# Britons; what are you expecting when Charles becomes King? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 2, 2022, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061 "2022-01-02T02:19:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2022, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/121 "2022-01-04T20:56:47Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I feel the implication in many such cases is that America could have done the same Outside my area of expertise, though that was not my implication. The findings of Lord Durham obviously found a more receptive audience in the wake of American Independence. But nor were they initially accepted and so my thinking is that had the equivalent of Durham’s _[Report on the Affairs of British North America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Report_on_the_Affairs_of_British_North_America)_ been delivered some decades earlier on the America question it would have sunk without a trace. Some independence movements have been traumatic, others rather civil. In Australia’s case it was more “what the fuck did we just do?” ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2022, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/122 "2022-01-04T21:14:15Z")
Not a Briton. But honestly if he doesn’t invade [Sealand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Sealand), annex it to the royal demesne and then build a gigantic statue of himself astride it as a conqueror I’m going to be very disappointed. It’s a rival royal state pissing on his claims to be sole monarch of the UK! Even it’s pretensions can no longer be tolerated! ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/123 "2022-01-05T00:35:52Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > What happens when a monarch commutes across town; will they have to shut down streets and reroute traffic every time Charles goes from his home to his office? That might be convenient for Chuck, but it sounds like a pain in the ass for everybody else. Despite the enormous symbolism inherent in assassinating the British monarch, the security for the monarch is far lower-key than for any American president of the last 75 years. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/124 "2022-01-05T01:57:13Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > > [@elbows](#): > > > > Switching to national heroes etc. Canada has already begun the process. > > Fight this 'Merican’s total ignorance. Who are some Canadian heroes? Tommy Douglas does it for me. Father of universal medicare system and voted “Greatest Canadian” in an on line vote in 2004. (coincidentally, he’s also Kiefer Sutherland’s maternal grandfather) ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/125 "2022-01-05T09:55:54Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > What happens when a monarch commutes across town; will they have to shut down streets and reroute traffic every time Charles goes from his home to his office? That might be convenient for Chuck, but it sounds like a pain in the ass for everybody else. Only US Presidents take a 20 strong cavalcade with them every time they step out of the house. The Queen has one extra car and a couple of out riders. It causes no more road chaos than a passing ambulance. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/126 "2022-01-05T11:02:44Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Only US Presidents take a 20 strong cavalcade with them every time they step out of the house. We had freeway closures in the Seattle area when MBS and his entourage were here a few years back, and the same thing when Xi Jinping was in town a few years before that. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/127 "2022-01-05T11:36:35Z")
Who’s MBS? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/128 "2022-01-05T11:38:51Z")
Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince and de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia. ---
**Author:** ![paulmarkj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@paulmarkj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulmarkj)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/129 "2022-01-05T12:15:42Z")
The press has always (well, nearly always) been very respectful to the Queen, and consider anybody who disrespects her to be a traitor. But it has been open season on Charles for decades - any complaint (real or made up) is considered fair. So the question is - is the media respecting/disrespecting the monach or the person? Will they switch to full-resepect mode when he becomes king? I doubt it, there are too many jucy stories to be had. Elizabeth was queen very young, so no skeltons in hre closet, but you cannot put back all that hatred for Charles. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/130 "2022-01-05T13:30:15Z")
Her Majesty rides public trains fairly regularly. When Biden wanted a _private_ train to travel to Washington for his Inauguration, the Secret Service put the kibosh on it. Of course, the likelihoods of someone wanting to kill: 1. an unfailingly polite grandmotherly figure who’s been waving at people, shaking hands, and participating in ceremonies for many people’s lifetimes, or 2. a man elected in a bitterly-contested election where supporters of the opposition had violently attacked the Capitol a couple of weeks earlier, are palpably, measurably, different. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/131 "2022-01-05T13:42:23Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > Her Majesty rides public trains fairly regularly. How does that work? I can’t imagine Elizabeth, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, sitting on a bench on the crosstown express next to some homeless guy. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/132 "2022-01-05T14:00:01Z")
