CHARLES' SECRET CORONATION!

Behind the scenes, the Queen and her eldest son have been preparing for this special day

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The tawdry scandal surrounding Prince Andrew and the abrupt departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have dominated royal headlines for most of 2020. And while both controversies have created a headache for the Queen, the silver lining is she’s been able to quietly and uninterruptedly plan for the historic accession of her eldest son, Prince Charles, to the throne.

Sources say despite the fact Her Majesty had publicly declared she will rule until the day she dies, the 94-year-old has been forced to accept she cannot fulfill her role safely while the world is in the grips of a virus that is especially deadly to the elderly.

Woman’s Day has learned that while the Queen was ensconced in Windsor Castle two months ago she quietly informed her 71-year-old son – the longest king-in-waiting in history – to start preparing to wear the crown.