The UK is facing a general election on July 4, with citizens voting to elect 650 members of the House of Commons.
The party that holds the majority will form the next government, its leader becoming Prime Minister.
While the British royal family are legally allowed to vote, working royals choose to abstain from the practice.
Over the last few centuries, the UK has shifted to a democratic society, however the monarchy does still play a key role in the country’s governing structure.
Because of this, the royal family is required to maintain a stance of political neutrality on all matters, which means no voting in any elections and no voicing of personal political opinions.
“The King and active members of the royal family can legally cast a vote at general elections on the same basis as other eligible citizens, but in practice do not do so for obvious reasons,” professor of constitutional law at King’s College London, Robert Blackburn, told Time.
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“Especially because it would cause a furore of media speculation and violate the constitutional requirement today that they maintain a strict party political impartiality.”
Members of the royal family without a formal title are able to vote, however since voting is not compulsory in the UK, it’s unclear if they choose to do so.
While voting is off the cards, the monarchy does still play a huge role in parliament, with current Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, having to seek the King’s permission for the dissolution of parliament.
But it seems that since that conversation, King Charles has been extra cautious to not be viewed as having an opinion on the upcoming election.
When the snap election was announced in May, Buckingham Palace released a statement sharing that the royal family would be postponing some planned engagements in an attempt to avoid anything “that may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign.”
Constitutional expert and lecturer in law at Royal Holloway, University of London, Craig Prescott, said while it is common practice to remain politically neutral, he couldn’t remember “any other election where they made a statement such as that.”
He suggested that while the late Queen Elizabeth was famously known for her neutral political stance and that her “impartiality was beyond doubt,” the public may not have that same view of King Charles.
“I think it shows a new reign, a new approach, a new sensitivity to not just being involved in politics, but being seen not to be involved in politics,” Prescott told CBC News.
“And, I think perhaps it was an opportunity [for Charles] to say: ‘I know where the line is and I’m going to ensure that I’m clearly on the right side of it.'”
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