The United Kingdom has a King once again. After decades in the public eye, King Charles III has finally assumed the throne – and Britain may never be the same. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96. According to the BBC, she was surrounded by her family.
King Charles III, formerly the Prince of Wales, automatically assumed the role of the monarch at the age of 73, becoming England’s first king in 70 years. “At the moment the Queen died, Prince Charles became King Charles III, assuming new duties while mourning his beloved mother.
” As the eldest son of the queen, Charles was named heir in 1952 at just 3 years old, making him the longest-serving heir apparent, according to Time. As the public reacts to the heartbreaking death of Queen Elizabeth, Charles III prepares for his coronation, set to take place after the official mourning period comes to a close.
As noted by Time, Queen Elizabeth’s official coronation did not take place until 16 months after the death of her father. King Charles III commented on his mother’s legacy in an emotional statement following her death. His official statement, which was posted on The Royal Family’s Twitter, read: “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother.
I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.” Though everything that will happen when the former Prince Charles becomes king is still unofficial, he is expected to drastically change key features of the monarchy.
The recently-appointed king will make several changes to the monarchy, most notably reframing the role of the royal family, per Insider. The predicted “slimmed down” monarchy could mean a condensed team of working royals, limited patronages, and smaller living quarters.
According to the Daily Mail, the King has recognized the financial strain that a large monarchy imposes on the public. Angela Levin, the esteemed royal biographer, appeared on TalkRadio in 2021, explaining that Charles has hoped to slim down the number of working royals “for a very long time,” per The Daily Mail.
“He will make sure that those who, in any way, undermine the credibility and honesty and image of the monarchy are cast out.” It’s still unclear what members of the Royal Family will remain in service — The Queen Consort, The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge, and Princess Anne are currently active members, according to Express.
While other branches of the family may continue to represent the crown in a limited capacity, royal commentator Kinsey Schofield predicts that, quote, “Charles will try to draw attention to himself, Camilla, and the Cambridge family as the future of the monarchy,” per Insider.
Whatever the case, a smaller monarchy will drastically impact the number of royal public engagements. Charles III also has plans to grant the public increased access to the official London residence and turn the queen’s beloved Balmoral into a memorial museum. The former Prince of Wales is the founder of The Prince’s Trust, a charitable organization partially dedicated to environmental sustainability.
In the coming years, The King is expected to actively address climate change, according to The Daily Mail. “He does have very clear feelings, particularly about things like the environment, for example, and about architecture, etc.” In 2021, he spoke at the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow, imploring world leaders to “find practical ways of overcoming differences” in order to, quote, “rescue this precious planet.
” King Charles has even commented on his history of environmental activism in a 2021 TV interview. He said: “Why do you think I’ve done all this for all these years? Because I minded about, and always have done, the next generation.” According to Vox, Charles will use the monarchy’s “soft power” and global connections to advocate for sustainability.
As explained by historian Ed Owens: “He’s very much trying to create a new global platform for the British monarchy.” Though the King has been a divisive figure in the past, these present uncertainties could lead to long-term, historical change.
THAT PROMISE OF LIFELONG SERVICE, I RENEW TO ALL TODAY. ALONGSIDE THE PERSONAL GRIEF, ALL MY FAMILY IS FILLING, WE ALSO SHARE WITH SO MANY OF YOU, IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, IN ALL THE COUNTRIES WHERE THE QUEEN WAS HEAD OF STATE, IN THE COMMONWEALTH, AND ACROSS THE WORLD, A DEEP SENSE OF GRATITUDE FOR THE MORE THAN 70 YEARS IN WHICH MY MOTHER, AS QUEEN, SERVED THE PEOPLE OF SO MANY NATIONS.
IN 1947, ON HER 21st BIRTHDAY, SHE PLEDGED IN A BROADCAST FROM CAPE TOWN TO THE COMMONWEALTH TO DEVOTE HER LIFE, WHETHER IT BE SHORT OR LONG, TO THE SERVICE OF HER PEOPLES. THAT WAS MORE THAN A PROMISE. IT WAS THE PROFOUND PERSONAL COMMITMENT THAT DEFINED HER WHOLE LIFE. SHE MADE SACRIFICES FOR DUTY.
HER DEDICATION AND DEVOTION WERE SOVEREIGN AND NEVER WAVERED THROUGH TIMES OF CHANGE AND PROGRESS, THROUGH TIMES OF JOY AND CELEBRATION. AND THROUGH TIMES OF SADNESS AND LOSS. IN HER LIFE OF SERVICE, WE SAW THAT ABIDING LOVE OF TRADITION. TOGETHER WITH THAT FEARLESS EMBRACE AND PROGRESS WHICH MAKES US GREAT AS NATIONS.
THE AFFECTION, ADMIRATION, AND RESPECT SHE INSPIRED BECAME THE HALLMARK OF HER REIGN. AND, AS EVERY MEMBER OF MY FAMILY CAN TESTIFY, SHE COMBINED THESE QUALITIES WITH WARMTH, HUMOR, AND AN UNERRING ABILITY ALWAYS TO SEE THE BEST IN PEOPLE. I PAY TRIBUTE TO MY MOTHER’S MEMORY, AND I HONOR HER LIFE OF SERVICE.
