Monarchy ‘may not outlast Prince William’ as Royal Family enters its ‘last big era’, says author Hilary Mantel

THE British monarchy is entering its "end game" and the institution may not "outlast" Prince William, according to Wolf Hall author Dame Hilary Mantel. 

The 68-year-old writer said she wondered if the Queen is the "only person who really believes in the monarchy now".

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Ms Mantel told the "I think it’s the end game. I don’t know how much longer the institution will go on.

"I’m not sure if it will outlast William. So I think it will be their last big era.

"I wish the Queen had felt able to abdicate because Charles has had to wait such a long time."

But she said the Queen sees it as a "sacred task" from which she cannot abdicate, although  the public sees it as a job you could retire from. 

Dame Hilary added: "I wonder if she’s the only person who really believes in the monarchy now, and I’m sure she believes with all her heart."

She said the Queen is in a "lonely position" because she believes she cannot abdicate based on promises she made to God.

I’m not sure if it will outlast William... so I think it will be their last big era

Wolf Hall author Dame Hilary Mantel

Recent polls show Britain is broadly in favour of the monarchy with 63 per cent believing it should continue.

Sixty-four per cent believe that the Queen should remain monarch for as long as she lives. 

Forty-one per cent believe that being a royal is both a privilege and a burden, perhaps a nod to the struggles that the Sussexes have spoken about.

Meghan is the least popular royal after Prince Andrew with 61 per cent of people surveyed having a negative opinion of her.

Harry is next, with 49 per cent. 

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Public support has shifted in favour of the Prince of Wales, rather than the Duke of Cambridge, becoming the next monarch, a new poll has revealed.

The survey found that 37 per cent of people believed it should be Charles compared with 34 per cent who said William.

Last December a poll posing the same question found that 40 per cent favoured William compared with 32 per cent wanting Charles.