King Charles III’s first
speech to the nation as sovereign contained telling passages showing how he
hopes the public, in the UK and abroad, will see his forthcoming reign and how
he wants the royal family to operate.
The King said: “Queen
Elizabeth’s was a life well-lived; a promise with destiny kept and she is
mourned most deeply in her passing. That promise of lifelong service I renew to
you all today.”
On one level this was a simple
reminder of the continuity the King intends to project with his mother who was
widely admired for her focus on service rather than rule. He, like the Queen,
does not countenance abdication at any time. Tellingly he referenced her pledge
to the people of all Commonwealth countries in 1947 that “my whole life whether
it be long or short shall be devoted to your service”. One of the King’s key
priorities will be keeping the Commonwealth together.
“As the Queen herself did
with such unswerving devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself, throughout the
remaining time God grants me, to uphold the constitutional principles at
the heart of our nation.”
The key phrase here is “the
remaining time”. Charles, 73, knows he cannot hope for a historic reign as long
as his mother who became Queen aged 25. It was a nod to that reality which he further
developed later in the speech when he talked extensively about the important
role of William and Catherine.
“In the course of the
last 70 years we have seen our society become one of many cultures and many
faiths. The institutions of the state have changed in turn.” And he said:
“Whatever may be your background or beliefs, I shall endeavour to serve you
with loyalty, respect and love.”
These two sentences projected
a clear recognition of a new era, in which he will reign over an ever more
ethnically and religiously diverse nation. Charles has for decades shown a huge
interest in faiths such as Islam and their related cultures and appears keen to
present himself as a guardian of religious and cultural diversity as well as
the established Church of England, of which he is a part.
“My life will of course change
as I take up my new responsibilities. It will no longer be possible for me to
give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I
care so deeply. But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands
of others.”
Here he alludes to setting
aside the causes – such as climate change, classical architecture, alternative
medicine, youth work and interfaith dialogue – that have sometimes caused
public controversy. But he does so in the knowledge that Prince William,
whom he anointed the Prince of Wales, has already taken up the cudgels on the
issue that concerns him most: climate change.
He also hinted he wants them to
take on a brief perhaps relating to inequality when he said the new Prince and
Princess of Wales would “bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital
help can be given”. A feint gesture of recognition of the cost of living
crisis, perhaps.
