How King Charles has managed his difficult first year – The Global Story podcast, BBC World Service

Summary

The BBC World Service's 'The Global Story' discusses the first year of King Charles III's reign, which has been marked by significant challenges including health issues within the royal family, political tensions, and the need to redefine the monarchy for the 21st century. The show examines King Charles's approach to his new role, the public's perception of the monarchy, and the impact of events such as the King's cancer diagnosis and treatment. It also touches on the younger generation's relationship with the royal family, the potential for the monarchy to remain relevant, and the future of the institution. The discussion includes insights from royal reporter Sarah Campbell and journalist Robert Hardman, who has written extensively on the royal family.

Takeaways

• 👑 **King Charles III's Reign**: The first year of King Charles III's reign has been marked by significant challenges including health issues, family disputes, and political controversies.
• 🏥 **Health Concerns**: King Charles III and other members of the royal family have faced serious health challenges, with the King undergoing cancer treatment.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 **Family Dynamics**: The royal family has experienced turmoil, with Prince Harry's book 'Spare' revealing intimate family details and his relationship with the King showing signs of improvement.
• 🎉 **Public Engagements**: Despite health issues, King Charles III has made efforts to fulfill his public duties, with notable engagements such as visiting a cancer hospital.
• 📉 **Popularity and Perception**: There is a generational divide in the public's view of the monarchy, with younger people being less supportive and a growing interest in an elected head of state.
• 👮‍♂️ **Political Involvement**: King Charles III has had to navigate the line between political advocacy and the neutral role expected of a monarch, especially regarding his environmental concerns.
• 🎈 **Royal Traditions**: The King has continued to participate in traditional royal activities, such as the Easter service, indicating a commitment to maintaining royal customs.
• 🌐 **Media Coverage**: The media has increasingly focused on the King's work and health, with events being more publicly documented, possibly due to the public's interest in the monarchy's future.
• 👉 **Future Events**: Upcoming events like the King's birthday parade and the Commonwealth summit will be key indicators of the King's ability to resume a full schedule and address international issues.
• 👁️ **Public Interest**: There is a heightened public interest in the monarchy's relevance and role in modern society, especially considering its historical connections and the potential for change.
• 👑 **Monarchical Role**: The King's role has shifted from his time as Prince of Wales, with less overt political engagement expected as he now represents a more neutral figurehead.

Q & A

What was the significance of King Charles III's reign being marked by illness, family troubles, and political turmoil?

The significance lies in the challenges King Charles III faced during his first year as monarch, which tested his ability to redefine the role of the monarch for the 21st century amidst personal and political difficulties.

How did King Charles III's interaction with the public the day after he became King impact the public's perception of him?

King Charles III's decision to stop his car and engage directly with the crowd outside the palace humanized him and changed the tone and mood on the spot, making a positive impression on the public.

What was the public's reaction to King Charles III's return to public duties after his health concerns?

The public reacted with a sense of warmth and authenticity, especially as he shared details about his own cancer therapy while visiting a cancer hospital, showing empathy and relatability.

How has King Charles III's health affected his ability to perform his duties as monarch?

King Charles III has made every effort to perform his duties behind the scenes, but his public appearances were limited until medical advice allowed for a gradual return to a more active schedule.

What was the public's response to the increased visibility of King Charles III's work, such as the budget briefing tradition?

The public showed more interest in these traditions due to concerns over the King's health, and the increased visibility helped to humanize and demystify the monarch's role.

How did the personal challenges faced by the royal family, including health issues and family dynamics, impact the institution of the monarchy?

The personal challenges highlighted the vulnerability of the royal family and tested the monarchy's ability to adapt and maintain public support during difficult times.

What was the reaction to Prince Harry's return to the UK following the King's cancer diagnosis?

Prince Harry's return was seen as a positive step and marked a potential turning point in his relationship with the royal family, as it was well received and conducted privately.

How did the public perceive the commercial ventures of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, compared to Prince Charles's past commercial activities?

