5 key moments in King Charles’ first year on the throne
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King Charles marks his first year as king on Sept 8.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON - King Charles marks his first year as king
1. Inaugural address
King Charles succeeded his mother Queen Elizabeth II immediately after her death at the age of 96
He appeared visibly moved in his first televised address
“To my darling mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late papa, I want simply to say this: Thank you,” he said.
King Charles conferred the title of Prince of Wales to his eldest son and heir Prince William, and expressed his love for younger son Harry and his wife Meghan, who left the royal fold in 2020.
The king had been at his mother’s bedside as she passed away at Balmoral in northeast Scotland, then returning to London to greet crowds outside Buckingham Palace who had gathered to pay their respects.
He toured the UK during the 10-day mourning period before his mother’s state funeral
2. Christmas message
King Charles made his first Christmas address
From St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, west of London, where his mother and father Philip were laid to rest, he again thanked people for the “love and sympathy” expressed following her death.
He also hailed the “heartfelt solidarity” of Britons helping others struggling with a worsening cost of living crisis.
More than 10.6 million people watched the speech in the UK – a record.
3. Crowning glory
Britain’s King Charles III wearing the Imperial state Crown, waves from the Buckingham Palace balcony after viewing the Royal Air Force fly-past in central London on May 6, 2023, after his coronation.
PHOTO: AFP
The religious ceremony to officially recognise King Charles as king
The coronation was the first in Britain since his mother’s in 1953 and the first of a king since 1937. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed the golden Crown of St Edward on his head.
Most of the Christian ceremony stayed true to its ancient roots but the service was adapted to reflect the changing nature and diversity of modern Britain.
King Charles’s younger son Prince Harry, who in January published a tell-all memoir about royal life,
4. State visit
King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla had been due in France in March for their first state visit but the trip was postponed due to civil unrest
Instead, the couple headed to Germany, where King Charles made a historic speech mainly in German at the parliament building in Berlin.
In it, he called for unity against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and deplored the return of conflict to Europe.
The France visit has been rescheduled for later this month
5. ‘Not my king’
A protester holds up a ‘Not My King’ placard in the crowd as people wait to greet Britain’s King Charles III and Britain’s Queen Camilla during their visit to The great Tapestry of Scotland visitor centre in Edinburgh, on July 6, 2023.
PHOTO: AFP
The death of Queen Elizabeth II provided British republicans with an opportunity to publicise their calls to abolish the monarchy
Protesters waving placards and wearing yellow t-shirts proclaiming “not my king” have become a common sight at royal walkabouts in the last year.
At the coronation, hundreds gathered in London’s Trafalgar Square and some 60 were arrested
King Charles also had to contend with egg-throwing
