The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been away from the royal family for a few years, when they moved to the United States.
The death of Queen Elizabeth II brought with it countless changes to the British monarchy. Starting with the ascension of her first-born son as the new king of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations, and continuing with the change of titles of the royal family, the words of the national anthem, the face of the pound sterling, among others.
Faced with this, this Friday, September 9, King Charles III gave his first public speech as official monarch, in which, in addition to remembering the great love that his mother had for the nation, he unexpectedly sent a message to Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, who had almost irreconcilable problems with the Crown in the past.
It is worth noting that Harry and Meghan decided a few years ago to move their place of residence to the United States and put aside their participation in the affairs of the royal family and, in several interviews, the Duchess of Sussex has even expressed her disagreement with the Crown. British; However, it seems that the rise of King Charles would be bringing other airs to the relationship of this couple with her relatives.
“I also want to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives abroad,” was King Charles III's message to his son and daughter-in-law. Although simple, his words were significant, as he could have put the topic aside and not mentioned them, but instead decided to wish them well and “express his love” in their projects outside the United Kingdom.
There was only one attempt to make England a republic. It lasted just eleven years and happened in the middle of the 17th century. In 1660 the crown regained its place in island society and no one could ever again dethrone it.
That is why the serenity with which the British have welcomed Charles III, officially proclaimed king this Saturday, should not be surprising.
For the first time they televised part of the ceremony, which took place in a maroon-lined room at St James's Palace, at a meeting of the Accession Council, attended by advisers from the monarchy, the mayor of the British capital, Boris Johnson, Toni Blair, among other political personalities.
First they declared the queen dead, then they pronounced the name of Charles III. Afterwards, Penny Mordaunt, leader of the House of Commons and spokesperson for that institution, which may sound nineteenth-century and strange to us, read the so-called Principal Proclamation that announced the longest-serving Prince of Wales as the new monarch. And she gave way to the words of her Majesty.
As everything takes place under strict protocol, this Saturday in the cloud-filled London sky, the flags were raised again on their flagpoles, a gesture that will last 26 hours and is intended to receive the king and queen consort with honors.
The firm respect for traditions, the seriousness with which British society accepts all the norms that some outside the islands will find outdated, is one of the reasons for the majesty and power that the monarchical institution transmits.
It should be noted that in all the surveys carried out over the years, the monarchy obtains 70% popular support. For the British, their system of parliamentary monarchy has paid off well and there is no reason to change it.
While the new king begins his journey in London, tributes to Elizabeth II continue.
A human river walked through Hyde Park towards the main entrance of Buckingham Palace to place flowers and, given the impossibility of everyone reaching the gate, they set up a space in Green Park, located right in front to house the bouquets. Many had attached notes in which they expressed their admiration for Elizabeth II.
The body of the deceased queen will leave Balmoral Castle, which she cherished so much during her lifetime and which was her final resting place, to rest at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
And starting Sunday, the Scots, who narrowly rejected separating from Great Britain in a referendum, will be able to parade before the coffin of their former sovereign, in Edinburgh's St. Giles Cathedral.
Elizabeth II leaves her heirs an incalculable fortune. Fabulous residences, more than one hundred thousand hectares of leased farmland, another eleven thousand in forests, jewelry, paintings, and millions of unknown amounts, since the crown, by law, does not have to transmit details of its assets to its subjects.
