Charles III’s first year as British monarch ended with a slam from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, but problems with declining support among young people and fragile ties with overseas kingdoms remained.
Unsurprisingly, Charles and Queen Camilla’s biggest highlight of the past 12 months has been their coronation at Westminster Abbey in May.
Harry and Meghan’s December and January swipes are some of their most stressful times, while the days following Queen Elizabeth II’s death on September 8, 2022, are a time of mourning.
Seven experts tell Charles as he looks back on the first 12 months of a job he waited 70 years to finish Weekly newspaper their view of the beginning of his reign.
Robert Lacey, author battle of brothersYears of campaigning against climate change had paid off in Charles’ relationship with US President Joe Biden during his first 12 months in office, including a visit to the UK in July, he said.
He said Weekly newspaper“I think it’s very important that when Joe Biden comes to the UK, he spends more time with King Charles than with him. [British Prime Minister] Rishi Sunak.
“It’s not about the photo opportunity. It’s a tribute to Charles, which I think is constitutionally significant because it shows that Charles is able to bring his views and his campaigning into his royal status without being seen as partial .
“Every US president wants a photo with the monarch, but the real reason is he wants climate credentials when he visits. [climate change conference] I think the COP and the fact that Charles can hand it over to him is very important. “
Max Munby/Indigo/Getty Images
Graham Smith, chief executive of anti-monarchist campaign group Republic, said the group’s donations and volunteers had increased in Charles’ first year in power.
He said Weekly newspaper: “The talk of modernization and slimming down over the years has proven to be a load of crap that’s just the same. More secrecy and more money wasted.
“The questions about Honor Cash and Prince Andrew are not over and there is nothing to comment because he has done so little.
“For us, this is very important because the polls show a huge shift in attitudes and the republican movement has been greatly encouraged.
“One in three people now have a negative view of the monarchy, that’s up about ten points, while support has dropped to 55% to 60%.
“For the republic, we’ve completely changed. We’ve got a lot of money, people, and the involvement of hundreds of activists across the country.”
Rob Jobson, author our kingTell Weekly newspaper Well done to Charles keeping quiet about Harry and Meghan’s criticism in Netflix documentary and Prince’s book idle.
He said: “If I was being very self-righteous, I’d say he’s an eight out of 10. There’s been a situation with Harry, but I think he’s handled it very well, very tough.
“He stood his ground and I think people would be a little bit embarrassed if he didn’t.”
Jobson said Charles should visit one of the countries outside the UK that recognize him as king, the Commonwealth of Nations.
“I want to see him in the Commonwealth, in every field. If he goes to Australia, New Zealand or Canada, I want to see him first, not Germany and now France,” he said.
“I think people have warmed to him, but with the younger generation, there’s a lot of work to be done.
“I know he doesn’t really pay attention to the polls but you just have to look at the polls, that’s what courtiers are hired to do, to see if the younger generation has links to the royal family, don’t see an unelected leader of the country It makes sense to rule, but not with the same loyalty to the king (an unelected king).”
Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, ” that’s why i boycottTell Weekly newspaper: “King Charles has achieved absolutely nothing.
“If anything, he was bringing society closer to the royal family rather than being a bridge to bridge the divide.
“He didn’t do anything to unite us. If anything, he did more to scare us off. This man made us spend hundreds of millions of pounds throwing a party for him while millions more don’t. Know how they’re going to support their families.”
“If he’s going to be there then he needs to be more progressive. Stop the drama within the family, lead by example when it comes to Harry and Meghan, when it comes to his brother, Prince Andrew.
“We could see the royal family making strides to reinvigorate Andrew in the public eye, which is ridiculous.”
Ingrid Seward, author Prince Philip’s identity revealedTell Weekly newspaper: “His first year has been very successful because he’s matured. You feel like the focus is suddenly on Charles, not the Prince and Princess of Wales, or their kids or Harry and Meghan.
“The focus is on Charles as king. He seems to be basking in some kind of glory that he hasn’t had before.
“People have been cheering him on. He’s more tactile than he’s been, he’s been shaking hands and really looking like he’s enjoying it, and I think he’s enjoying it.”
“He handled the transition very well. The ceremony was fantastic,” royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Weekly newspaper.
“King Charles has added extra national advisers to act in his absence or incapacity and has begun research on the royal family’s past links to the nefarious slave trade.
“The concept of a ‘slim monarchy’, no matter how it is put into practice, will mean a reduction in royal activity, with all but four working members of the royal family over the age of 70.
“Furthermore, the challenge is clearly engaging young people, since Harry and Meghan’s toxic interview with Oprah, while support for the monarchy remains high in most other age groups, between 18 and 24 Support for the monarchy has plummeted over the period.
Richard Pohle—WPA Pool/Getty Images
“The Sussexes remain unpredictable and their expulsion from Frogmore Cottage is a fitting condemnation of the content of the Bible. idle And an interview with Harry to promote it.
“There will certainly be more royal visits in the coming year, especially to Commonwealth countries.”
Royal writer Phil Dampier told Weekly newspaper: “Eight out of 10, I would rate him. I thought he had a really good start, he was a king right away and carried out all his duties very well.
“I think the coronation was a huge success. My only doubt is that I think he still has to make some decisions fairly quickly about what to do with all these houses.
“There are so many properties that he doesn’t seem to have decided what to do with them. Windsor Castle is just a great, wasted asset at the moment. It should be turned into the Queen’s Museum.”
Jack Royston is Weekly newspaper, headquartered in London. You can find him on Twitter: @Jack Royston and read his story Weekly newspaperof Royals Facebook Page.
Do you have questions about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry or their family that you would like our experienced royal reporters to answer? Email Royals@newsweek.com. We’d love to hear from you.
