For most of us, Elizabeth II has always been our Queen. But what happens when she finally goes? How will the Prince of Wales reign?

King Charles III dares to imagine - and does so with humour, emotion and thought provoking brilliance.

Having just buried his mother, Charles (played brilliantly by Robert Powell) seeks to do things differently. So when the Prime Minister comes to him with a new law restricting the freedom of the press to sign off, he refuses.

MPs revolt, protesters take to the streets and his own family call for him to abdicate.

This intriguing moral and constitutional dilemma is the focal point of the play which sees a hapless Prince Harry fall for a republican student and Prince William guided by an outspoken Kate Middleton.

There are some laugh out loud moments, especially involving Harry, before the play turns a lot darker as the public and then his family turn against him.

Charles ends a broken man, having handed over power to his son with the country on the verge of revolution.

The play poses all kinds of questions - the likes of which the Queen has ensured we have never had to think about.

But what will Charles do? We will soon find out.

*King Charles III will also be at the Theatre Royal Brighton between February 8 and 13.

Four stars