While Prince Charles's commercial activities were seen as charitable, Meghan's ventures were viewed as purely commercial, leading to a different public perception and some criticism.

What is the general sentiment towards the British monarchy among the younger generation?

There is a generational split, with only 30% of 18-to-24-year-olds believing the monarch is good for Britain, indicating a challenge for the monarchy to remain relevant to younger citizens.

How has King Charles III's relationship with the government been since becoming monarch, particularly regarding his political involvement?

King Charles III has had to adjust from his previous political engagement as Prince of Wales, taking a more formal and less overtly political role as monarch, following constitutional guidelines.

What are some key events and milestones to watch for in the coming months regarding King Charles III's kingship?

Key events to watch include the King's public appearances at commemorations like the D-Day anniversary, Trooping the Colour, state visits, and his role in the upcoming Commonwealth summit in Samoa.

Outlines

00:00

👑 The Reign of King Charles III: Challenges and Public Perception

Adam Fleming introduces the program discussing the first year of King Charles III's reign, highlighting significant challenges such as health issues, family disputes, and political unrest. The show aims to explore how King Charles has handled these issues, the public's sentiment towards the monarchy, and the future of the institution. Guests include BBC's Sarah Campbell and journalist Robert Hardman, who has written extensively about the royal family. The discussion touches on the King's first public appearance after the death of Queen Elizabeth II and his recent visit to a cancer hospital amidst his own cancer treatment.

05:03

🏥 Royal Health Concerns and Family Dynamics

The panel discusses the health challenges faced by the royal family, including King Charles III and Catherine, Princess of Wales. They also delve into the family's personal struggles and the impact of these events on the public image of the monarchy. The conversation includes the King's visit to his daughter-in-law's bedside in the hospital, the return of Prince Harry to the UK following the King's diagnosis, and the release of Harry's book 'Spare,' which offers a candid look at his life within the royal family.

10:07

🌿 King Charles III's Political Stance and Environmental Advocacy

The discussion shifts to King Charles III's political involvement and advocacy for issues close to his heart, such as architecture, climate change, nature, and the arts. The panel recalls his past actions as Prince of Wales and how they contrast with his more restrained role as monarch. They also cover the King's approach to climate activism, including his decision not to attend a COP climate conference in Egypt and the subsequent hosting of an alternative event at Buckingham Palace.

15:12

🏛 The Monarchy's Relevance and Public Support

The final paragraph focuses on the British monarchy's relevance in contemporary society, addressing generational differences in public opinion and the rise in republican sentiment. The panelists discuss the monarchy's connection to the British Empire and the challenges it faces due to its historical context. They also consider the impact of protests and the importance of the monarchy's ability to remain relevant to the public. The conversation concludes with a look ahead to future events and engagements that will indicate how King Charles III will continue his kingship.

Keywords

💡King Charles III

King Charles III is the new monarch of Britain, who was crowned one year prior to the discussion in the transcript. His reign is considered a pivotal moment for the royal family, offering an opportunity to redefine the role of the monarch in the 21st century. The keyword is central to the video's theme as it explores the challenges and public perception of King Charles III's first year on the throne.

💡Coronation

The coronation refers to the ceremony and formal inauguration of King Charles III as the monarch. It is a significant event that marks the beginning of his reign. In the context of the video, the coronation is mentioned as a starting point for the various challenges and events that have occurred over the past year.

💡Health challenges

Health challenges refer to the medical issues faced by King Charles III and other members of the royal family, such as cancer treatments and surgeries. These challenges have impacted the King's ability to carry out his duties and have been a concern for the public. The script discusses how these health issues have affected the perception and operation of the monarchy.

💡Political turmoil

Political turmoil denotes the unrest or instability in the government or political sphere that has occurred during King Charles III's first year. The transcript mentions this in relation to the broader challenges faced by the monarchy, indicating that the King's reign has not been without difficulties in the political landscape of the UK.

