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Prince Charles wants to be King George

LONDON: Prince Charles would like to be known as King George when he ascends the British throne because he thinks the first two kings to be called Charles do not have the right image, The Sunday Times reported.

Quoting a courtier who had spoken to the prince on the subject, the paper said Charles "feels it would be more appropriate to follow in the footsteps of the Georges rather than take on the tarnished name of Charles when he becomes King".

The heir to the throne's full name is Charles Philip Arthur George. His grandfather was George VI, who steered Britain through World War II.

In contrast, King Charles I was beheaded in 1649 after the English Civil War, and his son Charles II fathered many illegitimate children but no heir.

The "friend" of the prince said the royal family regarded the reigns of both previous kings to be called Charles as "sad and disappointing".

Charles would be following two recent examples. When Prince Albert Edward acceded to the throne in 1901, he chose Edward VII as his title. In 1936, Prince Albert Ñ Charles' grandfather Ñ chose to be called George, the fourth of his Christian names. AFP