A year after his succession to Queen Elizabeth II, Charles III assumed the heavy tasks of the throne without making any lapse or making a major change in the monarchy, although he began to leave his mark on a rule that is largely transitional before the coronation of his son William.
National mourning, solemn coronation, new prime minister, official commitments and family scandal, the first year of the reign of 74-year-old Charles III fluctuated between historic moments and the mostly traditional agenda of a monarch emeritus at the head of 15 countries.
Charles III is known for his strong stances on topics such as the environment, organic farming or education when he was Prince of Wales and arrived without apparent difficulty in taking over.
“The transition was smoother than some had expected, who were surprised Charles seemed to adjust so well,” says Pauline McLaren, a professor at Royal Holloway University, according to AFP.
British King Charles III and his successor Queen Camilla of Scotland (Reuters)
It is not expected that any public ceremony will be organized on the first anniversary of Charles’ accession to the throne, and he is currently residing in the Scottish Balmoral Castle, where Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96, after a record 70-year reign during which she was very popular.
The highlight of the year was the coronation of Charles and Camilla on 6 May in Westminster Abbey in front of guests representing the diversity of the country, and showed respect for a long tradition, as well as a desire to develop a monarchy that some Britons consider outdated.
Pauline McLaren said: “There will be small changes, but he is paving the way for William who may really be the one who modernizes the monarchy.”
Although he remains less popular than his late mother or his son William, 41, Charles’ public support level has risen. A YouGov poll showed that 55 per cent of Britons have a positive opinion of him, compared to 44 per cent a year ago. His first Christmas speech, a staple of tradition, was watched by 10.6 million people, a record.
* More humane
During his many trips, Charles III, who was often accompanied by his wife Camilla, seemed close to the people, contrary to the reticence of Queen Elizabeth II. Jonathan Spangler, a historian at the University of Manchester, said: “Even in the official photos that were published, they appeared more relaxed, there was more humanity.”
Pauline McLaren says that he knew how to show “humility and friendliness” in a difficult economic period for the British who are facing a crisis in the cost of living, but she mentioned the incident of the pen from which the ink was flowing, noting that he revealed an impatient king, which is the only gap that marred his career so far, According to her saying. In November (November) in Northern Ireland, the king lost his temper when ink leaked from a pen, saying: “I can’t stand this damn thing!”, which was quickly circulated on social media.
On the other hand, the pro-republican movement is witnessing new momentum since the departure of Queen Elizabeth II, and Charles is facing anti-monarchy banners and chants in his movements, or even throwing eggs.
Historian Anna Whitelock confirms that so far the reign of this king, who does not arouse great enthusiasm, has not witnessed a “decisive moment.” “There are a lot of issues that linger,” she says, such as his response to calls for apologies for the monarchy’s colonial legacy.
*One official trip
He has only made one official trip abroad so far, to Germany, while his state visit to France in March has been postponed due to riots in France over pension reform.
He will go there at the end of September, before making, according to British media, a possible visit to Africa.
But the British monarch received many foreign leaders; Such as US President Joe Biden, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa – the first to be received on a state visit – and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
British King Charles III and his wife Camilla to his left and his sister Princess Anne to his right in Braemar, central Scotland (AFP)
Jonathan Spangler promised that if Elizabeth II had a noticeable interest in the Commonwealth, which includes the former British colonies, then Charles “has a more global approach, this is an interesting change,” noting his commitment to combating climate change or helping Ukrainian refugees.
Apart from global issues, the beginning of the king’s rule witnessed a new chapter of tension related to the issue of Harry and his wife, Megan, after the publication of his youngest son’s memoirs and the broadcast of a documentary film criticizing the royal family by these two currently residing in the United States.
Pauline MacLaren said: “Charles handled it really well. He adopted the Queen’s motto: No explanation, no complaint.
On November 7, Charles delivers his first speech to open Parliament as king.
