Born to Rule: When Charles is King - podcast cover

Born to Rule: When Charles is King

Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8th at the age of 96 years old, months after her Platinum Jubilee, her 70th year as the Queen of the United Kingdom. As the world remembers the longest-reigning monarch, her eldest son Prince Charles is now KING Charles III. It’s the moment he was born destined for – and at 73, he’s been waiting a long time. As one era closes, another one begins. Can Prince Charles fill his mother’s shoes? Will the people accept him as king? Is there even a place for monarchy in our modern world? In Born to Rule, NBC’s Keir Simmons talks to journalists and royal insiders who’ve followed Prince Charles for decades to help us understand this man who is now king.
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Episodes

Prince Harry's Tell-All Memoir and the Future of the Crown

A lot has changed since the last episode of Born to Rule was released. After Queen Elizabeth’s death on September 8, 2022, Prince Charles became King Charles III and thereby fulfilled his destiny. But some things haven’t changed – like the relationship between Prince Harry and the rest of the British royal family. Since excerpts from Prince Harry’s much anticipated memoir, Spare, became public, the book has made headlines around the world. We’re taking a look at the impact of this bombshell book...

Jan 11, 202334 min

The Heir and the Spare

During her Platinum Jubilee celebration this year, Queen Elizabeth greeted the crowds from the balcony at Buckingham Palace, dressed in bright blue with a cane in hand, at 96 years old… there’s no denying change is coming. On her left: William, Kate, and the kids. On her right: Charles and Camilla. The message was clear — this is the future of the monarchy, with Charles at the helm. In our final episode, we’re taking a look at what’s next for the royal family. From Charles to William to little G...

Jun 20, 202239 minSeason 1Ep. 5

Power and the Palace

The royal family is no stranger to controversy — and Prince Charles has often been at the center of the scandal-du-jour. What happens when he takes on the job of maintaining the monarchy’s public image… the one he’s been accused of tarnishing over the years? We’ll take a look at the more recent scandals Charles has had to manage alongside the Queen – from questions about how some of his charities raise money to his brother Prince Andrew’s settlement in a sexual abuse lawsuit, to his son Prince H...

Jun 13, 202231 minSeason 1Ep. 4

Whatever "In Love" Means

In 1981, the world watched as Prince Charles married the perfect royal bride: Lady Diana Spencer. Young, beautiful, and stylish, Diana breathed new life into the monarchy. But the fairytale didn’t last long. In the years that followed, Diana and Charles’s troubled marriage and bitter divorce was a constant in the tabloids, and Diana’s death in a car accident in 1997 shook the world. And through it all, Charles gained a reputation as an unfaithful husband to the “people’s princess” as he carried ...

Jun 06, 202242 minSeason 1Ep. 3

The Prince Who Talked to Flowers

Prince Charles has long been seen as an eccentric - his passion for gardening and watercolor painting combined with his love of the luxurious royal life has given him the reputation of being out-of-touch with the average person. But Charles might also be considered ahead of his time - a long-time environmentalist who’s been spearheading initiatives for sustainable living for more than 50 years. Many of the prince’s ideas, at first quickly dismissed, have turned out to be prescient. We’re taking ...

May 30, 202234 minSeason 1Ep. 2

The End of Empire

This year, Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne. At age 96, the Queen is the longest-reigning monarch in British history, and her eldest son, Prince Charles, has waited longer than any heir presumptive in British history to ascend the throne. Practically no one alive today in the UK can remember a time before the Queen. But as his moment approaches, so does widespread apprehension: Can Prince Charles fill his mother’s shoes? Will the people accept hi...

May 30, 202239 minSeason 1Ep. 1

Introducing Born to Rule: When Charles is King

This year marks Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, her 70th year as Queen of the United Kingdom. As the world prepares to celebrate an icon, the British royal establishment is working quietly behind the scenes to prepare the stage for Prince Charles to replace his mother and become King. It’s the moment he was destined for – and at 73, he’s been waiting a long time. But as his moment approaches, so does widespread apprehension: Can Prince Charles fill his mother’s shoes? Will the people acce...

May 19, 20222 min
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