King Charles III has only been Britain's reigning monarch for 18 months, yet his funeral plans are already set amid his battle with pancreatic cancer. Named "Operation Menai Bridge," the monarch's funeral processions will look similar to Queen Elizabeth II's ceremonies, dubbed "Operation London Bridge." As his cancer progresses, royal insiders tell In Touch that Charles' final resting plans are of timely prioritization.
"It's a fairly common thing to do among the British royalty, but in Charles' case expediency is necessary," says the source, who notes that "some courtiers believe Charles' cancer is worse than they're making it out to be."
"Operation Menai Bridge" is set to include familiar protocols. When the monarch dies, Charles' body will be moved from the throne room at Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall. He will lie in state, and his official funeral will take place nine days later. He will likely be buried in the royal vault at Windsor Castle.
"It will have all the pomp and circumstance befitting a British monarch," adds the source.
The update comes shortly after a separate high ranking royal insider told In Touch that Charles is not only battling pancreatic cancer - a timely update given that he did not share what kind of cancer he was diagnosed with - but has a mere two years to live.
"King Charles is much sicker than the palace lets on and simply isn't up to the job of running his fractious family, the crown's business interests and fulfilling the daily duties of the monarchy," the member of the royal inner circle revealed in early March. "His cancer is eating him alive. He's very frail. The situation is desperate."
Royal watchers have begun to witness his decline, too. Though he will be stepping out on Easter Sunday for a service at Windsor, the king is missing from the royal calendar for the foreseeable future, instead relying heavily on his sister, Princess Anne, to do the work of the royal family. While many would have assumed his heir, Prince William, would be stepping up to the plate, he too is missing from the royal schedule due to Princess Kate Middleton's own cancer diagnosis and treatment.
However, additional sources told In Touch that more could be at play between Charles and William outside of the family's respective health crises, as the king is under the impression William is not ready to take the throne.
"Charles knows the pressures of being the monarch, and he just isn't sure William is ready to take his place," the third insider revealed, noting that William is "currently facing a public relations disaster." "It seems premature, and there could be consequences."
With such an update, the future of the monarchy seems shaky at best, and even Queen Camilla is said to be frustrated by Charles' declining health and weakened status.
"Behind the scenes, Camilla is disgusted by the king's apparent weakness and is providing him little comfort as he battles his fatal cancer," a palace courtier told In Touch in early March, highlighting her vacation from royal duties which started on March 4. "By going on holiday, she was thumbing her nose at stepson William, who is incapable of shouldering the monarchy's burdens on his own."
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