King Charles’s first year: Monarch ‘must prove his purpose beyond pomp’
It has been an extraordinary year, and a historic moment of change for the country.
We now have a new King, and although the transition is seamless, the last twelve months have prompted profound questions about the monarchy.
On the one hand it’s business as usual.
And at Buckingham Palace, monarchy HQ, it’s busy and bustling as the state rooms open for the Summer.
The King’s not here, but his superfans are.
We met the Murray family who’d travelled from Brighton. They were last at the palace on the day of the late Queen’s funeral.
“I think he’s done amazingly; I think he’s had incredible footsteps to take on since his mother’s death, but he’s just been out there, out with the public, and I think he’s done an amazing job.” Lisa Murray told us.
We also found the Reillys, all the way from Melbourne, Australia where republicanism is rising.
“The royal family is very well thought of mostly by Australians, I would say, especially the Queen. After her passing, a lot of people were very sad and there was a bit of doubt abut King Charles taking over,” said Danielle Reilly.
And perhaps what’s interesting is although there’s respect for the family and particularly the late Queen, if you ask loyal fans about the future, it’s a much trickier question to answer.
“I think he’s been quite quiet,” added Paul Reilly.
One American, who grew up in the UK told me, “We see into their lives a lot more, so the mystique of the Queen was a fascination, but now we know everything that’s going on.”
The King has packed in the engagements. Busier than his mother in her first year.
This is no surprise to those who’ve worked with him, including his former Private Secretary Elizabeth Buchanan.
“His whole life has been one of service and duty. And so this is not a moment of oh, how is he coping? This is the seamless transition to the role he was always going to take on, and he’s doing it brilliantly,” she said.
We’ve also seen the return of state visits, with the King’s first to Germany hailed a success in rekindling post-Brexit relations.
His address from the floor of the Bundestag in both German and English, was received with loud applause.
“There is something else about the fact that he is [nearly] 75. He is now amongst global statesmen, probably one of the oldest.
“He’s got wisdom, and he has got gravitas, and he’s seen it all before, and that gives you an edge,” said Ms Buchanan.
It has been said the King also brings a sharper edge to the role; meeting President Zelenskyy at Buckingham Palace and referencing the cost-of-living crisis in his first Christmas message.
Although above politics, he’s always been close to political issues.
As Prince of Wales he was famously outspoken, particularly on the environment.
Constitutional constraints have now clipped his wings – he wasn’t allowed to attend the COP climate summit.
But Tony Juniper who’s long advised him on environmental matters says it doesn’t matter.
“I’ve kind of reached the conclusion that give his track record on sustainability and climate he doesn’t need to say another word.”
And although the King can’t be an activist, Mr Juniper says he’s still actively engaged.
“He’s brought that passion for the environment with him, you’ve seen this reflected in several major events he’s hosted at Buckingham Palace, at Windsor Castle… It’s still very much part of his DNA.”
This year has also seen increasing public protest.
The republican group Republic is now a regular fixture at big royal events and their membership has doubled and revenue is now at record-breaking levels.
Clive Lewis MP supports their cause. “This is something that is going to increasingly rise up the political agenda,” he said.
The polls show among young people, support for the monarchy is sliding, with indifference growing. Apathy is perhaps the enemy of the monarchy.
And in times of financial difficulty, there are hard questions for the King about how much he costs the taxpayer.
“I think the younger generations are looking at their lives, looking at the housing market, the insecurity, jobs, and asking themselves well why do we have a monarchy, why do I have to defer to this institution that I have no say over. I think it’s a fair question,” said Mr Lewis.
Of course, there are challenges much closer to home. From accusations of racism within the palace, to the problem of what to do about Prince Andrew and Prince Harry.
Harry’s hammer blows dealt repeated drama and damage, they also exposed royal rifts on a global scale.
The broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby said it’s hurt the King.
“It’s a very, very public issue, and it undoubtedly has aggrieved him, undoubtedly from time to time angered him, because no response is possible, not least to respond when his beloved Queen has been attacked in that process. But he is capable of rising above that.”
There are significant challenges ahead. The constitutional honeymoon is over, and the King must find a way to connect, and prove there is a purpose beyond the pomp.
He wants to make a difference, but with only four of the slimmed down working royals under 70, it won’t be easy.
The historian Sir Anthony Seldon said: “He needs to think through very clearly what really matters, what is it that I can do. I think we need to see more prioritisation from him, and a sense of what I can achieve, because high achievers do that.”