The new King ...

[kenny]

First, I hope it's not too soon to discuss this.

How much do you think HM King Charles III is looking forward to being the Monarch?

What are your thoughts and feelings towards him?

From what I read his popularity is rather mixed.
IMO it's unfair to compare him to his mum.
She left some big shoes to fill.

I wish him all the best, and to his doubters I say let's give him a chance.

 

[Austina]

King Charles and Camilla arrived back at Buckingham Palace this morning, and were greeted with a very warm welcome by the crowds. They got out of the car and did a walkabout, shaking hands and accepting words of condolences.

I don’t think (and this is just my opinion) that anyone would actively look forward to taking on the role of Monarch, even when it’s your destiny. Aside from it meaning that your parent is dead, I imagine it’s a very onerous task, and let’s not forget that Charles is already over 70, a time when most people would be looking forward to being retired and taking it easy.

I think enough time has passed since Diana died and he married Camilla, that any negative feelings people had about the affair have been laid to rest.

Whether he’ll be a good Monarch remains to be seen. He’s got big shoes to fill, but has been in training all his life, so hopefully he’ll be up to the job.

I do think his plans to slim down the Monarchy will be popular.

 

[Ally T]

I agree with everything @Austina says.

I will also add that I wasn't a fan of Camilla when they first got together. The treatment of Diana was still very public & very raw. But man alive, that woman has worked her little socks off since becoming his wife. She is everywhere & she is such a compassionate, warm woman.

Also, do you ever see Charles & Camilla ever NOT laughing together? They are extremely happy & clearly meant to be. And there are many photos of her & the Queen creased up together too. She is clearly very good company as well as devoting her new life with Charles to his family & responsibilities.

 

[Calliecake]

Thank you for answering questions @Austina. Please know we understand if you are uncomfortable answering questions at this time. As I’m sure you are aware many American’s loved your Queen and are interested in how those on the other side of the pond are feeling this will play out.

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,
Leaving out for a moment his romantic relationships, I have always liked Charles. I remember he was very interested in architecture and was quite knowledgeable. I liked that he was not that interested in being King and the thought was it would skip him and go directly to William. We had an intimate view into his private life with the public airing of his phone calls to Camilla. He has passion. I think he is a good father.
I do hold his treatment of Diana against him. She was too young and innocent, and he hurt her badly. He done her wrong.

Obviously he loved Camilla, and so you can blame the culture of the Monarchy for what happened.
I too, wish him well. I think he will do a good job.

Annette

 

[Austina]

You make a very good point @Ally T, I wasn’t a fan of Camilla in the beginning either, but there’s no doubting that they seem very happy together. The Queen was apparently very fond of her, and she’s been a great support to Charles as well as carrying out her own royal duties. She looked visibly upset during the walkabout.

I think it’s great to talk about her @Calliecake, makes me realise what high regard others had for the Queen. We tend to think that other countries aren’t necessarily interested,

 

[Jambalaya]

I don't mind Charles. He was banging the drum about climate change decades before anyone else, and despite his stuffed-shirt appearance, he's really into things like therapy and talking to plants! He did try to get Diana help, in the early years. (If you look into her history, she did live with challenges to her mental health ever since being a child, when she once went mute for weeks, for example. I think becoming the Princess of Wales at such a young age really got to her, with all the pressures.)

He has also done a lot of good through projects such as The Prince's Trust, Poundbury, and has raised money for the upkeep of his properties and other good works via his Duchy Originals line of food and home goods, instead of asking for taxpayer handouts.

He made one gargantuan mistake in his life, which was to marry someone he didn't know or love. It was a ridiculous decision for someone well into his thirties; they had absolutely nothing in common and he should have recognized that, in my view. However, we all make mistakes, and he was not a player - he has only ever loved one woman, and I like that about him.

Overall, I think he's OK. I think he had no idea of the extent of Diana's problems....because he didn't even know her!

