The new sovereign of the United Kingdom said he was ready to assume his “duties and heavy responsibilities”. Officially proclaimed king by the Accession Council meeting in London on Saturday September 10, two days after the death of Elizabeth II, Charles III opens a new page in the Windsor dynasty.
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His reign promises to be shorter than that of his mother, who remained on the throne for 70 years at the head of the Commonwealth, but the former Prince of Wales has the possibility of leaving a mark through his decisions.
Towards a tightened monarchy
Beyond coins, stamps and the national anthem, the new sovereign should also bring his style and changes to the British monarchy. “He will be a rather benevolent king (…) but very different from his mother”, told AFP Michel Faure, author of a biography of Prince Charles. The ex-prince is particularly illustrated by his action in the fight against inequalities through numerous foundations. “It will undoubtedly influence the role of the monarch in a more active direction, more invested in collective life”believes Stéphane Bern, in a blog post written for Paris Match.
Interviewed by the BBC*, political scientist Vernon Bogdanor also anticipates greater royal investment in arts, music and culture. But Charles III ascends to the throne in difficult times, with Britain facing the worst economic crisis in 40 years. In this context, he will also have to be careful not to give an overly expensive image of the royal family. His way of life has sometimes been criticized, even if his expenses had until then been financed by the income of the Duchy of Cornwall, created in 1337 to ensure the subsistence of the heir to the throne, and brought him more than 20 million pounds per year. year (more than 22 million euros).
Many specialists evoke the king’s preference for a monarchy “light”which would also be a way to save money. “Prince Charles is in favor of a more rational royal family, with fewer people taking on public duties”Canadian historian Carolyn Harris explained in February in Paris Match.
They are currently ten to live at the expense of the crown and the new king could choose to tighten the group around a core composed of him, Camilla, William and Kate. The trend has already been boosted with the withdrawal of Prince Andrew, brother of Charles, implicated for his friendship with the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein, accused of trafficking in minors, then the departure to California of his son Harry. For Robert Hazell, professor of constitutional law at University College London, beyond the financial aspect, the interest of continuing on this path is above all to limit the risks that a member of the royal family will not “slip”.
The seal of ecology
Passionate about botany and organic farming, Charles has conveyed an image of environmental defender for several decades. From the 1970s, he stood out for his positions, such as during a speech in February 1970 warning about marine pollution. “In the 1980s he was seen as a nature lover, which was not a compliment at the time”, also reminds franceinfo Anna Whitelock, historian specializing in the monarchy. The prince thus launched his own brand in 1990, Duchy Organics*, which quickly became a benchmark for “organic”.
Since 2007, the carbon footprint of Charles and Camilla has also been the subject of a report. She rose in 2019 (PDF) at 3 344 tons of CO2, in 2020 (PDF) to 1,682 tonnes of CO2 and in 2021 (PDF), to 801 tons of CO2. Over the years, the heir to the crown has campaigned for the protection of rare species or for greener investments. As king, Charles should therefore carry the concern for the environment to the highest of the crown. “He is a humanitarian at heart. (…) He often talks about the world he will leave to his grandchildren. He worries about it”thus tells the BBC Hitan Mehta, who worked with him at the British Asian Trust.
Defender of rurality, critic of modern architecture, he created two small towns on his land in the South West of England, Poundbury in 1993 and Nansledan, in 2013, based on his ideas of traditional architecture and of sustainable development. But as a monarch, Charles will be observed in his ability to walk the talk, especially on the management of the royal heritage. “The Windsors hold 1.4% of UK land”, according to estimates by the environmental movement Wild Card*. However, the vast majority is not managed in an eco-responsible way, says biologist Dave Goulson, interviewed by franceinfo.
The necessary monarchical continuity
Despite the possible adjustments, Charles III knows that he is infinitely less popular than his mother and that he must above all guarantee the stability and continuity of the monarchy. At 73, he is a “old man” who ascends the throne, says law professor Robert Hazell. “It will be very difficult for him to take over from the Queen.”
“The monarchy will probably go through difficult times.”
Robert Hazell, Professor of Constitutional Lawat AFP
Charles was only 54% in favor in a recent YouGov* poll in May, far behind the Queen (81%), his son Prince William (77%), his daughter-in-law Kate Middleton or his sister the Princess Anne. Camilla topped out at 47% positive opinions. If he does not succeed in reconnecting with his subjects, the new king takes the risk of reviving the hopes of the partisans of the abolition of the monarchy in favor of a republic, even if for the moment this idea is supported by only 15% of Britons in recent years.
But how to become more popular? “He knows from the start that his style will have to change. The public will not want a monarch on the campaign trail [politique]”explains to the BBC Ie political scientist Vernon Bogdanor. Elizabeth II had known how to maintain the prestige of the monarchy, giving no interviews and keeping her opinions to herself. King Charles is aware that he will not be able, as king, to deliver his opinions as before. “I’m not that stupid. I realize it’s a separate exercise to be sovereign,” he assured in an interview with the BBC* broadcast in 2018. “Don’t expect huge differences. He will be very careful”always confirms to the BBC the royal commentator Victoria Murphy.
The new king began by reassuring his subjects in his maiden speech on Friday evening. He promised to serve the British all his life, as his mother Elizabeth II had done on her 21st birthday. “I will strive to serve with loyalty, respect, love.” For the tabloid The Sunthe speech allayed some fears. “We sometimes feared he was a militant king, a risk to the future of our monarchy. But not anymore.” But for Robert Hazell, the neutrality of Charles III is announced “very difficult” to hold over time, especially in the face of Scotland’s desire for independence, while wanting to safeguard the monarchy.
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