King Charles III juggles pomp and sorrow as UK takes first glimpses
GuardianSep 11, 2022
King Charles III was officially proclaimed sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in front of almost 700 members of the current Accession Council at St. James's Palace on Saturday.
The King became the monarch after the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on Thurs., but this meeting formally confirmed it. The Accession Council meeting was televised for the first time ever, dating back hundreds of years.
Despite King Charles III's clear grief, he has made a keen effort to meet the public and thank them for their well-wishes. These crucial first impressions will set the tone for the rest of his reign. Although he's having to juggle his duties with leading the UK through a time of sorrow, there's clear belief that he will be successful at meeting the task ahead.
The death of the Queen is sad news and brings a crisis in the very identity and purpose of the monarchy itself, and the complexities and crises that have plagued the rest of the royal family have and will continue to see the end of her era prompt furious debate. Times have changed since the beginning of the Queen's reign, and so must the ruling class.
There's a 67% chance that at least 1% of Great Britain will be under a monarchy by 2075, according to the Metaculus prediction community.