💡Public duties

Public duties are the official responsibilities and engagements that King Charles III carries out as part of his role as monarch. The transcript discusses his return to these duties after a period of illness, highlighting the importance of his presence at events like visiting a cancer hospital despite his own health challenges.

💡Monarchical role

The monarchical role refers to the functions, rights, and duties of a monarch, especially in the context of modern society. The video explores how King Charles III is navigating and potentially redefining this role for the 21st century, taking into account his personal interests and the expectations of the public.

💡Royal family dynamics

Royal family dynamics pertain to the relationships and interactions within the royal family, including how they handle public and private matters. The script touches on various family issues, such as the departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the health concerns of senior members, which have influenced public perception and the functioning of the monarchy.

💡Republican movement

The republican movement is a political stance or group advocating for the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic. The transcript discusses the increased activity of this movement following the death of the previous monarch and how it reflects changing public sentiment towards the institution of the monarchy.

💡Commonwealth

The Commonwealth refers to the political association of 54 member states, nearly all of which are former territories of the British Empire. The keyword is relevant as the transcript mentions an upcoming Commonwealth summit and the role of King Charles III as the head of the Commonwealth, indicating the international dimension of the monarchy.

💡COP climate change conference

The COP (Conference of the Parties) climate change conference is an annual international meeting to assess progress in dealing with climate change. The transcript notes King Charles III's interest in attending such conferences, reflecting his personal commitment to environmental issues and how it intersects with his public role.

💡YouGov polls

YouGov polls are surveys conducted by YouGov, an international internet-based market research and data analytics firm. The transcript references these polls to illustrate the generational split in public opinion regarding the monarchy, with younger individuals being less inclined to view the monarch as beneficial to Britain.

Highlights

The reign of King Charles III marks a critical turning point for the British royal family, offering a chance to redefine the monarch's role for the 21st century.

The past year has been challenging for King Charles III, with illness, family troubles, and political turmoil affecting the monarchy.

King Charles III's first public appearance after his mother's death demonstrated a new approach by engaging directly with the public, altering the mood on the spot.

The King's recent return to public duties, including a visit to a cancer hospital, showed a warm and authentic side, especially as he is undergoing his own cancer therapy.

Despite health challenges, King Charles has been active behind the scenes and has gradually returned to public engagements as advised by his doctors.

The King's health situation led to unprecedented openness about royal medical details, a new territory for the royal family.

Prince Harry's return to the UK following the King's cancer diagnosis was seen as a potential turning point in their relationship.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's departure has impacted the monarchy's ability to appeal to a younger and more diverse generation.

The King's relationship with his subjects shows a generational split, with younger people being less convinced of the monarchy's relevance.

King Charles III is known for his interests in areas such as architecture, climate, nature, alternative medicines, and the arts.

The King's approach to his new role has changed since becoming monarch, with less overt political involvement.

The King's commitment to the environment was evident when he hosted an event at Buckingham Palace in lieu of attending the COP climate conference in Egypt.

The British public's view on the monarchy is complex, with a majority still in favor, but an increasing number leaning towards an elected head of state.

The monarchy faces challenges from its historical connections, including its ties to the British Empire and allegations of links to slavery.

The republican movement has become more vocal since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, with protests and incidents of public discontent.

Observers will be watching for King Charles III's public appearances and his approach to kingship in the coming months, including major events and international visits.

The King's birthday parade and the Trooping the Colour event will be significant indicators of his health and commitment to royal duties.

An upcoming Commonwealth summit in Samoa will be a key moment for the King, as it addresses tensions within the Commonwealth on various issues.

Transcripts

Hello, I'm Adam Fleming, and from the BBC  World Service, this is The Global Story. 

One year ago, the world watched as Britain crowned  a new monarch for the first time in seven decades. 

The reign of King Charles III was predicted to be  a critical turning point for the royal family, a  

chance to redefine the role of the monarch for the  21st century. But, what a 12 months it's been. The  

year since Charles's coronation has been marked by  illness, family troubles, and political turmoil.  

