A New King and Queen for the United Kingdom

George Symonds Head of News

On the 6th of May 2023, 20.4 million people tuned in to watch the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Taking influence from the Anglican service of Holy Communion, the ceremony in Westminster Abbey consisted of “Charles taking an oath, being anointed with holy oil, and receiving the coronation regalia, emphasising his spiritual role and secular responsibilities.

Representatives of the Church of England and the British royal family declared their allegiance to him, and people throughout the Commonwealth realms were invited to do so. Camilla was crowned in a shorter and simpler ceremony.

After the service, members of the royal family travelled to Buckingham Palace in a state procession and appeared on the palace’s rear and front balconies. The service was altered from past British coronations to represent multiple faiths, cultures, and communities across the United Kingdom, and was shorter than Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953” (Andrew Michael, Forbes Advisor).

Whilst many enjoyed street parties and celebrations, the coronation was left with ‘Not my King’ protests across the United Kingdom. London’s Metropolitan Police said it made fifty-two arrests during the coronation as the force faces growing scrutiny over its attitude toward anti-monarchy demonstrators.

Republic, Britain’s largest antimonarchy group, told CNN that “police – without providing any reason – arrested organizers of the antimonarchy protest” (Niamh Kennedy, CNN). Many protesters are aiming to abolish the idea of an unelected headof-state in the monarchy.

However, what are the actual duties for the King and Queen? The BBC detailed that the head-of-state for the United Kingdom, and the Commonwealth. “A Head of State is a person who embodies, or symbolises, a country. In a republic, they may be a President. In a monarchy, they may be a Queen or King. In the UK, the British Monarchy is known as something called a constitutional monarchy. This means that they do not get involved or talk about their opinions on politics. Their powers are more ceremonial and symbolic - the King or Queen cannot make and pass laws, which comes down to the UK Parliament” (BBC News).

The key duty for the British monarch is separated into five roles. Firstly, a ‘daily despatch box’ where daily governmental forms are delivered via a red despatch box.

These documents function as briefings of governmental decisions. Secondly, the Royal Assent, which is the final stage of a bill’s progress in Parliament and requires the monarch’s official approval.

Alongside these governmental authorities, King Charles will now have to have weekly meetings with the Prime Minister, make a speech at the State Opening of Parliament then lastly, the appointing or dissolving of government at the turn of the Prime Minister.

Whilst the coronation service had a mass viewing of 20.4 million, “The figures are smaller than when an average of 26.5 million viewers tuned in for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

An average of 18.8 million people tuned into watch the Coronation across eleven channels and services, including BBC One, Two, ITV and Sky News.

Channel 4 opted to show film Johnny English Strikes Again instead of the Coronation with an average of 138,000 people preferring to the watch Rowan Atkinson film” (Andre Rhoden-Paul, BBC News). For the first time in 70 years, the United Kingdom and Commonwealth has a new King and Queen. King Charles III and Queen Camilla plan to continue their royal duties.

UK food bank distributes record number of parcels as demand soars

Lowri Powell Deputy Head of News

The highest-ever number of food parcels have been distributed by UK’s biggest food-bank provider, The Trussell Trust, in the past year. The Trussell Trust has distributed nearly three million food parcels, with 1.1 million of them being for children. This is a 37% increase from the previous year.

On average in December, the Trussell Trust distributed food parcels every eight seconds.

According to Emma Revie, the CEO of the Trussell Trust, they have distributed more than one million food parcels for children for the first time, which is a distressing milestone. She added that the level of demand for food aid is even greater than what they witnessed during the initial year of the pandemic, which was thought to be an unprecedented record. The trust’s annual report reveals that over 750,000 individuals who received assistance had never previously used their food banks.

Last year, the trust delivered emergency food aid and assistance from nearly 1,650 centres across the UK. Demand for their services rose in all parts of the country, particularly in the north-east and east of England, southwest England, and Wales. In Cardiff, Claire Hillard, who had used the food parcels, said, “I’ve got nothing in my fridge, my freezer - they’re all empty. Even my tinned stuff has gone.”

Hillard admitted that there were instances where she was too stubborn to request aid, but now her circumstances have deteriorated to the point where she feels that she has no other option.

“My bills are literally taking up all my money and I’m left with really nothing to buy food,” she explained. Due to her benefit payment not arriving for several days, she could not provide meals for her children. “This is what’s happening now each month - come the last week and I’ve just got nothing,” she stated. Hillard is concerned that her expenses will continue to rise with each shopping trip and that she will be unable to provide for her two sons.

In the past year, many households have experienced difficulties due to escalating food and energy costs. The CEO of the Trussell Trust highlighted that neither the pandemic nor recent cost-of-living challenges can account for the sustained increase in demand over the past five years. She believes that the root cause is insufficient income and an inadequate social-security system that compels more individuals to rely on food banks. “Food banks were set up to provide short-term support to people in an emergency - they are not a lasting solution to hunger