For the new King Charles III, the challenge of preserving the British monarchy

For 70 years, Elizabeth II managed to preserve the British monarchy, carrying it through the ages and upheavals of history. Officially proclaimed king on Saturday, Charles III said he wanted to “continue the work of his mother”. But many challenges await him at the head of a kingdom that seems more divided than ever. “The queen was a rock”, “a point of stability”, a “constant”, “reassuring” and “comforting” presence. Since the announcement of the death of Elizabeth II on Thursday, these words have come back as a universal refrain to pay tribute to the ultra-popular monarch who reigned over the United Kingdom for 70 years. On Saturday September 10, it was an elderly and much less esteemed king, Charles III, who was officially proclaimed as successor, opening a delicate period for the future of the monarchy. “My mother’s reign was unequaled in its duration, his dedication and devotion […] I am deeply aware of this great heritage, of the duties and heavy responsibilities of sovereignty, which are now passed on to me,” Charles III said on Saturday as he took the oath. “In assuming these responsibilities, I will endeavor to follow the example inspiration that was given to me”, he continued. At 73, it is an “old man” who ascends the throne, analysis with AFP Robert Hazell, professor of constitutional law at the University College London.” It will be very difficult for him to take over from the Queen. The monarchy will probably go through difficult times”. Popularity, national cohesion, survival of the Commonwealth… the challenges awaiting the new monarch are numerous. “But he has been perfectly prepared for this role”, nuances political scientist Jean-Christophe Gallien. These In recent months, as Elizabeth II’s health declined, Prince Charles had gradually assumed his mother’s duties, including delivering the throne speech to the British Parliament last May. “He knows his reign will be shorter than that of his mother and he will have a desire to make his mark”, he predicts. Restoring the coat of arms of the monarchy The first challenge for Charles III will be to restore the coat of arms of the British monarchy. Because if the institution is still widely popular in United Kingdom – 62% are in favor of keeping it, according to a poll published in June 2022 – its will have decreased from year to year, especially among young people According to this same study, only 33% of 18-24 year olds want it this way p reserve the institution, against 59% in 2011. The cause of this growing disenchantment: repeated scandals that have splashed the British crown. Among them, accusations of sexual assault against Prince Andrew, the brother of Charles III, then allegations of racism against the royal family, from his son Harry and his wife Meghan Markle. At the same time, while the United Kingdom is experiencing record inflation, several voices are also denouncing an institution deemed too expensive and archaic. Faced with these criticisms, Charles III has already taken action. During his speech from the throne, the latter had outlined his vision of the monarchy, announcing that he wanted to reduce its active members – those living at the expense of the crown – to only a few people; he and his wife Camilla, his son and successor William and Kate and their three children. “King Charles III is aware that the population will be ruthless in the face of misconduct and excessive expenditure”, notes Jean-Christophe Gallien. “In addition to these financial issues, he also mentioned turning Balmoral Palace into a museum and opening the doors of Buckingham more with a desire to modernize and democratize the monarchy.” A more politicized king? Charles III will face another obstacle: that of his own unpopularity. If the queen has had a lifetime to earn the respect and love of her subjects, at 73 years old, the new king begins her reign much less loved than her mother. According to a poll by the YouGov institute in 2021, just over a third of respondents thought he would make a good king, while more than 70% had a favorable opinion of the queen. For fifty years, the British have known the Prince of Wales above all for his amorous escapades. Charles had married in 1981 Diana Spencer, with whom he had two children, William and Harry. Their marriage then fell apart in the face of public revelations about their respective infidelities, ultimately leading to their divorce. After the tragic death of Diana in 1997 in a car accident in Paris, chased by paparazzi, Charles married in 2005 his former mistress Camilla Shand, now queen consort. But above all, Charles III stands out from the image of his mother who has seen 15 British Prime Ministers pass and now against all odds a political neutrality. The Prince of Wales has never hesitated to take a stand on current issues, even if it means provoking controversy. A fervent defender of the environment, he has regularly spoken on global warming but also on British policy vis-à-vis China and migration issues. In 2004-2005 he went so far as to write a series of letters, known as “Black Spider Memos”, to pressure ministers on a number of issues. He also subtly intervened during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum campaign, suggesting that his subjects “think carefully” about their future. Now on the throne, will he bow to the neutrality demanded by his function ? In his televised address on Friday, his first since assuming the throne, he admitted: “It will no longer be possible for me to devote so much time and energy to charities and issues that are so close to my heart.” . In a BBC documentary broadcast in 2018 for his 70th birthday, he assured that he would no longer make untimely interventions once he became king: “I’m not stupid, after all,” he said. “Charles knows that the King must be above all a symbol. Officially, nothing will show,” explains Tristan de Bourbon Parme, a freelance journalist specializing in the royal family and based in London. But the latter foresees friction to come between the new monarch and the newly appointed Prime Minister, Liz Truss. “Her first decision was to relaunch shale gas in the UK and oil drilling in the North Sea… For her, the environment is not a subject. Charles is a convinced environmentalist. It will clearly be a subject of friction between them and I am sure that behind the scenes, he will not refrain from telling her that he considers what she is doing as unacceptable.”Maintaining national unity at all costsThe question of the new king’s political commitment will be a major challenge for the future of the monarchy, these specialists agree. Especially since, if his vocation is to be a source of national unity, he takes up his duties in a context where his kingdom is more divided than ever. Charles III accedes to the throne as Downing Street welcomes Liz Truss, the fourth Prime Minister in six years and the symbol of an open political crisis in the United Kingdom since the Brexit vote in 2016. At the same time, the United Kingdom is faced with soaring inflation and soaring energy costs in the wake of war in Ukraine. Social discontent is swelling: since the end of August, railway workers, postal workers and even dockers have been on strike to demand wage increases and improved working conditions. This is the most important protest movement for several decades. In this period of national mourning, which should last ten days until the funeral of Elizabeth II, political life and this social rebellion have been put on hold. . But that will only be short-lived. “Many Britons have told me that they have been very touched by the death of the Queen but regret that it has overshadowed the difficulties they face on a daily basis”, explains Tristan de Bourbon Parme. Elsewhere in the kingdom too, the crown will have to deal with Scotland’s desire for independence and community tensions in Northern Ireland. In this, the king’s first tour of these countries in a few months will have a major influence. Finally, outside the British borders, the death of Elizabeth II could also upset the balance of the Commonwealth, a cultural circle which brings together 56 countries, for most of the former colonies of the British Empire. In recent years, faced with the faltering health of the queen, Australia or Canada, for example, had made no secret of waiting for her death to reopen the debates on the abolition of the monarchy. “In the midst of all this, Charles III will have to embody this national stability”, summarizes Jean-Christophe Gallien. But for the political scientist, his political commitment could be one of the solutions. “I think he can surprise and embody something new compared to his mother, embodying a political but measured vision in a context where the political class is very unstable. And that is what could make his popularity.”