Today we'll look at how the King has navigated  each of these challenges, how the British people  

feel about their monarch, and what does the future  hold for the institution of the British Monarchy? 

And with me today are my BBC colleague,  presenter and royal reporter Sarah Campbell. 

Hello, Sarah. Hello to you. 

And also joining us is Robert Hardman, who's  a journalist who writes for The Daily Mail.  

He's a royal biographer whose latest book  is called Charles III, New King, New Court,  

The Inside Story. And you also co-produced  a BBC documentary called Charles III. 

Hello, Adam, that's right. Busy man. I mean, Robert, you've covered  

the royals for a very, very long time. I think  whenever there's a big royal event, I just think  

of you sitting there next to David Dimbleby, who  presented them for a long time, or Kirsty Young,  

who's doing them now. There's literally a thousand  years to draw on when we talk about the royals,  

but from your time observing them, is there a  moment that you think just is the quintessential  

'that is Charles, that's who, that's the moment  you sort of can pinpoint that's who he is'? 

Yeah I think it was the day after he became King  actually, we were all still kind of in a state of  

national shock after the death of Elizabeth II  and he suddenly arrived outside the palace and  

he stopped his car outside the gates, didn't  drive in, and just plunged straight into the  

crowd and it just changed it changed the tone and  the mood on the spot it was it was fascinating. 

And Sarah the biggest moment in the royal news  cycle in the last few days was the King's return  

to public duties and he went to a cancer  hospital what was that event like to cover? 

Yeah well I think there are parallels actually  with them with what Robert was talking about  

because there was this expectation or concern and  there's been so much concern over the last couple  

of months about, you know, what's the state of  the King's health? What is he going to be like?  

So there was, I don't know I think there was a  sense of 'what's going to happen?' And then a  

real sense of warmth when he immediately,  the Bentley pulled up. There had been,  

like every royal engagement I've ever covered,  there was a big press pack there. You know,  

the photographers jostling for position, we were  in the midst of lots of skyscrapers, there were  

people sort of leaning out of windows trying to  get a glimpse of the King. And he emerged from the  

Bentley with the Queen and just had this beaming  smile and he just looked really happy to be there. 

There was an authenticity, wasn't there?  Because he was speaking to cancer patients,  

talking about their therapy, chemotherapy that  they were going through, knowing that he's going  

through his own cancer therapy at the moment and  sort of giving little details about his treatment,  

saying he was going off to have some  further treatment later in the day. 

What's your take on just how active he's been as  a monarch while he's been getting his treatment? 

He's made every effort behind the scenes  to do what he can but it's only really  

in the last few weeks or so that the doctors,  everything is obviously down to medical advice,  

is what his doctors say he can do. The first  time we saw him in public was at the Easter  

service on the Sunday when he came out of  the service. And that was the first sort of  

mini walkabout that he gave. And again, that was  another, like the moment at the cancer centre,  

that was a really positive sign that they're  feeling that he's, you know, able to do this. 

I just noticed them sort of bigging up things that  had never been bigged up before. So for example,  

we had a budget where Jeremy Hunt, the  chancellor, the British finance minister,  

would always go to the palace to brief the  monarch on the contents of the budget. We  

knew that that was a tradition, but they made damn  sure that that was filmed this time and put it out  

on social media so you could see him at work. I think, actually, we're more interested in those  

things because of the nature of the King's health. It's interesting, though, because the air of  

crisis around the King's health  dissipated very very quickly. 

It was actually the day in January where we had  the two announcements within an hour and a half  

of each other that first of all Catherine,  Princess of Wales, had undergone this major  

abdominal surgery and then two hours later we had  the fact that the King was having to undergo this  

hospital treatment. And so already you're kind of  like 'gosh, I don't remember something like that  

with two senior members, the most senior members  of the royal family'. And then two weeks later,  

you have the King's cancer diagnosis. And  yeah, then as we know, the following month,  

his daughter-in-law as well. So it has been  an extraordinary, extraordinarily difficult  

time for a family on a personal level, but  also for the royal family as an institution. 

