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The Royals around King Charles III. and King’s wife Camilla has a special year ahead.
Larger than life, Queen Elizabeth II (†96) is emblazoned on York Minster in Great Britain. The statue measures two meters and, according to her son Charles (74), will guard the northern English city from now on. The queen is dead and the “eternal heir to the throne” is now king. But the statue in York is an example of how deeply the Queen is still anchored in the minds of the United Kingdom. The funeral services following her death on September 8 were historic. Day X, which was feared given the old age of the monarch but somehow never expected, means a turning point for the whole country.
Hundreds of thousands lined the streets as the Queen’s coffin was paraded past mourners, whether en route from her beloved country home of Balmoral in Scotland, Edinburgh, London or en route to her final resting place at Windsor Castle. A country took part – and stood still for days in honor of the esteemed monarch.
Britain eagerly awaits Charles’ coronation
So ahead of the royals is 2023, the first year without their supermother, who reigned for 70 years. That also means: The country is looking forward to a coronation. On May 6, King Charles III. also officially wear the famous Imperial State Crown.
The royal family wants to use the tailwind that the royal family experienced after the death of the queen and in the course of Charles’ assumption of office. The coronation of Charles and his king wife Camilla (75) should also be a signal that the monarchy has recognized the signs of the times. The ceremony should be shorter and less pompous, while still maintaining the traditions and shining with the advertising medium royal family as “soft power”, as British media repeatedly reported.
In comparison with the last coronation 70 years ago, the numbers show what that should look like. With around 2000 guests, there should still be a lot of people in London’s Westminster Abbey. But it would be 6,000 fewer than in 1953 at the Queen’s coronation. The duration of around an hour is also significantly shorter than back then. It’s also expected that the king won’t change clothes nearly as often as his mother once did. At the same time, the traditional components such as the anointing should be preserved.
Family crisis overshadows coronation
But the eyes of the world will probably focus more on whether Charles’ younger son Prince Harry (38) and his wife Duchess Meghan (41) will take part. The couple, who have long since given up their royal duties and honorary degrees and live in the United States with their children Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1, have an extremely difficult relationship with Harry’s British family. In several interviews and a Netflix documentary, the two accused the palace of serious mistakes and even racism. Her attendance at the Queen’s funeral seemed to have done little to calm things down, although Charles reaffirmed his deep love for his son and daughter-in-law early in his reign.
Worse still, another low blow is imminent at the beginning of the year. Harry’s autobiography is scheduled to be released on January 10th. There should be a lot of explosive power between the two book covers. In London it is feared that “Reserve”, as the German title of the work “Spare” is, will not only deepen the break in the Royal Family. But that it could even overshadow the coronation.
According to experts, the title alone suggests what direction Harry can be expected to take. Publisher Penguin Random House has announced a candid account of Harry’s life – for which he is said to have paid millions of pounds in advance. Royals experts expect a new ice age, especially with the older brother Prince William (40). This also suggests that Harry is said to have turned down an invitation to the traditional family Christmas party at Sandringham, in the east of England – but wants to come to London in early January to promote the book.
The royal couple and the heir to the throne are planning trips abroad
Coronation and a possible scandal book – there is not much room for other royal topics, one might think. The calendar is full. Heir to the throne William and his wife Princess Kate (40) are planning a trip to Australia and New Zealand, as are Charles and Camilla. Not only does the king want to introduce himself personally in the 14 other states in which he acts as head of state. It is also important to hold the Commonwealth together. Because more and more countries in the federation of former British colonies are considering renouncing the crown and forming a republic.
A formality is also explosive: so that Charles, in the event of his absence and that of his direct heir to the throne, William, does not have to be represented by either the estranged son Harry or the scandal-ridden younger brother Prince Andrew (62), the king wants the circle of “Counselors of State” expand and also take his second brother Prince Edward (58) and his sister Princess Anne (72) there. At first glance, that would contradict his plans for a leaner monarchy. At the same time, however, Andrew and Harry would be pushed to the sidelines without the family peace further crumbling to the outside world. One thing is already clear: in the first year without the “eternal queen”, the royal family has a lot of construction sites to master. (SDA)