I KNOW THAT HER DEATH BRINGS GREAT SADNESS TO SO MANY OF YOU. AND I SHARE THAT SENSE OF LOSS BEYOND MEASURE WITH YOU ALL. WHEN THE QUEEN CAME TO THE THRONE, WRITTEN AND THE WORLD WAS STILL COPING WITH THE PREDICTIONS AND AFTERMATH OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR. AND STILL LIVING BY THE CONVENTIONS OF EARLIER TIMES.
IN THE COURSE OF THE LAST 70 YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN OUR SOCIETY BECOME ONE OF MANY CULTURES AND MANY FAITHS. THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE STATE HAVE CHANGED IN TURN. BUT THROUGH ALL CHANGES AND CHALLENGES, OUR NATION, AND THE WIDER FAMILY OF REALMS, OF WHOSE TALENTS, TRADITIONS, AND ACHIEVEMENTS I AM SO INEXPRESSIBLY PROUD, HAVE PROSPERED AND FLOURISHED.
OUR VALUES HAVE REMAINED AND MUST REMAIN, CONSTANT. THE ROLE AND THE DUTIES OF THE MONARCHY ALSO REMAIN. AS DOES THE SOVEREIGNTY, PARTICULAR RELATIONSHIP, AND RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. THE CHURCH, IN WHICH MY OWN FAITH IS SO DEEPLY ROOTED. IN THAT FAITH, AND THE VALUES IT INSPIRES, I HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP TO CHERISH A SENSE OF DUTY TO OTHERS, AND TO HOLD IN THE GREATEST RESPECT, THE PRECIOUS TRADITIONS, FREEDOMS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF OUR UNIQUE HISTORY AND OUR SYSTEM OF PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT.
AS THE QUEEN HERSELF DID WITH SUCH UNSWERVING DEVOTION, I NOW SOLEMNLY PLEDGE MYSELF, THROUGHOUT THE REMAINING TIME GOD GRANTS ME, TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES AT THE HEART OF OUR NATION. AND WHEREVER YOU MAY LIVE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, OR IN THE REALMS AND TERRITORIES ACROSS THE WORLD.
AND WHATEVER MAY BE YOUR BACKGROUND OR BELIEFS, I SHALL ENDEAVOR TO SERVE YOU WITH LOYALTY, RESPECT, AND LOVE, AS I HAVE THROUGHOUT MY LIFE. MY LIFE WILL, OF COURSE, CHANGE, AS I TAKE UP MY NEW RESPONSIBILITIES. IT WILL NO LONGER BE POSSIBLE FOR ME TO GIVE SO MUCH OF MY TIME AND ENERGY TO THE CHARITIES AND ISSUES FOR WHICH I CARE SO DEEPLY.
BUT I KNOW THIS IMPORTANT WORK WILL GO ON IN THE TRUSTED HANDS OF OTHERS. THIS IS ALSO A TIME OF CHANGE FOR MY FAMILY. I CAN’T, ON THE LOVING HELP OF MY DARLING WIFE, CAMILLA, IN RECOGNITION OF HER OWN LOYAL PUBLIC SERVICE SINCE I MARRIED HER 17 YEARS AGO. SHE BECOMES MY QUEEN CONSORT.
I KNOW SHE WILL BRING TO THE DEMANDS OF HER NEW ROLE, A STEADFAST DEVOTION TO DUTY ON WHICH I HAVE COME TO RELY SO MUCH. AS MY AIR, WILLIAM NOW ASSUMES THE SCOTTISH TITLES, WHICH HAVE MEANT SO MUCH TO ME. HE SUCCEEDS ME AS DUKE OF CORNWALL AND TAKES ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE DUCHY OF CORNWALL, WHICH I HAVE UNDERTAKEN FOR MORE THAN FIVE DECADES.
TODAY I AM PROUD TO CREATE THE PRINCE OF WALES. THE COUNTRY WHOSE TITLE I HAVE BEEN SO GREATLY PRIVILEGED TO BEAR. DURING SO MUCH OF MY LIFE OF DUTY. WITH CATHERINE BESIDE HIM. OUR NEWS PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES WILL, I KNOW, CONTINUE TO INSPIRE AND LEAD OUR NATIONAL CONVERSATIONS. HELPING TO BRING THE MARGINAL TO THE CENTER GROUND.
WHERE A VITAL HELP CAN BE GIVEN. I WANT TO ALSO TO EXPRESS MY LOVE FOR HARRY AND MEGAN, AS THEY CONTINUE TO BUILD THEIR LIVES OVERSEAS. IN A LITTLE OVER A WEEK’S TIME, WE WILL COME TOGETHER AS A NATION, AS A COMMONWEALTH, AND, INDEED, A GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO LAY MY BELOVED MOTHER TO REST.
IN OUR SORROW, LET US REMEMBER AND DRAW STRENGTH FROM THE LIGHT OF HER EXAMPLE. ON BEHALF OF ALL MY FAMILY, I CAN ONLY OFFER THE MOST SINCERE AND HEARTFELT THANKS FOR YOUR CONDOLENCES AND SUPPORT. THEY MEAN MORE TO ME THAN I CAN EVER POSSIBLY EXPRESS. AND TO MY DARLING MAMA, AS YOU BEGIN YOUR LAST GREAT JOURNEY TO JOIN MY DEAR LATE POPPA, I WANT TO SIMPLY SAY THIS, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND DEVOTION TO OUR FAMILY. AND TO THE FAMILY OF NATIONS YOU HAVE SERVED SO DILIGENTLY ALL THESE YEARS. MAY FLIGHTS OF ANGELS SING THEE TO THY REST.