Robert, with all your years of experience, that  moment where it was briefed to journalists that  

when both Charles and Catherine were in the  same hospital at the same time, and he'd like,  

toddled down the corridor in his dressing  gown to go and sit at the end of her bed.  

Is that a sort of unprecedented kind of  level of domestic detail for that family? 

I think the whole approach to medical  details is just new territory. 

Sarah, not to make it sound like the Netflix  series The Crown, but at some points plot  

lines converged, didn't they? So for example,  as soon as the King's diagnosis was announced,  

Harry, his younger son, who's in exile in  air quotes in California, dashed back. And  

actually, that felt like a new chapter in their  relationship. And talking of chapters, like Harry  

wrote a book last year called Spare, which was  basically brutal, like brutal about his family. 

It was brutal about his family. Funnily enough,  I wouldn't say it was brutal about the King.  

Certainly very exposing and gave a level  of detail, even if it wasn't brutal detail,  

it was still a level of exposure that the  Windsors would not like to have there. 

I think it was the breach of trust that hurt them  more than the actual, I mean, it wasn't brutal,  

certainly wasn't brutal about the king or about... Okay, well, I meant more like brutally honest. 

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it was, it'd be, yeah. I think  it was quite an affectionate portrait, you know,  

he talked about sort of, you know, dear old  dad listening to audio books in the bath and  

trying to do his best as a sort of single  parent. It was affectionate in many places.  

But going back to him flying over when the  King was diagnosed, I think that did mark a  

sort of turning point of sorts. I think it was  well received. I think what was particularly  

well received is the fact that Harry came, met his  dad, went back to California, and it didn't leak. 

Here's an interesting little sidebar though. So  the big news story lately about Harry's wife,  

Meghan, is her producing these jams, which have  got a slightly weird name. And people sort of,  

like, kind of laugh a little bit about it,  although I'm sure she's selling them in droves, so  

she's got the last laugh. But yeah, when Charles  was the Prince of Wales, he sold like a range of  

biscuits, which people thought were really good.  And he wasn't pilloried for selling biscuits. 

I suppose the key difference is, yeah, the  Duchy originals, which were his biscuits were,  

apart from being sold in locally and in sort  of supermarket chains across the country,  

but the proceeds of that were going  to a charitable foundation and still  

do in fact. Whereas, yeah, the Duchess'  new venture is a purely commercial one. 

But Sarah, this is the great thing about  covering the British royals, is that one  

minute you're talking about the health of the  King, which is an incredibly serious subject.  

And then the next minute you are talking about  jam and biscuits, that sort of sums up like,  

the sort of weird institution that this is. That is the joy of it. And of course, whether  

you talk about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as  being royals or not, you know, Buckingham Palace,  

they don't comment on them because they're not  working members of the royal family. So there  

is this kind of weird separation that they  are royal, but they kind of aren't royal. 

People have been talking about Prince Andrew  again. So the King's younger brother who had  

been friends with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted  sex offender who took his own life when he was in  

prison. And we've been talking about it again  because, sorry, another Netflix advert here,  

other streaming services are available, because  there's a Netflix drama about the big interview  

that the BBC did with Prince Andrew that  basically led to him being stripped of  

his royal duties. Have we had any hints about  how the King is managing the Andrew situation? 

Well, I guess one might argue, and Robert, I'm  happy for you to take this one, The King's been  

otherwise engaged, I think, over the last couple  of months. So perhaps hasn't been watching Scoop.  

I'm not sure. I'm not sure, we'll see. But it's  a difficult issue, I think, isn't it for Andrew?  