This is a nitpick, but Charles wouldn’t be a “His/Her/Their Royal Highness” upon succession. That is a style for the members of the royal family other than the monarch. The monarch himself/herself is a Majesty, not a Royal Highness, so the “HM” abbreviation - which has a long tradition of being used in that abbreviated form, and is also gender-neutral - will work perfectly fine. Lots of British statutes stipulate that Her Majesty may do this or that (which, of course, effectively means that the government may do this or that, since the monarch always acts upon ministerial advice). But the Interpretation Act 1978 makes it clear that references to “Her Majesty” from the QE2 era (or possibly Victorian-era statutes still in force) have to be read as references to His Majesty during the reign of a King, so there is no legal problem here either. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/133 "2022-01-05T14:03:09Z")
> **[12 photos of the Queen using public transport, from buses to the London...](https://www.insider.com/queen-on-public-transport-photos-train-prince-philip-meghan-markle-2019-8)** > > Queen Elizabeth used a ticket machine to mark the opening of the Elizabeth line, London's new high-speed service, from Paddington station. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/134 "2022-01-05T14:09:08Z")
As to the OP, my personal guess (I’m not British, but I have an interest in British history and constitutional law) is that Charles will struggle a little, at first, to de-politicise his public statements. Elizabeth is famously careful not to say anything remotely partisan in public, up to the point where the public doesn’t quite know what her personal views on political matters even are. Charles has a habit of being more outspoken in the statements that he makes, e.g. on environmental issues. So far this is fine, but when he becomes monarch he will have to tone it down. I suppose the prime minister of the day will rein (pun intended) him in a little. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/135 "2022-01-05T15:02:48Z")
Not too many homeless people in first class. 🤨 My understanding is that, when she really travels by public train (not the Royal Train and not the staged bus and Underground rides in **Schnitte** ’s article) she travels first class with a large-enough entourage including security that she doesn’t end up sharing a four-seater with a random passenger. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/136 "2022-01-05T15:05:09Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > But the Interpretation Act 1978 makes it clear that references to “Her Majesty” from the QE2 era (or possibly Victorian-era statutes still in force) have to be read as references to His Majesty during the reign of a King, so there is no legal problem here either. Same in Canada; our _Interpretation Acts_ make it clear that references to “Her Majesty” and “the Queen” automatically include a King. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/137 "2022-01-05T15:14:19Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > Of course, the likelihoods of someone wanting to kill: > > 1. an unfailingly polite grandmotherly figure who’s been waving at people, shaking hands, and participating in ceremonies for many people’s lifetimes, or > 2. a man elected in a bitterly-contested election where supporters of the opposition had violently attacked the Capitol a couple of weeks earlier, > > are palpably, measurably, different. Oh I think there’s plenty of people who’d like to assassinate the Head of State of their avowed enemy. We are hardly immune to acts of terror, after all. She may be an old grandma, but she’s represents a hell of a lot more than that. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/138 "2022-01-05T15:15:59Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Many people are saying that on the day of Charles’ coronation he will order mass arrests and expose Boris Johnson’s secret cabal of blood-drinking pedophiles. Or he could give in to temptation and order Prof. Edzard Ernst to be drawn and quartered. > **[Edzard Ernst: The professor at war with the prince](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/30/edzard-ernst-homeopathy-complementary-medicine)** > > Professor Edzard Ernst he caused uproar this week when he labelled Prince Charles a 'snake oil salesman' for his dandelion and artichoke detox remedy. He talks to Susanna Rustin If Charles was to confine his activism as King to supporting environmental preservation it’d be nice. More likely he’d use the throne to further promote homeopathy (he’s already extended royal patronage to a homeopathy group) and other medical quackery. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/139 "2022-01-05T15:20:54Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > I predict Charles ascends, he’s waited a life time, and suffered a restricted life in many ways, while doing so. He’s definitely going to want that coronation, and to see his name on that list of monarchs. > > But beyond that, I’m pretty sure it will be a short reign, he’ll endow and protect some pet projects, then pass to William as soon as things should get sticky in any way. Another coronation? All good for tourism! You present this great prediction as if it’s a choice to be made. It isn’t. The Queen will die and Charles will be King, because that is preordained. Charles will then have to break some serious royal protocol to abdicate in favour of William. It’s not how our monarchy works - what do you think this is, The Netherlands?? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061/140 "2022-01-05T15:24:16Z")
No, I don’t think, he would though. He need only claim some vague health complication. I should think he could quite easily find a compliant Dr. With his lack of popularity, I don’t think any one would dig too deep, especially if he’s messed something up in some way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britons-what-are-you-expecting-when-charles-becomes-king/957061.md?page=8)