Having waited longer than any other British heir (it was 70 years), Charles III became king after the death of Elizabeth II, on September 8, and today he is finally crowned in Westminster Abbey. In the nearly eight months since his mother’s death, the monarch has found that the institution is still alive – despite the republican voices heard more strongly in several countries where he is head of state. But also that the biggest blows can come very close, namely from your family. These are two of the challenges you will face during your reign.
Fans of the British monarchy who spent several days camping on the Mall (the main avenue leading to Buckingham Palace) in order not to miss a trace of the coronation day parade, were in for a surprise yesterday. The 74-year-old King Heir William and his wife Kate stepped out of their cars to greet the crowd, dressed in the colors of the British flag. A warm welcome to the cries of “Viva o Rei”, which Charles III knows is not unanimous in the 15 lands over which he is still sovereign.
The first coronation in 70 years is prompting many Commonwealth realms to rethink their ties to England’s royal family. Australia, Belize or Jamaica are some of the countries already considering turning themselves into republics, with Charles III possibly as their last king (the monarch mainly has a ceremonial role). For example, in the former colonies of the Caribbean, the suppression of colonialism has been reflected upon and requests for forgiveness for slavery have not been enough – compensations are demanded.
Elizabeth II became queen of 32 sovereign countries, but left Charles III the head of state of only 15. The last to embrace the Republic was Barbados, which elected a president in 2021. Jamaica could be the next country and the question is, when Prince William is crowned how many more will he “inherit”. Then there’s the question of whether the UK will still be the UK, with Scottish independence wishes and post-Brexit tensions in Northern Ireland sparking debate over a possible reunification of Ireland.
According to YouGov’s latest poll, only three in ten Britons say Charles will make a good king, with 54% defending the continuation of the monarchy and 20% betting on the republic (according to another Constitution Society study). Some Republican demonstrations are expected in the middle of the coronation. For young people, the scenario seems more complicated: only 32% of young people between 18 and 24 defend the monarchy, while 59% think that the king is “far from reality”.
With the cost of living rising and inflation soaring, many Britons question the money spent on the ceremony. Most of the more than £100 million (115 million euros) estimated to come from the treasury (the government has not disclosed the official amount) is to ensure the security of the event, which has seen more than 29,000 agents deployed . Less than a month ago, 51% of Britons surveyed by YouGov said the government should not pay for the ceremony.
For many, however, this money is not an expense, but an investment, in anticipation of a particularly profitable weekend for the hospitality industry. According to industry association UKHospitability, the long coronation weekend (Monday becomes a public holiday in the UK) could bring £350 million (400 million euros) in profits to hotels, restaurants, pubs and shops.
For Charles III, whose private wealth is estimated at £1.8 billion (two billion euros), one way to bring the monarchy into the 21st century is to cut back on what is considered a royal family. – just like King Felipe VI of Spain and other European monarchs. Thus, the royal family will “dilute”, it is still not clear who, in addition to the princes of Wales and descendants, will enter the plans. Princess Ana, the king’s sister and one of the most devoted, has already said it was a bad idea.
Cutting the needs of the royal family not only serves to save the treasury money, but also to deal with family problems. In addition to the controversies surrounding Prince Andrew’s sexual scandals, Charles III had to deal with the shock of his youngest son, Harry, moving to California and writing a biography exposing the royal family’s backstage. Harry will be at the coronation, unlike his wife Meghan, who complained about racism within the family, among other things.
Topics that have dominated the debate around Charles III, who preferred to focus on his great passion: the fight against global warming, who was one of the first to speak about the problem in the 1970s. His legacy could be to become the first “climate king”.
Source: DN
