The Reign of King Charles

GEORGE WOODS | OPINION AND DEBATE EDITOR

To a nation’s horror and surprise, the 22nd October brought us the news that the Queen, a living representation of stability and continuity, had been admitted to hospital for precautionary measures. While the Queen returned back to her palace, her trip to Glasgow was cancelled. Old age, it seems, is responsible. While everyone wishes her well, a spectre has begun to emerge on the horizon and with it a series of questions. That spectre is King Charles III.

Much controversy has courted the Prince of Wales. Diana. Camilla. His political views, or lack thereof. His affair during his marriage. His relationship with his second son. While much has been made of these in books, films, and plays little has had much impact as Netflix’s The Crown. With it brought a negative representation of our future king. Josh O’Connor’s portrayal shows us a dark side to the prince. His character flagrantly disregards his wife and punishingly bullies her. The real Charles is at the mercy of these portrayals in a way that the younger royals are not. While Harry and Meghan can show a different side to themselves through their youth and more ‘in-touch’ nature, Charles simply cannot. He was brought up to be a future king, and like his mother he is naturally detached from the younger generation.

But what does this mean? In the long term, it will cast a shadow far and wide. The Crown has captured public imagination like no other royal drama has. People feel connected to the monarchy, and the monarch. Diana, so amazingly portrayed by Emma Corrin, reminded young and old of the memory of the real Princess of Wales. The resentment The Crown’s Diana felt towards Charles is shared with the audience, and so too is the ill feeling directed towards the real Prince of Wales.

Source: Getty Images

It is in this context that the accession of King Charles will occur. The reign of his mother has marked a period of national growth for our nation. We have gone from Empire to modern nation state. The foremost superpower in the world to a nation battling for significance as the democratization sweeps the earth. For Charles, his reign will be less significant. Already 72, the new King will not lead a reign as long as his mother and will likely be less noteworthy. However, in one essential sense it might. The death of Queen Elizabeth will mark a period of self-reflection for this nation. We will see how we have changed and who we are. This will only be exacerbated while we find a national political identity outside of Europe. And surely it will be asked: is it time to throw away the monarchy? With all the controversy with Harry and Meghan, Charles and Diana, Edward VIII, and a litany of other failures, does it really contribute to national life? The public are unsympathetic to our next king. Maybe he will be known as King Charles the Last.