Prince Charles is already planning his strategy for when he becomes king, according to a new report.
Charles is in line to take over the throne when Queen Elizabeth, 88, passes away or abdicates.
Charles, 66, is a dividing figure among elected officials and the public because he often speaks his mind and has become involved in a range of issues that he feels strongly about.
That involvement will continue when he becomes king, sources close to the heir say.
“He will be true to his beliefs and contributions,” a well-placed source who has known him for many years told the Guardian.
“Rather than a complete reinvention to become a monarch in the mold of his mother, the strategy will be to try and continue with his heartfelt interventions, albeit checking each for tone and content to ensure it does not damage the monarchy. Speeches will have to pass the following test: would it seem odd because the Queen wouldn’t have said it or would it seem dangerous?”
Charles has stirred controversy in the past by lobbying officials over a range of issues, including genetic modification of crops and other health and food issues.
And his comments to the public almost always spark debate, such as his recent comments that most people in the United Kingdom don’t really know much about farming.
While the prince plans on staying true to himself, he will be mindful of the impact his positions and words can impact his role as king.
“The prince understands the need to be careful about how he expresses concerns or asks questions, but I do think he will keep doing exactly that,” said Patrick Holden, an organic farmer, friend of the prince and adviser to him on sustainability.
“He is part of an evolving monarchy that is changing all the time. He feels these issues are too serious to ignore.” The prince’s Google+ hangout this week, in which he answered a range of questions from the public, is just one indication of how he'll approach the throne differently.
