The beginning of the reign of King Charles … Opinion on the abolition of the monarchy: the low approval ratings remain a task

The King of Great Britain Charles III follows the late Queen Elizabeth II’s procession from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey in London, England on the 19th (local time). 19.09.2022. London = AP / Newsis-The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, who served as Britain’s longest-serving monarch for 70 years, was held on the 19th (local time), marking the beginning of the reign of King Charles III, who was the Queen’s eldest son and ascended the throne at the age of 74. Analysts say he will face many challenges in the future as he inherited the throne in a situation where the public was unfavorable due to his past divorce and infidelity.

In a statement on the 18th, the day before the funeral, King Charles said he was deeply moved by the numerous messages of condolence and support from around the world during the 10 days after the Queen’s death on the 8th. tell you, “he said.

British newspaper The Guardian predicts that King Charles’ coronation will take place as early as next spring and the location will be Westminster Abbey in central London, where the coronation has taken place for the past 900 years. He and Queen Camilla, 75, are likely to live in Buckingham Palace like Queen Elizabeth II, but the palace is expected to undergo a major overhaul by 2027 and the relocation could be delayed. The Daily Telegraph predicted that the coronation would be held on a simpler, more compact scale than the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

King Charles III was criticized by public opinion after the death of his first wife, Princess Diana, from whom he divorced after an affair with Queen Camilla. In a May poll conducted by YouGov, her approval rating for individual members of the royal family was 56%, much lower than the Queen (81%) and her 40-year-old eldest son, Prince William (77%). ), who is the first in line to the throne. The BBC predicts low approval ratings are still a chore for him and that the royal family will revolve around Prince William. Prince William married Crown Prince Kate Middleton (40) in 2011 and they have three children: Prince George (9), Princess Charlotte (7) and Prince Louis (4).

The demand for conversion to a republic is growing in Commonwealth countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, where the British monarch is the nominal head of state. The protests called for the abolition of the monarchy in front of Westminster Abbey on the 19th of the Queen’s funeral. Royal historian Richard Fitzwilliams told the BBC that “it is up to the new king to make the younger generation more attracted to the royal family and the monarchy.”

Unlike the queen, who has kept the constitutional monarchy’s tradition of “reign but not rule”, King Charles has actively voiced his voice in protecting the environment since he was crown prince. British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who took office on the 5th, once expressed interest in abolishing the monarchy before joining the ruling Conservative party. The Guardian predicted that when King Charles met weekly with Prime Minister Truss, disagreements could arise between the two on some issues.

Cairo = correspondent Seonghwi Kang [email protected]