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The British monarchy should have ceased to exist long ago. In an age when institutions the world over are questioned if not crumbling, a hereditary monarchy and the classism it protects is ripe for elimination. That it has survived this long speaks to the steady leadership of Queen Elizabeth II, who died Sept. 8 at age 96, after more than 70 years on the throne. It falls now to Charles III, Britain’s longest-serving king-in-waiting, and oldest monarch to take the throne, to keep the palace show going. Since his birth in 1948, Charles has been the future sovereign. That fact ruled his childhood and school days, defined his career and dictated his romantic life (with disastrous early results).
Welcome to Post Elizabeth, a new Post Opinions newsletter about the royal family. I’m Autumn Brewington, associate Opinions editor and a former royal blogger for The Post.
For 73 years, Charles has been a prince on the verge. On his first full day as king, he made a quick start — greeting well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace (one woman even kissed him) and was received warmly. People gathered outside the palace are likely to be fans, of course, but Charles is not as popular as his mother was, and there have long been doubts about how he would be accepted as king.
His address to the nation…