So the Newsnight interview was what, back in 2019,  and he had his titles stripped, he's not a working  

member of the royal family, but as you say, he's  still around because he is, and always will be,  

a member of the royal family, he is the King's  brother, younger brother. And so at family events,  

and I think this is what the public has difficulty  coming to terms with the why we're seeing Prince  

Andrew, he's not a working member of the  royal family, but you will see him at family  

events. So the coronation, which was sort of  a family event, you've got the Easter service,  

he was there, you know, because that is a, you know, a family event. So he will always  

be in the mix. And, you know, the King,  I would say it's a very difficult issue  

to deal with, as I guess it is in families. He's there, he kind of effectively, you know,  

he's living in the compound. I mean, he's on  the Windsor estate. And anything to do with  

public roles, public life, that's over for him. Let's delve into the politics a bit because Sarah,  

rewind us back to a few years when  he was the Prince of Wales. Actually,  

we got quite used to him making, getting  involved in politics a bit, like, not in  

a major way and not in an overtly political way,  but he would make his views known, wouldn't he? 

He was very not backwards in coming forwards  about putting forward his two penneth,  

writing letters to ministers and they've been  asked about it, haven't they? And they've said,  

well, you know, we got them and we either read  them or didn't read them. We appreciated that he,  

you know, knew what he was talking about. And that  was as far as it went. And I was looking back at  

one interview that he gave in 2018, one of the  documentaries, and he was specifically asked when  

you become monarch, are you going to keep doing  this? And his answer was, 'well, that would be,  

you know, that would be nonsense. Of course,  I'm not going to do that'. It's a very different  

role being the heir to the throne and being  the monarch. And I think that has been quite  

interesting to see that, to see that play out. And in terms of the issues that we knew he  

cared about, I'm just thinking off  the top of my head, architecture,  

climate and nature, and alternative medicines  like homeopathy. I would say those to me. 

And the arts. And the arts in general, yeah, yeah. 

Education, you know. I mean, I remember around about the coronation  

interviewing Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer of  many great musicals like Phantom of the Opera and  

Evita, and he was saying, 'oh yeah, one day I got  a call from him because he was very worried that  

there were not enough people playing the organ  anymore and that was something I was worried  

about too so we had we had a summit about how to  make sure people were still playing the organ'. 

He's actually produced or presented his own BBC  documentary years ago on Parry the great composer,  

the composer of I Was Glad, sort of  one of the great coronation pieces. 

Although I'm thinking of a time when actually  he did seem quite overtly political, and it was  

around the COP climate change conference in Egypt  in 2022, where we were all assuming that he was  

going to go because he cared about climate change,  but then Liz Truss, the then Prime Minister,  

'her again', sort of vetoed him going,  and then he used his convening power  

to basically host a sort of almost like rival  event at Buckingham Palace a few days before. 

I mean, it was very early on, it was shortly after  the late Queen had died. So it was really, it was  

a real test actually of what the relationship with  the government's like. And I think people assumed  

that because of his backstory with climate,  that he would absolutely be going to COP in  

Sharm. And so it was quite a surprise. It was a  very interesting judgment call. And ultimately,  

it was a case of the King taking the formal  advice of his Prime Minister, and that's his  

constitutional role but there was also within his  circle and certainly at the palace there wasn't a  

huge objection because actually, when you become  King, where you go first on your very first visit,  

like when you're a new US president, huge thought  is given to where do you go first because it's  

a real statement. You're right at the time it  was a big talking point, 'the King's not going,  

we know he's fascinated and loves the environment  and this is a big thing'. But then a year later,  

he did go to COP when it was in the UAE. Unless we rapidly repair and restore nature's  

unique economy based on harmony and balance, which  is our ultimate sustainer, our own economy and  

survivability will be imperilled. Let's try and get a handle on  

the king's relationship with his  subjects, like the British people. 

I think the big split is a generational  split. So in terms of the challenges going  

forward with the king, and obviously the  first challenge is the health challenge,  

once that's been sorted. But if you look at  the latest YouGov polls, this was September  

23. 30 % of 18-to-24-year -olds say the monarch  is good for Britain. 30%. So it's not a lot, 30%. 

62% overall want to keep the monarchy.  So there are issues there. In 2013,  

17% wanted an elected head of state. In 2023,  it was 26% want an elected head of state.  

