Having waited longer than any heir to the throne to become Britain’s king, King Charles is quietly settling into his new place with few of the mishaps some commentators had predicted, but with family divisions and some underlying issues still looming large.
Charles (74 years), who will be officially crowned next Saturday, became the oldest king to assume the throne in a family dating back a thousand years, when he succeeded his mother, Queen Elizabeth, who was very popular, after her death last September, after she had spent 70 years. on the throne of the United Kingdom.
Although the new king hinted at future changes he would make in the institution, he did not continue to express strong opinions that some critics thought would harm the institution, and he is known for his direct defense of the environment since he was Prince of Wales.
“I think we were all surprised at how well King Charles started,” said royal writer Tina Brown.
Charles said in recent years that he was fully aware that he would not be able to participate in some of the campaigns that he was carrying out as heir, when he became king, and he also pledged that there would be no stinging statements.
Charles does not have the same support as his mother, but his approval ratings are generally positive, but he did inherit some thorns.
Advocates for turning the kingdom into a republic, a call that had almost disappeared under Elizabeth, appeared publicly, protesters threw eggs at him and his wife Camilla on a visit, and small groups of demonstrators expressed their opposition to other protesters.
Buckingham Palace has backed an inquiry into the monarchy’s links to slavery, amid mounting calls for an apology and damages.
The Guardian has published a series of articles raising questions about the murky nature of the wealth and finances of the establishment and the royal family, an issue resonating at a time when Britons are facing a cost-of-living crisis.
problems from within
The biggest problems at Windsor Castle usually come from within. The treatment of his younger brother, Prince Andrew, remains unresolved, after he settled a US lawsuit in which a woman accused him of sexual assault.
Andrew has not been charged with any criminal offense and always denies any wrongdoing.
But the most prominent issue for Charles remains the ongoing conflict with his youngest son, Prince Harry.
From his memoirs, entitled “Spear” or “The Alternative”, to a documentary series on Netflix and television interviews, Harry criticized Buckingham Palace and his family for failing to protect him and his wife Megan from media interference in their affairs, and he even accused some family members, especially His stepmother, Camilla, in association with newspapers.
Much of the news coverage was dominated by Harry’s attendance at the coronation ceremony and Meghan’s decision to stay home in California with their two children ahead of the May 6 ceremony, along with his ongoing court battles with newspaper publishing houses.
Tina Brown said: “I think Prince Harry’s revelation shatters the new king personally because he’s his son, he was really very loyal to him, and I think he still is. So, he feels deeply hurt.”
Other royal commentators, however, believe the hype around Harry will soon be forgotten, with royals simply continuing to go about their business, attending official events and supporting charities.
(Reuters)
