Charles III to mark first year as king
This Monday, King Charles III of Britain will have been in power for a whole year. His reign has thus far been marked by a peaceful handoff from that of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Given that his mother’s 96th birthday falls on Friday, the anniversary is likely to be observed in secret.
The longest wait for an heir in British history, Charles, 74, has reportedly settled into his new position with ease.
However, despite hopes for reform, he has not yet significantly altered the monarchy, fueling the notion that he is merely acting in a caretaker capacity until his eldest son and heir Prince William assumes the throne.
I believe the transition has gone far more smoothly than was anticipated,” Royal Holloway University of London professor Pauline Maclaran told AFP.
In front of royalty and world leaders, Charles and his wife Camilla were formally crowned on May 6 at Westminster Abbey in London.
The extravagant ceremony attempted to be more representational of contemporary Britain while adhering to centuries-old customs. It was shorter and less ornate than his mother’s ceremony from 1953.
He is really laying the road for William, and I assume William will be the actual modernizer of the monarchy, so I think we should expect maybe little modifications,” Maclaran added.
In terms of popularity, Charles still trails his deceased mother and the 41-year-old William, but since his ascension, his approval rating has significantly increased.
According to a YouGov poll, 55% of Britons are more likely than 44% to think favorably of their new head of state.
A record 10.6 million people in the UK watched his first Christmas Day broadcast, which was a traditional speech to Britain and the Commonwealth, which he also leads.