So although the numbers aren't still going  one way, it's a challenge for the monarchy  

and it's certainly a challenge I think for the  younger generation. I think that's what's been  

particularly difficult with the Duke and Duchess  of Sussex leaving the family, is that actually in  

terms of their ability to appeal to a completely  different generation and a diverse generation  

is that they're now gone for the monarchy. It's never going to be the mob storming the palace  

gates that brings the monarchy down it's going to  be you know a lack of relevance. It's going to be  

people waking up one morning and thinking, 'well,  what's the point of you?' So they have to keep  

relevant. And particularly when at the same time,  you know, the monarchy is seen as representing a  

lot of old things that aren't so good. It's seen  as, you know, empire, colonialism, there's a whole  

debate on, you know, its connections with  the British Empire, going further back,  

you know, allegations of links to slavery. I  mean, all this sort of stuff is a challenge.  

But overall, I mean, the settled view of the  large majority of people in this country is that  

they are content with this system of government.  It's totally irrational. Everybody gets that. If  

you were starting a new country. You wouldn't start from here. 

You wouldn't start a new  country, you wouldn't say,  

'right, I'm gonna give that family everything,  lots of big houses and a crown forever'. You  

wouldn't do it but it's where we are. And certainly the republican movement  

has been much more active since  the death of the Queen in the 

sense that now when the King and Queen,  when they were out and about you'd quite  

often see the yellow flags, you know belonging  to Republic. Of course there was an egg I think  

thrown at the King. Yes, in York. 

One of the when the very early engagements. A yolk in York. 

And that all just kind of didn't happen.  So there's an increasingly vocal anti... 

Although you're right, we did see quite a bit  of that in the early days after the change of  

reign. I think hardcore republicans thought  this is our moment, this is where we've got  

to capitalise on the uncertainty. And you did see  these protests wherever the King went, you know,  

'not my king', but they were small, but they were  very vocal, they were very well-organised. It was  

their right to be there. They weren't trying  to stop them being there. There was obviously  

that very questionable incident on coronation  day when some of them were arrested for merely  

protesting. I mean, that, I think, that upset. Including, I think, someone who'd actually gone  

because they loved the royal family. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

They were trying to see them. Oh, the palace were appalled by this it's like,  

'why, why, on all this day of all days, don't  start arresting the handful of republicans who've  

turned up'. It's just, it was an overreaction by  the police. I think they're still looking into it. 

Right, let's draw this episode to a close. What  are some things you will be watching out for in  

the next few months to kind of gauge how  King Charles is going about his kingship? 

Well, primarily it's whether he's getting back  onto his summer schedule, whether he appears at  

the D-Day anniversary commemorations, whether he's  at Trooping the Colour, you know, state visits,  

all of that. I mean, I think everything feels  a little bit like the coronation year hasn't  

really started. It started and then it's been on  pause. And so really hopefully looking forward  

to getting back and let's not forget that he  is King, not just here, but he's head of state  

in 14 other realms. Would Australia like to  have their monarch come and visit them? Yes,  

would all of these other realms? So that was,  all of these things that should have been in  

the planning that have had to be put on pause,  so we want to see the pause button taken off. 

Robert? There are some  

big ticket events both here in Britain as you say,  his birthday parade I think that's very important,  

Trooping the Colour as it's known, will he be  on a horse or not? I hope he's not. I think he's  

more than earned the right to ride in a carriage  like his mother did in her later years. But also,  

you know, big events, there is a big Commonwealth  summit coming up in the Pacific in Samoa in  

October. That's a very big moment because,  you know, there are all sorts of tensions  

within the Commonwealth over everything  from historic justice to the environment. 

Robert, thank you very much. Thank you Adam. 

And Sarah, thanks to you, too. You're welcome. 

And thank you to you for watching. If you would  like to hear more episodes of The Global Story,  

then search for us wherever you get your  podcasts.And you can leave comments about  

this episode down below. Bye for now.