Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday at the age of 96. Since the news of her death, dozens of world leaders have sent their condolences to the British people and the monarch’s family. And millions of people around the world have followed the news of the last few hours with interest.
But even before the announcement of the queen’s death, news of the royal family fascinated beyond the borders of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, even in France. And the next few days should continue to excite millions of people.
“The British monarchy is extremely unique in the world. He is the only monarch who is still crowned ”, justifies Anthony Bellanger, international political consultant for BFMTV.
“Like nowhere else in the world”
Several European countries still have a monarch… but the level of closeness between the kings of the Old Continent and their subjects is much higher than that between Queen Elizabeth II and the British.
“In Europe there are only bicycle monarchies! People you meet at the end of the street and who really want to show that they are like everyone else,” continues the international consultant.
“The British monarchy is different. There will be an archbishop who will put a crown on Charles III and knight him, as we did in the days of Louis XIV, Louis XV or Louis XVI”, recalls Anthony Bellanger.
“There will come a time when he will be crowned king (…) like nowhere else in the world. There is no longer a single monarchy in Europe where the king is crowned,” says our international political consultant.
A disadvantage for Carlos III?
And the interest of the French in this ceremonial from another era promises to be great, when we see the passions unleashed by the latest incidents in the life of the royal family, from the marriage of Kate and William to the birth of their children. passing more recently by the tensions between the latter and his brother Harry his.
In France, the fascination with the royal family can also be explained by the history and the many events in which Paris and London were protagonists.
But the “scarcity” of the British monarchy could also spell trouble for the new king. Because much of the British population only knew Elizabeth II at the head of the United Kingdom. And the society of 2022 is no longer that of 1953, the year of her coronation. Especially among the youngest: according to a survey carried out by YouGov in 2021, 37% of young people aged 18-25 do not support the monarchy, 42% prefer a Republic.
Source: BFM TV
