Will Charles be Britain’s last monarch? It is the eve of his coronation. But very few people seem to care. Some think it could mark the beginning of the end for the Royal Family.
Four in five Brits tuning out of coronation
Will Charles be Britain's last monarch? It is the eve of his coronation. But very few people seem to care. Some think it could mark the beginning of the end for the Royal Family.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper" id="crosshead"><strong>Dethroned</strong></h2>
June 1953. Twenty-seven million British people sat glued to the television as the fresh-faced 25-year-old Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster AbbeyA large church in London. Many British kings and queens are buried there.. Almost 1.5 million had bought a TV licence specially for the occasion. Another 11 million listened in by radio.
Seventy years later, Britain is about to crown her successor. On Saturday, Charles III will ascend the throne. But this time around, the public mood is very different.
A YouGovA British public opinion and polling company. It was co-founded by Nadhim Zahawi, a Conservative Party politician. poll has found only 20% of British people likely to watch Charles' coronation - approximately 13.4 million people.1 Far fewer than in 1953. And far below the 29 million who watched Elizabeth's funeral.
The apathy is joined by alarm. Shakespeare wrote: "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown". And Charles certainly seems uneasy. The coronation will be the "biggest security operation ever".
A "ring of steel" of 11,500 police officers will guard the royals. Protestors will be profiled with controversial facial recognition software. Some critics claim it sounds like something you would expect from an authoritarianEnforcing strict obedience to authority. dictator rather than a liberal democracy.
There are numerous reasons for this decline in interest. Britain is facing a cost of living crisis.2 The "cost of bread", writes Mark Landler in The New York Times, seems more important than "bread-and-circusesA phrase used to describe people being satisfied by food and entertainment, thereby forgetting the real issues. It goes back to Roman times. ". By comparison, the privileged lives of the royals appear deeply unfair. A £50m to £100m ceremony only underlines the problem.
For Elizabeth's 70-year reign, we knew little about her. But we know a lot about Charles already - from his messy divorce to embarrassing memos and petty huffs.
It is not just him. Scandal has dogged the Royal Family in recent years, from allegations against Prince Andrew, exposures of tax avoidance schemes3 and the never-ending spats with Prince HarryThe second son of Britain's King Charles III. He decided to leave the UK to move to the USA in 2020. and Meghan Markle. Some ask why Britons should respect the royals - never mind pledge allegianceLoyalty. In medieval times a courtier would address the lord he served as "My liege". to them?
Now, a few commentators believe that the royal goose might be cooked. There is a perception that the family's existence is undemocratic. The principle that one family deserves extraordinary wealth and the loyalty of subjects clashes with ideas of fairness and merit.
A generational shift may be its doom. In an April recent YouGov poll, 75% surveyed between 18 and 24 said they did not care "very much" or "at all".4 As 20-year old Jake Pocklington said to The Guardian: "they're an oppressive symbol from a bygone age and in my opinion should be abolished".
Others argue that these tensions are overstated. People might not care about the coronation. But there is even less appetite for sacking the royals altogether. As of April, only 26% of British people wanted to abolish the monarchy. To get rid of it will likely prove a complex process. The king is the head of stateThe public person who officially represents the unity and legitimacy of a state.. Who would replace him?
Many like the novelty the family brings. As one 30-year old civil servantCivil servants help the government develop and carry out policies. They are non-political. told The Guardian, "the monarchy provides an excuse for spectacular national events". And without such moments of pomp, what would Britain be left with?
Yes: The monarchy breathes the oxygen of popularity and public goodwill. If it cannot serve as a unifying force, then there is no point to it. Under Charles it looks to diminish to complete irrelevance.
No: Kings of England have gone mad, been slain in battle and executed by red-hot poker, but the monarchy has remained. A quiet period of disinterest might not be a bad thing for its survival.
Or... He may not be the last to be crowned. But as countries flee the Commonwealth and some in Scotland seek to leave the union, his successor might be king of a much smaller, less significant dominion.
Westminster Abbey - A large church in London. Many British kings and queens are buried there.
YouGov - A British public opinion and polling company. It was co-founded by Nadhim Zahawi, a Conservative Party politician.
Authoritarian - Enforcing strict obedience to authority.
Bread-and-circuses - A phrase used to describe people being satisfied by food and entertainment, thereby forgetting the real issues. It goes back to Roman times.
Prince Harry - The second son of Britain's King Charles III. He decided to leave the UK to move to the USA in 2020.
Allegiance - Loyalty. In medieval times a courtier would address the lord he served as "My liege".
Head of State - The public person who officially represents the unity and legitimacy of a state.
Civil servant - Civil servants help the government develop and carry out policies. They are non-political.
<h5 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper" id="question"><strong>Will Charles be Britain's last monarch? </strong></h5>
Four in five Brits tuning out of coronation

Glossary
Westminster Abbey - A large church in London. Many British kings and queens are buried there.
YouGov - A British public opinion and polling company. It was co-founded by Nadhim Zahawi, a Conservative Party politician.
Authoritarian - Enforcing strict obedience to authority.
Bread-and-circuses - A phrase used to describe people being satisfied by food and entertainment, thereby forgetting the real issues. It goes back to Roman times.
Prince Harry - The second son of Britain's King Charles III. He decided to leave the UK to move to the USA in 2020.
Allegiance - Loyalty. In medieval times a courtier would address the lord he served as "My liege".
Head of State - The public person who officially represents the unity and legitimacy of a state.
Civil servant - Civil servants help the government develop and carry out policies. They are non-political.