Following the death of her late majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, the former Prince of Wales, became King Charles III. As a new reign begins, King Charles III will undoubtedly face significant challenges in the coming months. This article will go over his upcoming challenges in more detail. Can he serve as a source of stability between the British people and the Royal Family in the same way that his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, did for the last seven decades?
Challenge 1: Campaign to abolish the monarchy
The British monarchy has been called into question by anti-monarchists. Because they firmly believe that no one should be granted special treatment or rights simply because they were born. However, taxpayers have been providing the Royal Family with the sovereign grant. By 2021, the Royal Family had spent £102 million on Buckingham Palace renovations and a series of official events. Anti-monarchists believe that the British Royal Family has relatively less influence in economic and political matters, with the exception of a positive effect on tourism. Nonetheless, all revenues, daily expenses, and assets are opaque.
Furthermore, anti-monarchists argue that monarchy is no longer compatible with modern society and that it should be abolished. Instead, they believe that Britain should have a head of state who is elected by the people rather than by the hereditary system. As a result, this Campaign has grown to be a significant force in mainstream society. Due to egalitarianism and opposition to hereditary institutions, some hashtags, such as #notmyking and #AbolishTheMonarchy, have gone viral on the internet. The British Social Attitudes Survey has been gathering data on how the British perceive the constitutional monarchy. According to this long-term study, the younger generation (aged 18 to 34) has the least support for the Royal Family. Only 55% of British people believe the Royal Family is "important" to the country, while the majority of the older generation supports the Royal Family. If the Royal Family is an important part of 'British soft power' in British diplomacy, the monarchy's abolition may raise a slew of complicated issues. It is difficult to deny that King Charles III is facing a wave of anti-monarchy protests. This campaign will undoubtedly put his charisma and ability to preserve the United Kingdom's constitutional monarchy to the test.
Challenge 2: The British colonisation
The British royal family has always been associated with colonialism's impact during the Empire era. Although former Queen Elizabeth II was a source of unity for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, some leftist scholars emphasise how the legacy of slavery and colonial rules has impacted their modern lives. As a result, leftists constantly criticise the royal family and British history. According to Marlon Kameka, a British activist and artist, all history lessons only mention the magnificence of the British Empire without showing how British colonisers manipulated Kenyans a century ago through a series of inhuman methods. Even after being exposed and accused of a heinous atrocity by the public, the British Royal Family has not officially apologised or offered any compensation.
Furthermore, the South African has been signing a petition urging the Royal Family to return 'Cullinan I,' which was embedded in the sceptre and the Imperial State Crown following Queen Elizabeth II's death. The Cape Colony sent this as a gift to British King Edward VII to demonstrate its complete devotion. South Africans, on the other hand, believe that the Royal Family illegally obtained this purple diamond and that the Queen's sceptre and crown are associated with British colonialism. As the West has seen left-wing campaigns, many historical figures and events are being re-evaluated by the general public. Can King Charles III use his wisdom to alleviate public pressure?
Challenge 3: Referendums within the Commonwealth
Several member states intend to hold a referendum to allow citizens to vote on whether their countries should abolish the constitutional monarchy and become republics. The Australian republic referendum was held in 1999 to determine whether Australia should become a republic with a President. The constitutional monarchy was supported by 54.87% of Australians. Furthermore, despite the fact that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stated that Canada will not end its relationship with the British Royal Family. However, more than half of Canadians believed that after Queen Elizabeth II died, Canada should become a republic. Jamaica is on the verge of leaving the Commonwealth and becoming a fully independent state. More people will associate the British monarchy's benefits from colonisation as they acknowledge the effects of British colonisation. Although these member states retain constitutional monarchies, the upcoming referendums will put King Charles III's ability to maintain Commonwealth solidarity to the test.
Challenge 4: The Scottish independence
England and Scotland have many unresolved and complex histories, as well as socioeconomic disparities. For example, the majority of Scots believe that "Brexit" will result in an unprecedented economic downturn. Instead of being passively bound with the entire United Kingdom, the Scots should have the right to decide their own future. Furthermore, the Scots consider Scotland to be a 'country' with a set of socio-cultural beliefs. As in the past, Brexit and the impending economic crisis caused by the Ukrainian-Russian war have become the fuels for Scottish independence. Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, proposed a second Scottish independence referendum in October 2023. King Charles III is concerned about his ability to unite his country in the same way that his late mother did.
Challenge 5: An unpopular King?
The public has a negative opinion of King Charles III and the late Princess Diana. He destroyed the "wedding of the century." According to YouGov, King Charles III came in seventh (42%) among all family members, with Prince William coming in third (66%) and Princess Catherine of Wales coming in second (68%). Can King Charles III win the hearts of the British people through public service? If he cannot win over the hearts and minds of people all over the world, the constitutional monarchy will face significant challenges, including potential referendums. Fortunately, Prince William of Wales and his family have won the hearts of the public in recent years.
Reference:
Barrand, R. (2022). Some countries are calling for the return of diamonds following death of the Queen. Www.nationalworld.com. https://www.nationalworld.com/news/queen-elizabeth-ii-south-african-cullinan-diamond-jewels-3846349
Bricket, D. J., & Simpson, S. (2022). Canadians Conflicted on Future Role of Monarchy as Half (54%) Say Canada Should End Ties to Monarchy. Https://Www.ipsos.com/En-Ca/News-Polls/Canadians-Conflicted-On-Future-Role-of-Monarchy; Ipsos.
Chieri, L. (2016). How important is the monarchy to British people? [Review of How important is the monarchy to British people?]. Https://Www.natcen.ac.uk/Blog/How-Important-Is-The-Monarchy-To-British-People; NatCen Social Research.
Edwards, C. (2022). “Not my King”: Anti-monarchy protesters face police crackdown in the UK. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/16/europe/anti-monarchy-protests-police-intl-gbr/index.html
Williams, L. (2022). Bloomberg - Are you a robot? Www.bloomberg.com. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-09-18/queen-elizabeth-ii-britain-mourns-as-monarchy-s-future-falls-to-charles-l87aduua
Comments