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News, analysis and opinions on the House of Windsor in transition

(Suzanne Plunkett/AFP/Getty Images; Post illustration)

Autumn Brewington
  Associate Opinions Editor

Among the many titles Charles III inherited when he became king
is one that dates to Henry VIII: defender of the faith. No need to
do a deep dive here on the Tudor king’s complicated history with
the church. But the new king has had his own controversies with
religion. Charles made headlines in the 1990s when he suggested
that as king he would like to be a defender of faith (note: no
“the”). He later clarified that his point was “the inclusion of other
people’s faiths and their freedom to worship.” While being
Defender of the Faith, he told the BBC, “you can also be protector
of faiths.” At other times, Charles garnered attention for his
affinity for Orthodox Christianity as well as his praise for Islam
and Judaism. What does all this mean? He sounded the theme of
spiritual inclusion in his inaugural address, saying that his new
role has a “particular relationship and responsibility toward the
Church of England — the Church in which my own faith is so
deeply rooted” but pledged that “whatever may be your
background or beliefs, I shall endeavor to serve you with loyalty,
respect and love.”

The walkabout that made the front pages across the UK:
Princes William and Harry and their wives greeted mourners
outside Windsor Castle on Saturday, their first public outing as a
foursome since Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, opted out of
royal duties and spoke critically of the palace and media
treatment of Meghan. Some quickly speculated that the brothers
may be repairing a rift. It’s too soon to know, and a forthcoming
memoir by Harry could easily generate negative headlines. For
now, it’s clear the royals are a family grieving. Two of the queen’s
granddaughters were seen wiping away tears Saturday in Scotland
as relatives viewed tributes outside the monarch’s residence there.

Before the appearance in Windsor, William issued a statement

noting that much would be said about his grandmother’s reign but
that his was also a personal loss: “She was by my side at my
happiest moments. And she was by my side during the saddest
days of my life. I knew this day would come, but it will be some
time before the reality of life without Grannie will truly feel real.”

 
On Sunday, people lined streets in Scotland to watch the
procession of the queen’s coffin as it was driven from her home at
Balmoral Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. As
the queen makes her final journey, many are thinking about her
life. If you’re watching (or re-watching) “The Crown” on Netflix to
get familiar with the queen, here’s a Post video that summarizes
how the Netflix series humanizes Elizabeth.

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Keep in mind: The show is not a documentary. Historian and
royal biographer Robert Lacey is a consultant and has authored
two companion books to the series. (The first book, with a chapter
for each episode, has much more substance about the history of
the periods depicted on the show and where the drama differs
from reality.) Some inconsistencies are small: In the first episode,
for example, then-Princess Elizabeth is shown in Malta with her
husband, Prince Philip, and their two oldest children. In reality,
the children were left behind in London while Elizabeth and
Philip lived abroad. Later in the episode, the new queen is shown
wondering why then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill wants to
delay her coronation. In real life, there was no delay. If you find
more faux “facts,” tweet at me (@Autumnsan1) and let me know
what you’ve spotted.

Don’t miss
Coverage from around The Post

1.
“Now, we wonder, ‘Who are we? And where are we
going?’ ” With the end of the Elizabethan age, questions about
the future loom, write Kevin Sullivan and Anthony Faiola. “Her
passing comes as this island nation of 67 million was already
mired in dire and complicated times, with the question of national
identity — fraught and unanswered since the end of World War II
— blurred and divisive.”

2.
“Rest in peace, Queen Kong.” People have flocked to
Buckingham Palace — “both a scene and a place to be seen” —
since her death was announced Thursday, writes London
correspondent Karla Adam. Among the flowers, pictures, Union
Jack baseball caps and even Paddington Bears, “it’s the
handwritten missives that stand out, ranging from the serious to
the poignant, the rambling to the funny, many offering a window
into how people felt about the queen.” (Note: Tributes are being
moved into nearby Green Park every 12 hours to reduce buildup
at palace gates.)

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3.
Let’s speak honestly about Britain’s “powerful and
historically brutal empire,” says Post Opinions columnist
Karen Attiah. “In the global north’s imagination, the queen is a
symbol of decorum and stability in the post-World War II world.
But to people of places that Britain invaded, carved up and
colonized over centuries,” views are radically different. “In the
wake of the queen’s death, propaganda, fantasy and ignorance are
being pitted against Britain’s historical record and the lived
experience of Africans, Asians, Middle Easterners, the Irish and
others.”

4.
Remember the controversy about Harry and Meghan’s
children not having titles? Now they’re entitled to them.
Here’s an explainer from London reporter Annabelle Timsit.

5.
Yes, souvenirs commemorating the queen are selling
fast. But their value hasn’t spiked — yet, reports Jaclyn Peiser.

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A share from Getty Images royal photographer
@chrisjacksongetty
 
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