King Charles III OR King George VII

[denis567]

I have started reading a book about King Charles II, written in the mid 1800's by an American author, Jacob Abbot.
He states that the first two King Charles were so unpopular that it was very unlikely that we would ever have a King Charles III.
This puzzled me because I had always thought that Prince Charles would take the title of Charles III when he becomes king.
On googling it, I find that it is a possibility that he will take the title George VII.
I am very interested in history and the monarchy, but this is something new to me, and I wonder if it is common knowledge? or is it something I have missed?

[starone]

I'm with I.Don No. And I am not going to wash my mouth out Steve, unless it is with something pleasant. (port and lemon is nice)

[mosesg]

I thought it might have something to do with Bonnie Prince Charlie as if he had suceeded in his battle to get to the London and claim the throne he would have been Charles III.

[dundurn]

Bonnie Prince Charlie (the clue is in the name) wasn't trying to win the throne for himself, but for his father, who would have been (should have been/ was?) James III. Charles did style himself Charles III after his father's death and his younger brother was known as Henry IX.

As for the current Prince of Wales the name he chooses, should the circumstance arise, will be his own decision. The only name not on the table is Albert. Queen Victoria did ask that no member of her family use the title King Albert since her husband had been denied the right to be anything other than Prince Consort.

[pretty_snowdrop]

King Charles the 2nd, as others have mentioned was a very popular monarch. The problem with naming subquecent monarch's Charles, was nothing to do with the popularity of Charles 2nd, but the fact he was from the house of Stuart with all the Jacobite connections. Nowadays nobody cares, so Prince Charles will call him self what he wants.

[vonhabsburg]

Yes, this theory is doing the rounds but it is in very poor taste as he cannot become king unless until his mother dies, and what normal loving son would want that? It is something which has been discussed however. But here is another more interesting theory: If the Queen lives to the same age as her mother, Charles will have passed the average mortality age for a man, ie statistically he could pre-decease his mother... As already suggested by DTcrosswordfan, so the crown may well go directly to William.