Palace as they wave before
thousands of cheering crowd. 

The document of abdication.

More than 200,000 crowds flocked in front of the Royal Palace to
witness Queen Beatrix's abdication.

Last night, royals from all over Europe converged at the world-famous Rijksmuseum to join Queen Beatrix and members of the Dutch Royal Family at the state banquet in honor of the Queen and her successor.

Among the royalties who attended include Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, the Crown Prince and Princess of Belgium, Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco, Former UN Secretary General and Mrs. Kofi Annan, the Prince and Princess of the Asturias, the Crown Prince and Princess of Belgium, Prince Albert II of Monaco, the Crown Prince and Princess of Norway, the Crown Prince and Princess of Brunei, Crown Princess Victoria and husband Prince Daniel of Sweden, the Crown Prince of Japan, Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stephanie of Belgium, and the Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark.

Former UN Secretary General and Mrs. Kofi Annan

The Prince and Princess of the Asturias

Prince Albert II of Monaco

The Crown Prince and Princess of Belgium

The Crown Prince and Princess of Norway

The Crown Prince and Princess of Brunei

From left to right, Prince Daniel, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden
and Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan

Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

The Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark

Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands is tucked between his wife
Princess Laurentien (left) and sister-in-law Princess Mabel (right),
whose husband Prince Johan Friso is still in comatose. 

Queen Beatrix's sisters, Princess Christina (right)
and Princess Irene.

Queen Beatrix (at the center) enjoys the state banquet with her family
and royal guests

Queen Beatrix, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Crown Princess Maxima.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Prince Charles reacts on plans to change succession laws

Prince Charles airs his concern on plans to change succession laws.

The Prince of Wales has voiced out his concern regarding the government's "rushed" plans to alter succession laws, saying that the plan "has not been thought through," which could leas to "unintended consequences." The Prince's comments could never be timelier given than the government has been hastening the process of overhauling the rules that govern the royal succession for centuries.


"Charles backs the principle of changing the law to ensure that if William and Kate’s first child is a girl she becomes Queen – a move which has been discussed for several years – if it commands popular support," reports The Daily Mail, although the Prince commented that the government did not give these proposals a second thought given "the delicate relationship between the State and the Church of England, as well as for the rules governing hereditary titles."

Church leaders also aired their concern on letting a future heir to marry a Roman Catholic, since according to canon law, their children are required to be raised in the Catholic Faith. This could lead to a serious constitutional crisis since as a future Governor of the Church of England, being Catholic means being barred from being crowned.

But one source reported that "such a problem could be resolved by negotiations with the Vatican – a response he is said to have found ‘unsatisfactory and unconvincing."

Another issue is letting female heirs succeed on hereditary peerages since some of the eldest daughters of peers demand equal rights to inherit titles, which, the Prince believes would cause trouble to some of the country's most aristocratic families.

Upon the announcement of the Duchess of Cambridge's pregnancy, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced that the Government plans to hasten the revision of succession laws to ensure that if ever the couple's child becomes a girl, nothing would stand between her and the throne, even if a younger brother is born.

"The change will need to be legislated for  in all 16 Commonwealth realms – the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas,  Barbados, Grenada, Belize, St Christopher and Nevis, St Lucia, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Papua New Guinea."

The proposed legislation will also enable members of the Royal Family who marry a Catholic and still succeed to the Crown. Meanwhile, the Royal Marriages Act of 1772, which required all descendants of George II to seek the Sovereign's consent to marry, will also be scrapped and will only only apply to the first six people in the line to the throne.