What a year of King Charles has shown us about how he wants to reign

Clues to the king’s aspirations can be seen in the ‘informal formality’ of his royal receptions, reforms to his
household and his upcoming anti-food waste project

Caroline Davies, The Guardian, Sep 8th, 2023

As the king spends the first anniversary of his mother’s death, and of his accession, at his Scottish highland
retreat on Friday, he may reflect back on a year of historic transition not seen in 70 years.

Suggestions that Charles, 74, sees himself as a “caretaker king”, keeping the throne warm for the new Prince
of Wales, who will be the real reformer, is not a scenario recognised at Buckingham Palace.

5 There have been no eye-catching reforms in his first year, and he can be fairly described as the “cautious” king.
But there are clues to his aspirations in the small changes. (…) So, the “convening” king is a label it seems he
will accept.

(…) He also sees himself, as head of state, of being a symbol of continuity and stability, said sources. The
political turbulence of the early days of his reign saw him no sooner having his first meeting with one prime
10 minster than he was on to his second. (…)

But, while he would like to be seen as a unifying figure, the challenging dynamics of his own fractured family
have dominated his first year. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s protracted onslaught against the royal family
and institution in general, and Harry’s criticism of his father in particular, have played out across the world.

From Charles there has been silence. It has never been an established position that nothing would be said,
15 rather in what way would saying something make things better. So far, there has not been a day when he has
thought saying something was going to make things better, the Guardian understands. His love for his younger
son, though, is demonstrated in his invitation to Harry and Meghan to his coronation, although only Harry
turned up and then made a swift exit back to LA.

Another early challenge was the race row involving Lady Susan Hussey, the late queen’s lady-in-waiting, and a
20 black female charity reception guest, Ngozi Fulani, of Sistah Space. Some royal observers were surprised at the
speed and ruthlessness with which Charles’s aides dealt with the fallout. Hussey immediately resigned from
the royal household for making “unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments”, and later offered an
apology in person, which Fulani accepted.
For Charles – who is very close to Hussey, godmother to William – it was a difficult situation. “One could
25 almost argue it was dealt with too swiftly. The reaction to that was surprising, particularly from the Prince of
Wales,” said Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty Magazine, noting Hussey was soon back in the royal fold.
“I suppose it was important to be seen to be addressing the issue head on, as opposed to the way that other
issues, such as bullying allegations, are being treated as private matters,” Little added, referencing bullying
allegations made against, and denied by, Meghan.
30
(…) He will also have to contend with an increasingly vocal republican movement. While said to be genuinely
pleased with the response he gets on the streets during engagements, he cannot ignore the protests and
chants of “not my king”. The over-zealous policing of the coronation led to 64 arrests, some not even
protesters, it later emerged. Only five people have so far been charged, and half told they will face no charges
35 or fines.

One surprise omission in Charles’s first year has been the lack of Commonwealth activity – he is king of 14
other countries, with some debating whether to ditch him. Perhaps it is down to lack of time in a busy year,
said Little. “But there hasn’t yet been the Commonwealth activity in the way you might expect there to have
been.”

40 By and large, it is Charles the “cautious” king we have seen so far. “He is the best prepared Prince of Wales
that the UK has ever had. Clearly we are unlikely to celebrate the silver jubilee of King Charles III. But he could
be king for 20 years,” said Little. “To be described as a ‘caretaker king’ for two decades is doing him a great
disservice. He clearly has a lot of offer. We have yet to see some of his potential. But it’s early days.”