The Queen "put her foot down" after Charles only wanted himself and Prince William to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph for Remembrance Sunday, a new book claims. The late monarch shared a special bond with her eldest son, who became King Charles III following her death earlier this month, and tried her best to prepare him for life on the throne.
However, the mother and son didn't always see eye to eye on certain issues, the Mirror reports. In her latest book 'The New Royals', royal correspondent Kate Nicholl's explores their relationship - and recalls one incident when Her Majesty overruled her son's decision.
The pair spoke regularly, with the Queen preparing Charles for his role as King by discussing matters of state and the future of the monarchy. Describing their meetings, former press secretary Charles Anson told the author: "Each monarch coaches and brings on the next generation. It’s that continuity that appeals to so many people, because it’s not just an elected person who suddenly arrives in public life.
"It’s this sense of generations, one after another, being trained and committing themselves to public service, to the nation, and to the Commonwealth in a constitutional monarchy above the fray of daily politics.”
But that doesn't mean they always agreed, and it was the Queen who called the shots at the end of the day. Writing about one such disagreement, Nicholl's said: "When Charles suggested that he and William should be the only two senior royals to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in 2021, the Queen put her foot down.
"She insisted that other family members including Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and the Duke of Kent should be given the privilege."
Following his mother's death, King Charles promised to follow the late Queen's "selfless duty" in his address to both Houses of Parliament. The King praised his mother's duty as he spoke in front of 900 MPs and peers, as he said: "While very young, Her Late Majesty pledged herself to serve her country and her people and to maintain the precious principles of constitutional government which lie at the heart of our nation.
"This vow she kept with unsurpassed devotion. She set an example of selfless duty which, with God's help and your counsels, I am resolved faithfully to follow.
"I cannot help but feel the weight of history which surrounds us and which reminds us of the vital parliamentary traditions to which members of both houses dedicate yourselves, with such personal commitment for the betterment of us all," the King continued.
"Parliament is the living and breathing instrument of our democracy. That your traditions are ancient we see in the construction of this great hall and the reminders of medieval predecessors of the office to which I have been called."
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