After a wait of more than 70 years, the longest by an heir in British history, Prince Charles has finally succeeded his mother Queen Elizabeth II as ruler of the United Kingdom and 14 other nations.
It will be a difficult job. Despite the fact that his late mother enjoyed enormous popularity and respect, the royal family she leaves behind has had its relationships and reputations damaged by persisting claims of racism against Buckingham Palace staff.
With his second wife Camilla, who continues to polarise the public, by his side, 73-year-old Charles, the oldest king to ascend to the throne in a dynasty that spans back 1,000 years, faces these difficulties.
The new monarch is viewed negatively by opponents as being unfit for the position of sovereign, vain, weak, and interfering.
His first marriage to the late Princess Diana ended in divorce, and he has been made fun of for talking to plants and being obsessed with architecture and the environment.
Supporters contend that this is a misunderstanding of the admirable work he accomplishes, that he is just misunderstood, and that he has been a pioneer in fields like climate change.
They contend that he is considerate of and concerned about his fellow Britons from all backgrounds and social classes.
Since its founding nearly 50 years ago, his Prince’s Trust charity has assisted more than a million unemployed and underprivileged young people.
“The trouble is you are in a no-win situation. If you do absolutely nothing at all … they are going to complain about that,” Charles once told a TV documentary. “If you try and get stuck in, do something to help, they also complain.”
Throughout his life, Charles has struggled to maintain the traditions that give the monarchy its appeal while still navigating a rapidly modernizing and more equitable society. His own sons’ lives serve as a window into that tension.
To read our blog on “Queen Elizabeth II has passed away at the age of 96,” click here.
