What will Charles III’s reign look like?

The last time a monarch acceded to the throne, her subjects had to wait ten months to hear her speak. Elizabeth II was only 25 and had her whole adult life before her. The public were more patient in those days and the media was an entirely different creature, moving at a slower pace. 

It was not until Christmas Day 1952 that the British heard their Queen (by now 26) begin: ‘Each Christmas, at this time, my beloved father broadcast a message to his people in all parts of the world. Today I am doing this to you, who are now my people…’

In 2022, we had to wait all of 24 hours before hearing Charles III outline his vision for his reign. He did so in a speech which, by common consent, hit the right note (a YouGov poll days later gave it a 94 per cent approval rating). Since then, he has maintained a similarly frantic pace, whether
in terms of new coinage, new stamps or, indeed, coronation arrangements.

There has been some grumbling about the last-minute nature of the preparations for Saturday’s event, not to mention the guest list – and outbreaks of FOMO among those previously unfamiliar with the condition.