King Charles To Mark First Year As Britain's Monarch

This week marks the one-year milestone of Charles III's reign as king of Britain. His transition into this role has been notably smooth, following the legacy of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The anniversary, falling on the same date as his mother's passing at the age of 96, is expected to be commemorated privately. Charles, now 74, has seamlessly assumed his new responsibilities after a wait of approximately 70 years as the heir to the throne, making it the longest such wait in British history. However, despite initial expectations of reform, Charles has yet to implement sweeping changes within the monarchy, which has led to the perception that his role is more of a caretaker until his eldest son and heir, Prince William, assumes the throne. Pauline Maclaran, a professor at Royal Holloway, University of London, commented, "I think the transition has been much smoother than was anticipated." Charles was officially crowned alongside his wife, Camilla, on May 6 at London's Westminster Abbey, in a ceremony that preserved centuries-old traditions but was shorter and less extravagant than his mother's coronation in 1953. This ceremony aimed to be more representative of modern Britain. Maclaran anticipates minor changes during Charles's reign, with Prince William potentially being the one to modernize the monarchy significantly. While Charles currently lags behind both his late mother and 41-year-old son William in terms of popularity, his approval rating has seen a significant increase since he ascended to the throne. YouGov polling indicates that 55% of Britons now hold a positive opinion of their new head of state, compared to 44% a year ago. Charles's first televised Christmas Day broadcast, a traditional address to Britain and the Commonwealth, was watched by a record 10.6 million viewers in the UK. As king, Charles has undertaken several trips around the country, often accompanied by Camilla, and has generally appeared more approachable and open compared to Queen Elizabeth II. Jonathan Spangler, a history lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, noted, "Even the photos that they (the palace) released, official photos, are a lot more relaxed." He added that Charles seems more attuned to the needs of the public. Maclaran described Charles as "humble and accessible," qualities that have been appreciated during a time when Britain is grappling with a significant cost-of-living crisis. Apart from a minor hiccup involving a leaky pen during the formal meeting confirming his accession, Charles's public image has remained largely positive. Historian Anna Whitelock remarked that while there have been no major errors, there also hasn't been a defining moment of his reign. Questions about how he will address issues such as calls for an apology over the colonial legacy and tax exemptions remain unanswered. The pro-republic movement, advocating for an elected head of state, has taken the opportunity to reignite the debate about the constitutional future of the British royal family. Charles has encountered anti-monarchy banners and slogans during his tours and has even had eggs thrown in his direction. As the head of state for 14 Commonwealth countries outside the UK, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, Charles has undertaken only one state visit, to Germany. His visit to France was initially scheduled for March but postponed due to protests against pension reforms. It has been rescheduled for later this month. Reports suggest that a significant overseas tour is in the planning stages to improve relations with the Commonwealth. Charles has, however, hosted foreign leaders, including US President Joe Biden, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. While Queen Elizabeth II was particularly devoted to the Commonwealth, Charles's emphasis appears to be more global, according to Spangler. On a more personal note, Charles has had to handle revelations from his younger son, Prince Harry, in a tell-all memoir. Additionally, Prince Harry and his American wife, Meghan, released a docu-series explaining their decision to step back from the royal family in 2020. Maclaran praised Charles for his handling of the situation, noting that he adhered to the Queen's mantra of "never explain, never complain" when faced with accusations. She added that she doesn't believe the scandal has been more damaging than previous challenges faced by the monarchy.