On May 6, a historic moment took place at Westminster Abbey in London, as King Charles III was crowned and his wife Camilla was anointed as the queen consort. Millions of people from the UK and around the world witnessed the grand coronation event and participated in joyous celebrations. King Charles III ascended to the British throne following the death of his mother on September 8, 2022, after serving as the longest-serving British heir apparent. He broke Edward VII’s 59-year record on April 20, 2011. At the age of his coronation, King Charles III also became the oldest monarch to take the throne. Despite facing numerous challenges and controversies along the way, from the scandals of his first marriage to his recent wokeness, King Charles III has always been in the public eye, making his journey to the throne a captivating story of perseverance and resilience.
Charles was born on November 14, 1948, during the reign of his maternal grandfather, George VI. At the age of three, he became the heir apparent when his mother, Elizabeth II, ascended to the throne in 1952. From a young age, he was meticulously trained and prepared to fulfill his future role as monarch, while also breaking away from certain royal traditions. For instance, he was the first monarch to attend a school where he was not given preferential treatment. Additionally, he broke with tradition by opting to proceed straight to university after his A-levels, rather than joining the British Armed Forces. As a result, he became the first British heir apparent to earn a university degree, graduating from the University of Cambridge.
After being appointed as the Prince of Wales, Charles took on an increasing number of Royal duties and responsibilities, diligently preparing himself for his future role. His eagerness to serve was highlighted when he expressed an interest in becoming the governor-general of Australia, after being approached by Australian prime minister Malcolm Fraser. Sadly, the proposal received a lukewarm response from the public, leaving Charles feeling unappreciated and disheartened. In response, he expressed his disappointment, saying, “So, what are you supposed to think when you are prepared to do something to help, and you are just told you’re not wanted?”
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The most notable chapter in Charles’ life began when he married Lady Diana Frances Spencer on July 29, 1981, a few months after their engagement. The media instantly fell in love with the couple, and their personal lives were put under a microscope. It has since been widely accepted that Charles and Diana’s marriage was arranged, with the royal family selecting Diana as a “suitable” spouse for the future king. It was later revealed that Charles had an ongoing relationship with a married woman, Camilla Parker Bowles, both before and during his marriage to Diana. The marriage between Charles and Diana eventually fell apart, with both parties unhappy in the relationship. In her famous 1995 BBC interview, Diana famously said, “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.” Despite their issues, the couple initially chose not to get divorced, as it was considered taboo in the royal family, particularly for an heir apparent. However, they eventually separated in 1992, and their divorce was finalized in 1996, making Charles III the first British king to have undergone a civil divorce.
The aftermath of Charles and Diana’s separation had a profound impact on the public perception of the then Prince. While he was regarded as an intelligent and thoughtful royal prior to the split, his popularity took a severe hit due to the media coverage of his marriage and infidelity. Diana’s tragic death only fueled the public’s ire towards Charles and the royal family, with conspiracy theories about her passing adding fuel to the fire. In the years that followed, Charles faced an uphill battle to restore his reputation. His marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles failed to improve his public image, and while he has managed to win back some positive sentiment from the British public, he still lags behind other members of the royal family in terms of public esteem. Some polls suggest that many Britons believe Prince William would make a better king than Charles III, citing Charles’s age and past as factors that could potentially undermine the stability of the monarchy.
After years of preparation, trials, and criticism, Prince Charles has finally ascended to the throne as King Charles III. However, the world he inherits is vastly different from the one his mother took the throne in. Calls for the abolition of the monarchy and apologies for its colonial past are growing louder from British colonies worldwide. Nonetheless, Charles III is approaching these challenges with grace, even endorsing an investigation into the royal family’s links with slavery. While some, including his sister Princess Anne, argue for silence on such issues to protect the monarchy, Charles III is determined to address them head-on.
Charles III has always been a vocal advocate for environmental issues and a lifelong philanthropist. He has patronized over 420 charities and established The Prince’s Trust in 1976 with his Navy severance pay of just over £7,000, which has since helped over 875,000 disadvantaged young people find employment or start businesses. However, most of his charitable work remains hidden from the media spotlight. The relationship between Charles III and his younger son Prince Harry and daughter-in-law Meghan Markle is also an important aspect, as the couple has made numerous claims about the royal family since their departure from the family.
As the new monarch, Charles III is likely to face increased scrutiny from all sides of the political spectrum, regardless of whether he chooses to modernize or preserve the monarchy’s traditional values. Charles III has been unapologetic about his views on topics like Islam, environmentalism, and hunting, demonstrating that he is guided by his own principles rather than pandering to popular opinion. As the world continues to change, Charles III appears to be willing to adapt to the evolving dynamics with innovative and progressive priorities. This was evident during his coronation ceremony, which was attended not only by Christians but also by many Hindu, Muslim, and Jewish leaders. However, the same ceremony was also criticized for being too lavish, especially during economic strain when many suffer from homelessness and unemployment.
At 74 years old, Charles III faces a unique set of challenges that perhaps his decades of training could never have prepared him for. All eyes are on the new monarch as he navigates the delicate balance of preserving tradition while also moving the monarchy forward in a rapidly changing world.