ETA: And I think it's a pity she never got proper treatment, because if she had, I think they may well have grown together and made it work. I do believe that Charles did not go back to Camilla until his marriage was in ruins, and I also believe that untreated mental illness was at the root of that, which is so sad. I read that she didn't want to take medication, and also I'm guessing that what was on offer in the Eighties wasn't as good as today. A really tragic story. If only he had proposed to Camilla when she was free, if only he had gotten to know Diana more and realized beforehand that they weren't right for each other...if only....

 

[Calliecake]

You make a very good point @Ally T, I wasn’t a fan of Camilla in the beginning either, but there’s no doubting that they seem very happy together. The Queen was apparently very fond of her, and she’s been a great support to Charles as well as carrying out her own royal duties. She looked visibly upset during the walkabout.

I think it’s great to talk about her @Calliecake, makes me realise what high regard others had for the Queen. We tend to think that other countries aren’t necessarily interested,

@Austina, I’m glad you are ok talking about this. America has had a fascination and love with your countries royalty as far back as I can remember and you know how old I am. I was talking to a friend yesterday when it was announced the Queen had died. We were both really saddened by the news. You will probably be shocked to know how many Americans feel the same way. I’ve teared up a few times the past day. She lived a long extraordinary life and was loved and admired by so many. My hope is she had an inkling of how much she meant to so many people who never knew her.

It’s strange because they are completely different situations but I feel the same sadness I felt when Princess Diana died.

 

[Austina]

I understand @Calliecake, Diana’s death was shocking because it was a needless accident and she was so young and vibrant. Who can forget the sight of the little posy on the coffin with the word “Mummy” on it, or William & Harry walking behind the coffin?

The Queen dying was somewhat expected due to her age, but still a shock because she was just simply always ‘there’, a constant in our lives and our sadness that she has now gone has had the same effect. We feel that we’ve lost someone we know, and that the world won’t ever be the same.

 

[Jambalaya]

@Austina,

It’s strange because they are completely different situations but I feel the same sadness I felt when Princess Diana died.

I expected to feel that way, and am surprised that I don't. While I wish the Queen could have gone on forever, I guess I was much more prepared for her death than I realized. Diana, on the other hand, was an utter and complete shock. SO young, and SUCH a tragedy. Her part of the car was untouched; expert opinion was that she'd have survived if she'd been wearing her seatbelt.

That's what makes it so, so sad: That but for a moment in time, a tiny split-second decision not to fasten it, she would have been here still. I expect she didn't fasten it because the journey was extremely short. Apparently it was working, and her sister said she was a stickler for seatbelts. It took me a long, long time not to feel completely shocked whenever I thought of Diana or saw a picture of her. I had the sense for years of "I can't believe that happened!" But with the Queen, it just seems a natural progression, and as she was still carrying out state duties at the age of 96, I feel that we could not ask for more.

 

[Arcadian]

My thoughts don't matter, I'm in the US, and we have no monarchy (thank goodness), but no, folks haven't forgotten.

depending on where you're posting, they out there calling him King Tampon so...

 

[Snowdrop13]

He did a good speech tonight, I thought, very fitting. I had thought that the transition might be quite subdued but there were crowds of people to welcome him into Buckingham Palace, cheering and shouting “God Save the King!” I have high hopes that this will all turn out well.

 

[dk168]

God save the King!

He has been preparing for his role as king for so long, he should better be good at it!

No doubt he has big shoes to fill, however, I would like to believe he will carve his own way in history and be his own man.

I really like Camilla, always have done, and am glad she received HM the Queen's support in settling her style/title earlier this year.

DK

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

He did a good speech tonight, I thought, very fitting. I had thought that the transition might be quite subdued but there were crowds of people to welcome him into Buckingham Palace, cheering and shouting “God Save the King!” I have high hopes that this will all turn out well.

it was a wondeful speech
i was a tiny bit late to work watching it this morning

THe press were so mean to Charles even before Diana
he had those ears and he talked to plants
he was way ahead of his time

the most prepaired King in history

those magazines were disgusting publishing anybody's private converstaion

anyone else here had phone sex ??
how would you like it traznscriped to the masees ?

