“Prince Harry voted second most popular royal to succeed King Charles, in shocking new poll.” Shocking, indeed. Ostensibly, it was not the intent of either the headline writer or the reporting it was signaling to pull some kind of April Fool’s gag, however absurd. And, to be clear, Harry polled a distant second.

First in the public’s affections to succeed the King was his heir, Prince William, at 47.5 percent, with Harry far behind at 8.8 percent. Yet given the “Spare’s” stream-of-semi-consciousness blatherings against both the Royal Family and the British people themselves — subtly equating the Brexit vote to exit the European Union with racism — Harry’s potentate potential leaves me nonplussed. 

As strange as this may sound, the plot thickens. Royal biographer Angela Levin adds further intrigue when she asserts, as she did on G.B. News, that Harry wants to become English monarch — this in relation to the Duke of Sussex’s surprise return to London last week to appear at the High Court in a privacy suit against Associated Newspapers.

“I think he wants to crash the monarchy and take over with Meghan,” Ms. Levin opined, no doubt with a large dose of sly humor. “That means Meghan will be in charge. Hallelujah!”

The royal biographer also suggested that, given Harry’s disclosures of drug use and the attendant difficulties with American visa requirements, the overseas trip was made to test the ease with which he would be readmitted back to California.

Meantime, Breitbart London reported at the weekend that President Biden may take a pass on attending the coronation on May 6. Mr. Biden is expected to attend the 25th anniversary of the Belfast “Good Friday” agreement in April. To cross the Atlantic again, so soon, would be too much for the octogenarian president, with an Administration source saying “foreign travel takes a fair amount out of him.”

This all rather has the ring of an elaborate — and progressively escalating — April Fool’s prank, doesn’t it? Harry, the “anti-royal,” the people’s second choice for King . . . and Harry and Meghan, both slagging the monarchy yet dependent upon it for continuing press coverage and financial advantage. 

Even the American president getting in on the joke, hinting that he’d be too busy and tired to bask in the international splendor of the Coronation. Why, the Sussexes themselves are plying this trick, holding out on a positive R.S.V.P. unless conditions — an apology? a Buckingham Palace balcony photo-op? — are met.

All tiresome, yes. Folderol, less so.  For the future of the British monarchy, this is no joke. Despite the popular support for both the Crown and Charles, there is discontent. The King has been subject to several anti-monarchist demonstrations of “egg-throwing” in his presence, said projectiles just missing his royal person.

The anti-royalty group “Republic” has reported that since the death of Elizabeth II, both its membership and fundraising are in the upswing. It seems that whenever members of the Royal Family attend public events, Republic is apt to have representatives stage protests. At the Coronation itself, Republic promises at least one thousand protestors will demonstrate outside of Westminster Abbey.

More ominous still, the leftist group “Labour for a Republic” is calling on Opposition leader, Sir Keir Starmer, to promise a referendum on the monarchy when the party assumes government — after what most assume will be a whupping for the Conservatives at the next general election in late 2024.

Support for the Crown remains strong, with two-thirds of Britons supporting it and a mere 20 percent favoring a republic. Yet socialist proponents against the status quo see an opportunity. A republican Britain is now the choice of a majority of Labour voters, at 52 percent, though the monarchy remains at fighting strength at 48 percent.

Nevertheless, such visible signs of anti-monarchy agitation were unknown during the days of Elizabeth II. That with her death would also pass the silent, respectful opposition of republican sentiment was foreseen. 

Few could have imagined, however, that the tide would have turned so quickly against the King, aided and abetted by Prince Harry. The Coronation itself, far from cementing Charles’s time on the throne, may prove the high-water mark in the concluding chapters of the Commonwealth Crown. 

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