UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that reparations for slavery are not about financial compensation but rather about fostering relationships with African nations through skill and science sharing. This follows a call from Commonwealth leaders for discussions on reparations. Lammy emphasized the importance of non-financial reparatory justice and highlighted the UK's historical role in both the slave trade and its abolition. He also addressed the need for a new approach to Africa and expressed concern over the conflict in Sudan.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla will visit Australia and Samoa in October as part of an autumn tour, marking Charles' first trip to a Commonwealth realm since becoming monarch. The visit includes attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa. The tour will be limited to these two countries due to health advice, and further details will be announced later.
Royal expert Tom Bower claims that King Charles does not appear to enjoy his role as monarch, stating that he is not a natural diplomat or politician. Bower suggests that the King's lack of interest may stem from his dislike of traveling long distances and his previous neglect of the Commonwealth. During his state visit to Kenya, there is speculation as to whether King Charles will formally apologize for colonization. Despite this, the King and Queen Camilla have met with Kenyan war veterans and expressed their pleasure in being in Kenya.
King Charles is reportedly hosting a summit at Balmoral Castle in the coming weeks to map out the future of the royal family, with a focus on the role of the Commonwealth. He plans to assign specific roles to Prince William, Princess Kate, and Queen Camilla. The summit will also discuss the family's goals for the next year, including foreign travel and engagements. There is particular pressure on William and Kate, as their "star quality" is seen as essential to holding the Commonwealth together.
King Charles III was crowned as the new monarch of the United Kingdom in a grand ceremony at Westminster Abbey. He also became the head of state of 14 other countries, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The ceremony was attended by numerous dignitaries from around the world, and India was represented by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
The coronation of King Charles III is drawing apathy and criticism in many former British colonies, where it is seen as a reminder of oppression and colonialism's bloody past. Calls for severing ties with the monarchy are growing, particularly in the Caribbean, where Barbados recently removed the British monarch as its head of state. Campaigners from 12 Commonwealth countries have written to the monarch urging him to apologise for the legacies of British colonialism. However, experts say the Commonwealth still holds appeal, especially for poorer nations.
King Charles and Prince William greeted well-wishers during a walkabout outside Buckingham Palace ahead of Saturday's Coronation. King Charles had earlier met with leaders of Commonwealth countries and hosted a special lunch at Buckingham Palace. The Coronation will begin at 11:00 BST in Westminster Abbey and will be led by the Archbishop of Canterbury. At 13:00, the King and Queen will leave Westminster Abbey in a ceremonial procession through London back to Buckingham Palace, joined by other members of the Royal Family.
As King Charles III's coronation approaches, a recent poll shows that almost half of the 15 Commonwealth countries that have Charles as their head of state support the idea of becoming republic nations. While England seems to be firmly supporting the status quo, six nations voted in favor of ditching the monarchy. The main Republic group in the UK plans to protest on Trafalgar Square and along the route of the procession on Saturday. Australia's Prime Minister has made it known that he is in favor of the country becoming a republic and has not ruled out holding a referendum on the matter in the future.
As King Charles III prepares for his coronation, fewer countries share him as head of state than during Queen Elizabeth II's ceremony in 1953. Several Commonwealth realms are reconsidering their relationships with the crown, with Barbados being the latest to become a republic. Despite this, the Commonwealth of Nations, a group of 56 countries with historic ties to Britain, which the king symbolically heads, continues to expand its membership.
King Charles is facing increased anti-monarchy protests from the group Republic, with signs reading "Not My King." Experts believe the monarch needs a new strategy quickly before his coronation, as the crown has been dented and tarnished by decades of scandal and controversy. Republic plans to protest the coronation on May 6, calling for the monarchy to be abolished and replaced with an elected, democratic head of state. While it is unlikely that Charles will acknowledge the hecklers, he can't ignore the larger conversations taking place within the Commonwealth realms. The younger royals still play a vital role in shoring up the monarchy's popularity, and that's why it's such a pity that Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and their young family are no longer part of the equation.