King Charles iii King of the Realm of New Zealand
long live the King
and God bless Queen Camila

she has been out here twice and has seemed very warm and open, sittting on the floor eatting chocolate cake with little kiddies, visiting a woman's prison where they were making quilts for the spca

Camila is a wonderful avocate for the elderly - a very unsexy often overlooked cause
She makes her husband happy
Camaila has also cultivated a very good relationship with the regular royal press pack, giving them nice photos, talking to them -she has worked really hard at that

sometimes in a fairy tale there is no bad guy (or girl)
just misunderstood people

Charles and Camila were desdended to be together, it wasnt Di' s fault
and was in Camila's ?
was it Charles ? he kind of had to do what he was told
(but thnakfully the instituation learned and Edward and William had more freedom with their girlfriends who became their wives)

how many people in the world have married the wrong person the first time around?
but they made two lovelly boys - and Camila has two of her own too
so were those other marrages mistakes ?
good people came out of it

I was a big fan of Di,(and i still am) but i long ago drew a line in the sand with ragards to Camila as i am no longer the young innocent child in love with the fairy tale after being around the block so to speak myself

Diana will never age, it's unfair to continue to compair them

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

First, I hope it's not too soon to discuss this.

How much do you think HM King Charles III is looking forward to being the Monarch?

What are your thoughts and feelings towards him?

From what I read his popularity is rather mixed.
IMO it's unfair to compare him to his mum.
She left some big shoes to fill.

I wish him all the best, and to his doubters I say let's give him a chance.

Goodnesss
did i answer your question Kenny ?
IT is Charles' destiny
im sure he long ago came to terms with it

I would hope, seprerate from the greif of lossing his mother, he is looking forward to implimenting his vission for the monarchy
i think he will miss being able to be outspoken on certain important issues but as he said this morning (NZ time) he will be busy with his new job for some of his prevouse interests and charities and William is now responsable for the dauchy of Cornwall


please excuse my spelling worse than usual
still waiting on new phone to arrive

 

[Tartansparkles]

I'm in the UK. I had hoped that when the Queen passed that they would quietly let the idea of a monarchy slide, that the Queen would be the last of them to hold any official role. Naive, yes. I'm sure Charles is a nice person and more importantly his is clearly loved by his wife and children, that's all that really matters but the idea that you are born to rule because of the family you were born into is simply nonsense. If you were to go solely by what's on the media you would think the UK is wallowing in grief, it is not. Yes it is sad when a person dies and when that person is respected and lived a life of service then that sense of grief is felt more keenly. It is also possible to grossly exaggerate how that grief is playing out across the country. There are clearly people who are feeling a deep sense of personal loss, there are others, lots of others, who while noting the sadness of the occasion and its historic nature, are simply waiting for the occasion to pass.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

wow i just watched the proclomation of the new king
we learnt this stuff in history at high school
it is amazing to be watching the tardions and formality of the westminster sytem that no other generation of ordinary citizen has ever wittnessed it and i just watched it on the internet live

i am in complete aor (excuse spelling -waiting on new phone that knows how to fix my spelling to arrive)
i was thinking about 18 year old Queen Victoria facing all those stuffy old men in her day, even our late Queen being bossed about my Winston and her own mother

King Charles will be his own man

 

[jordyonbass]

Just hope he's a good father to my cousins, that's all

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

i just heard on the live feed im watching that the ink pot the new King used to sign all thsoe doculents was given to him by William and Harry

 

[RetroQT]

A little off topic, but even over here in the US I was aware that the Queen planned to serve as Queen until her death and that Charles would become king at that time. But I’ve wondered if King Charles feels the same. It seems Prince William is very popular and that there are a decent amount of people that were hoping it would skip King Charles and go to his eldest son.

What is the sentiment really like in this regard? And do you think King Charles will reign for the remainder of his life as his mother did?

