Like many others who have observed the new King’s activities during his exceptionally long period as Prince of Wales, I approached the first speech by the King with some trepidation. Our new King comes with a worryingly large hinterland of activism and interference in political matters, that had raised concerns among some about how he would approach his duties as King.
I was concerned especially that His Majesty would rub a lot of people up the wrong way with his speech by for example referencing some of his particular hobby horse issues such as environmentalism that are as ideologies quite divisive. Even though I’m not an Anglican I was very worried that the new King would sideline the Church of England and want to be seen as a ‘Defender of Faiths’ rather than ‘Defender of the Faith’. I was concerned about this potential change as this would imply that he was an enthusiastic adherent of multiculturalist policies that are crumbling under the weight of their own contradictions at just the time when there are cleverer people than me pointing out how multiculturalism has not just failed but failed both native and minority population groups.
However, as I watched the King’s speech, my worries and concerns lessened somewhat. There was no indication that he would be a politically active Monarch as was the case with Edward VIII during his short reign. What there was instead was a clear and understandable commitment from the King to follow the precepts of the British Constitution and with it keeping the tradition of the Monarch being politically neutral.
Any thought that he was going to be a defender of faiths or anything like that went right out of the window when His Majesty stated that his commitment was to the Anglican Communion and to his duty as head of that church. There were also welcome statements from the King about stepping back from many of his political interests and campaigns which is something I believe he needed to do in order to be seen as a legitimate and non-aligned Monarch.
The Kings speech soothed many of my concerns. If he can reign by the principles outlined in his speech such as abiding by the Constitution, not interfering unduly in politics, being a dutiful head of the Anglican Communion and being a King for every Briton, then his reign that could be one worthy to follow that of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
His Majesty’s speech was quite surprising. It was not only better than I expected it to be but also addressed many of the concerns British subjects might have had about how our new King would reign.
I share your fears about the new king, he is in my opinion a real danger to the monarchy. His speech is a masterpiece of the speech writers art and I am certain he will be kept on a very short leash by those who are aware of the danger he poses. How his coronation will be received will be very interesting, he will I believe, be crowned by an arch bishop who doubts the existence of God but having placed some oil on the new kings head will tell us he now rules by devine right. Perilous times indeed for the firm the late queen worked so tirelessly to protect.
I’m not much of a fan of Charles but I think that we need to give him a chance. I think that it is wrong to write him off before he is able to prove himself either way.
You are of course entitled to your view but I find it disturbing that the King, at a time when millions of his older subjects may be unable to afford food and heating insists he will continue with his green agenda. Fiddling while Rome burns comes to mind I am afraid.
I know that Charles is up to his neck in the green crap, but so is pretty much everyone in our worthless government. I suppose that he should share a little of the blame but it isn’t really realistic to lay all of the blame at his door. Politicians in the EU and the US have been hampering energy companies for years now and the results of this are now coming through.
I share the fears that he will continue to push his ideas in the background. He will naturally have the ears of people in positions of real power and I believe he will be whispering in those ears. What can he change apart from accelerating that which is already under way. Give him a chance, because I may be wrong. Whichever way he veers he may unite the country but in a way he doesn’t expect.
You are clearly a generous soul Andy, myself I think he may well turn out to be the worst thing that could happen to the monarchy. It’s possible his advisors will keep him on a very short leash but I don’t think he will like that. I believe he is the reason his mother held on to the very end.
I know that it seems as though I’m contradicting myself but I am broadly in agreement with Roy’s position, I think that his assessment is pretty much correct. Where I differ slightly is in reserving judgement for a while at least.