Prince Charles becomes King Charles III after 73 years. After the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth, Charles automatically became king. Today he gives his first speech. Who exactly is Charles, and how will he fulfill his role as king?
Charles and his wife Camilla spent the night first at Balmoral Castle, where Elizabeth died. Today they return to London. Charles said last night that the entire family mourns a “cherished monarch and a much-beloved mother.”
Speech
King Charles III’s first assignment today will be to address the people. It will be his first speech as king since the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II. The time of the speech has not yet been announced.
Third Charles
So King Charles III. He is thus, as his name suggests, the third monarch with this name. King Charles I reigned from 1625 to 1649. King Charles II reigned from 1649 to 1651. Until yesterday Charles was Prince of Wales.
He had been that way since 1958, when he was appointed by his mother at the age of 9. So it took 64 years before he could put that title behind him.
Charles became the world’s oldest crown prince ever due to his mother’s long tenure. But what was he doing all this time?
No clear role
After boarding school in Scotland, Charles went on to study archaeology, anthropology and history. And he received training in the army and air force. Charles learned to fly fighter planes and helicopters there.
But as the longest-serving heir to the throne in British history, there was no clear role for him for a long time. Charles began to fight for nature and set up a thriving business in biscuits, jams and yogurt from his estate.
He also stood up for young people in deprived areas through his own foundation.
modernize monarchy
The expectation is that, in contrast to his traditionally minded mother, Charles will want to modernize the monarchy, but how that is of course remains to be seen.
Charles has been able to warm up a bit lately: because of his mother’s failing health, he took over tasks from her, such as the opening of parliament at the beginning of this year.
Likeable, but not hugely popular
Charles hasn’t been as unpopular as he was after the divorce from Lady Diana in the 1990s. Many Brits find Charles sympathetic, but he is not hugely popular either.
Charles does not have much time to leave his mark on the monarchy. At 73 years old, he certainly won’t be able to stay on the throne as long as his mother Elizabeth II.