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

A little off topic, but even over here in the US I was aware that the Queen planned to serve as Queen until her death and that Charles would become king at that time. But I’ve wondered if King Charles feels the same. It seems Prince William is very popular and that there are a decent amount of people that were hoping it would skip King Charles and go to his eldest son.

What is the sentiment really like in this regard? And do you think King Charles will reign for the remainder of his life as his mother did?

there has only ever been one abdication and i think its just not very British
i read somewhere the Queen said to someone (in private no doubt) that abdication is for the Dutch
and in saying that it must be much much nicer for King Wiliam Alexander to still have his mother

anyway back to the new king
i'm thinking his beloved granny the Queen mum filled him in on the mess Wallis simpson left with regard to abdication

Rememebr King George vi died a realativly young man and the Queen mum was his widow for half her life
she blamed the stress of kingship for taking her beloved husband early
The Queen mum and Charles were always very close

Charles may have had some sympathy with his great uncle with reagrd to marying for love-although he also may have known before it became public knowledge that Edward viii was a nazi sympathyzer (please excuse my spelling and bad typing)
but its very sad Charles has no memory of his grandfather (well saddly both his grandfathers)

i know we all love William and Kate and they are young and attactive and popular but King Charles has waited his entire life to be king
he is the most prepaired king in history
he deserves to serve his time
just because he is older doesnt mean he wont be a good maybe even great King
look at the age of the current US president

KIng Edward vii, Queen Victoria's son had a very short reign but he was very popular

i think and you know what do any of us really know
but i think William and Kate are more than happy to wait and continue to enjoy their young family as much as they can and as normal as they can

 

[RetroQT]

there has only ever been one abdication and i think its just not very British
i read somewhere the Queen said to someone (in private no doubt) that abdication is for the Dutch
and in saying that it must be much much nicer for King Wiliam Alexander to still have his mother

anyway back to the new king
i'm thinking his beloved granny the Queen mum filled him in on the mess Wallis simpson left with regard to abdication

Rememebr King George vi died a realativly young man and the Queen mum was his widow for half her life
she blamed the stress of kingship for taking her beloved husband early
The Queen mum and Charles were always very close

Charles may have had some sympathy with his great uncle with reagrd to marying for love-although he also may have known before it became public knowledge that Edward viii was a nazi sympathyzer (please excuse my spelling and bad typing)
but its very sad Charles has no memory of his grandfather (well saddly both his grandfathers)

i know we all love William and Kate and they are young and attactive and popular but King Charles has waited his entire life to be king
he is the most prepaired king in history
he deserves to serve his time
just because he is older doesnt mean he wont be a good maybe even great King
look at the age of the current US president

KIng Edward vii, Queen Victoria's son had a very short reign but he was very popular

i think and you know what do any of us really know
but i think William and Kate are more than happy to wait and continue to enjoy their young family as much as they can and as normal as they can

I agree with what you are saying. And thank you for all of that. I’m sure that as time has gone by since Charles and Diana’s divorce and her tragic passing, that hearts have softened towards King Charles.

And it would be nice for Prince William to be able to spend more time as a parent alongside Princess Kate. God willing, he will have his time one day to be king.

It’s all quite fascinating to this American as princes and princesses, kings and queens are what our fairytales are made of. Yet in the UK, it is real life.

 

[Snowdrop13]

The Dutch Queen Beatrix abdicated, as did the Spanish King Juan Carlos (although he caused a few controversies and had to be retired off!). Other European monarchs are getting pretty old (Margarethe in Denmark and Harald in Norway, for example) but continue to hang on. I think Charles will remain in place for life unless his health fails. He’s waited so long for the job!

 

[MamaBee]

One thing puzzles me. Hopefully King Charles and Prince William will live for a very long time. What happens when King Charles dies..William becomes King..but he dies early before George becomes an adult?

 

[Snowdrop13]

One thing puzzles me. Hopefully King Charles and Prince William will live for a very long time. What happens when King Charles dies..William becomes King..but he dies early before George becomes an adult?

