It has been exactly three years since Charles was declared King at his Coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey in May 2023 – with the monarch experiencing some turbulent times since that joyous dayKing Charles hails ‘truly unique’ alliance in speech to US Congress
When St Edward’s Crown was placed on his head and he was declared King, Charles was looking forward to putting his own stamp on the monarchy.
But just over three years on from that joyous day at Westminster Abbey, nobody could have predicted how turbulent his early reign would become.
He’s had to deal with family health battles – including his own cancer diagnosis – political turmoil, the arrest of his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the continuing feud with his son Prince Harry, while at the same time flying to the United States to salvage the UK’s special relationship with Donald Trump.
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The King on his recent visit to Bermuda (Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
Off the back of his high-profile state visit to America last week, royal aides say the King is always looking to the future and “tomorrow’s opportunities”. And according to royal expert Jennie Bond, this might be wise, as looking back over the past three years might not always conjure up happy memories.
The former BBC royal correspondent told the Mirror : “Your mother dies, you get cancer, your daughter-in -law is also diagnosed with cancer, your son is estranged, your brother disgraced and arrested, you have three Prime Ministers in as many years, Donald Trump is re-elected as President, and then talks about annexing Canada before starting a Middle East war. It’s certainly not the ideal scenario for a new King, and it’s a lot for anyone to handle.
“But King Charles has battled his way through it all and, in doing so, has earned the admiration of many. On the domestic scene, the sordid allegations surrounding Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and his subsequent arrest have been the most difficult and dangerous for the King to handle.
The King on his Coronation Day just over three years ago(Image: Getty)
“Some say he should have acted sooner, but when he did take action, he was ruthless in publicly humiliating his brother and evicting him from his home. Some say he should be a better parent and make peace with Prince Harry – but his son has squandered family trust, and that’s hard to regain. We don’t, however, know what goes on in any private conversations, if there are any.”
When the King came to the throne in September 2022, it was after his mother, Elizabeth II’s record-breaking 70-year reign. Just months before her death, thousands gathered at Buckingham Palace and on The Mall to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. And even polls now, almost four years on from her passing, show her popularity among the British public continues.
And while Charles has carried on much of her legacy, and seemingly always putting duty first, Jennie believes he has made a mark on the public in a very different way.
The King with US president Donald Trump (Image: Getty Images)
She explained: “He has shown that he is a much more approachable monarch than his mother. She was a woman of her time, and not given to public displays of emotion. But, from the off, Charles showed that he was open to a hug – even a group hug – from total strangers. And that has endeared him to the public.
“But it is on the international stage that he has earned the most admiration. Skilfully, subtly, he has delivered some pointed messages to President Trump. He flew to Canada to open the Parliament, where he declared that part of north America to be ‘strong and free’.
“He charmed Trump on his state visit to Windsor, and then wowed the world with some fiendishly well-chosen words during his recent trip to the United States.
Andrew with his older brother King Charles(Image: Getty)
“Charles has not only proved that he is a consummate diplomat – as was his mother – but that he is willing to confront issues that are clearly political though, crucially, not party political. He will stand up for this country and this planet – and his words carry weight and influence, especially with a devoted royalist like President Trump.”
However, royal sources suggest Charles will not bask in the triumph of his “high stakes” mission to the US, where he executed several key historic moments, such as his address to the Joint session of Congress, but instead is already focussed on the year ahead.
The King is expected to travel to Antigua and Barbuda in the Autumn, where he will once again play a key role at Chogm in his role as head of the Commonwealth.
One palace source said: “This is a man who is absolutely driven by duty. Driven by service. Those objectives that we set ourselves were achieved, and I think at the end of it we felt it had gone well.” But Jennie says even though the last three years may have been extremely difficult, there is still a lot for the King to celebrate.
She added: “I think Charles can be pleased with the way he has dealt with the three difficult years since his Coronation. Few men of his age and living with cancer would want such a busy life and the responsibilities that come with his job.
“But Charles appears to relish it and still seems in a hurry to get as much done as he can during what will inevitably be a relatively short reign – at least compared to the late Queen’s seven extraordinary decades.”
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