London… Nothing says it better. Continuity with no blips. Charles III assumed the throne and the monarchy carried on. Great Britain continued to have a head of state, the people mourn the loss of their queen, and celebrate the ascension of the new ruler.
Say what you wish about royalty, Queen Elizabeth II certainly saved the monarchy for Great Britain certainly for now. For most of the nation, the Queen was a unifying force which had held the country together over the past 70 years through some of the most challenging times it has faced in the modern era. Even the most cynical of the anti-royalists, who opposed the continuity of the institution of the monarchy in the 21st Century, recognized her incredible importance on a personal level. She was a remarkable symbol for the British people and for their traditions.
Her departure will be the challenge for King Charles III. Every move of the new king will be watched with great scrutiny, but the British people will give him some space to place his own mark on the monarchy. The King’s “minders” will choreograph his moves, but he will need to demonstrate a willingness to respond and a determination to carry forward in his mother’s footsteps, while slowly setting his own tone and direction.
Charles III ascends the throne with personal and familial baggage. The English people have not totally forgiven him for what they perceive of his “destruction of Diana” and for his failures as a father. These matters will not disappear and are not forgotten. In some circles they may never be forgiven, but the new King has a chance to make a fresh start.
For the moment, however, all of Britain is in a actual or symbolic state of mourning on the passing of the only ruler that most of them have ever known. (Even the Premier Football League cancelled its games.) Much of the anxiety among many Brits is a fear of the unknown. They do not know what to expect.
Change is always scary and anxiety provoking for all sides, but Charles can do much to relieve the people’s concerns if he moves effectively—certainly at the beginning--without any radical changes. The fact that Great Britain now has its fourth different Prime Minister in five years is change enough. The King needs to set a tone of continuity with attention to modernity. One senses already that Prince William and Princess Kate may serve as strong aides for the King. It may well be the Prince’s task to try to keep his brother Harry and Meghan in line. Ultimately, that part of Charles’ beginning could upset a smooth transition.
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A Consequential Footnote
England’s new prime minister, Liz Truss, Britain’s actual head of Government, was entrusted with the position only two days before the Queen’s passing. The practical challenges she faces in running the Government are greater and far more serious than those facing the new king. As a result of the passing of Queen Elizabeth and the national mourning period, Prime Minister Liz Truss has gained an unexpected and welcome breathing period.
Whatever the new Prime Minister will do over the next ten days are unlikely to receive the scrutiny that she would have had in less nationally upsetting times. The new Government has its hands full with rising inflation, skyrocketing energy prices, and labor strikes being threatened from numerous sectors of the economy. The new Truss Government faces a set of looming global issues beginning with Ukraine, the Iran deal, and additional fall-out from Brexit. It will remain to be seen how effectively the new Government will be in setting the right tone with the Biden Administration, its European allies, as well as in its dealings with Russia. Fortunately, the new Prime Minister will have almost a two-week grace period to organize her Administration, while the British people focus on mourning the Queen’s passing, and the official national day of her funeral.
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