There would be a Regent in place until George became 18. Who that would be, no idea. Probably should be the next in line, so Harry or Andrew but they have sadly ruled themselves out! Maybe Edward, in that case.

 

[MrsBlue]

There would be a Regent in place until George became 18. Who that would be, no idea. Probably should be the next in line, so Harry or Andrew but they have sadly ruled themselves out! Maybe Edward, in that case.

I think Charlotte and Louis would be next in line but the Monarchy may not survive a bad situation like that, even with a diplomatically appropriate regent being name. I could totally see some people wanting Harry as regent. Andrew, not so much!

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,

For many years I've thought the Monarchy was an outdated institution. I have changed my mind. This institution unites the people. It is their common heritage. It belongs to all of them.

My father was Dutch. He told us about his Queens, Wilimina and Juliana. He loved them. He wanted us to love them too.

Cultures need symbols to unite them. I used to think about them in terms of wasted money. but here is a case where money is secondary. The British Royals have done a fairly good job at keeping Britain as a respected member of the world community.

Long live King Charles 111.

Annette

 

[Snowdrop13]

I think Charlotte and Louis would be next in line but the Monarchy may not survive a bad situation like that, even with a diplomatically appropriate regent being name. I could totally see some people wanting Harry as regent. Andrew, not so much!

Yes, meant the next in line suitable adult.

 

[Jambalaya]

I like the idea of a benign monarchy. I also like the idea of "socialized" medicine. (I hate that phrase. As if commercialized medicine is such a good thing! Commercializing people's sickness? Terrible!)

People who are criticizing the Queen and the monarchy (as some US pundits are doing) aren't in possession of all the facts, I'm sure. For example, Charles has no obligation to pay any income tax at all, but since the Nineties he has VOLUNTEERED to pay 50%. After his sons married, that went down to 25% because he needed to pay for security, clothing, and offices for the two new family units. Additionally, he has done SO MUCH GOOD via The Prince's Trust. And his many tenants on Duchy of Cornwall land say that he is a good landlord and keeps a close eye on rents to make sure they don't rise unfairly high.

Some of the US commentators are saying how awful the Queen was, but I really don't understand this. She stood back and let the empire dissolve, and she said that if the republican movement won out, she would go quietly. She let change happen and didn't fight it. She got rid of extras like the Royal Britannia yacht when told to by Parliament, handed back Hong Kong when asked, and so much more.

But the thing I REALLY don't get is how the critics don't understand these two basic facts: a) the Queen had NO power at all. Everything that was done during her reign was done by the government, in which she cannot interfere. The complaints should be aimed at Britain, not the Queen. The government did all the things that critics are pointing out, elected by the British people. So why are they foaming at the mouth about the Queen? They seem driven by emotion and not facts, to me. Perhaps I'm missing something.

b) The empire happened before she came to the throne and mostly it was formed before she was even born! And she let it dissolve without complaint! Some critics are saying that she was a colonizer and others are saying she was a violent decolonizer. I'm confused. You surely can't be both. And I want to reiterate that she had no power to influence any of it anyway! So I don't know why some corners of the US media are being so nasty about the late Queen.

I wish we had a benign monarchy like theirs. Politicians' egos are way big enough, in my opinion! Would be great to have an over-arching form of stability like the British Crown. The Queen endured across 15 US presidents!

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,

The Queen and now the King, has a weekly meeting with the Prime Minister. At this time government affairs are discussed and it is the duty of the Monarch to give her/his opinion on the matters. She is the Head of State. She has no parliamentary power.

Since she has had an Empire consisting of many nations, some violent in gaining freedom, such as Ireland (where the Brits were pretty bad), and Hong Kong where their 99yr lease was up. The Brits had to leave. So you can be both. And the Gov't is a Constitutional Monarchy, and so people can also blame the Queen for what Britain does in the world.

I see the Queen as having a lot of power, just not parliamentary


Annette