# The reign of King Charles III of the United Kingdom **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 8, 2022, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232 "2022-09-08T18:05:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 73
**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:** [March 6, 2024, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1444 "2024-03-06T08:10:48Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > When Prince Philip died, I remember reading that he was patron or president of hundreds of organizations. To say nothing of being a god on the side. > **[Prince Philip movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Philip_movement)** > > The Prince Philip movement is a religious sect followed by the Kastom people around the villages of Yaohnanen and Yakel on the southern island of Tanna in Vanuatu. It is a cargo cult of the Yaohnanen tribe, who believe in the divinity of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921–2021), consort to Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022). > According to ancient Yaohnanen tales, the son of a mountain spirit travelled over them. He was sometimes said to be a brother to John Frum. > The people of the Yaohnanen an... ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1445 "2024-03-06T09:27:33Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Topic: So…I don’t know what’s going on with Princess Kate’s very long absence from the public eye. I wish I did, so I had an answer for all the conspiracy theorists, and the people asking me, because I’m the royal-watcher in my friend group. She had an abdominal operation and took a while to recover. There is absolutely no mystery or weirdness about this at all. But the Royal Family as an institution has made a habit of keeping her extremely visible (e.g. photo opportunities hours after giving birth) so the contrast when she has to take time off is very marked, and that plus the base level of gossip that goes with the territory means people try to fill the void, often with nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1446 "2024-03-06T10:39:48Z")
As it happens, some Army press officer just put their foot in it and annoyed the Palace: > **[Army removes claim Kate to appear at Trooping the Colour from website](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68480184)** > > The Army's website said the princess would attend Trooping the Colour but royal sources have not confirmed. So it’s still a case of wait and see, surprise, surprise. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2024, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1447 "2024-03-06T10:43:30Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > As it happens, some Army press officer just put their foot in it and annoyed the Palace Now does that get you a year and a day in the Tower, or is he going straight to the block? ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1448 "2024-03-06T10:47:25Z")
No invites to Palace garden parties, and the boss’s OBE isn’t guaranteed. There may be an early re-posting to some less glamorous base. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1449 "2024-03-06T11:27:49Z")
A stern look with a disappointed, “Tut, tut. Not cricket, old chap. Not cricket at all.” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1450 "2024-03-06T14:11:28Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > First of all, WTF is a concrete society? A society of…concrete manufacturers? To what purpose? There is a society or association of virtually every industry in virtually every country. The retailer’s association, the car manufacturer’s society, the real estate developer’s club, etc. The purpose is simple. To bad together to promote the interests of that industry to whatever entities regulate them. And to, where possible, meet and collude against the public. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1451 "2024-03-06T14:31:46Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > where possible, meet and collude against the public. “All professions are conspiracies against the laity.” ― George Bernard Shaw, Major Barbara ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1452 "2024-03-06T15:13:02Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > [hijack] Mr. Rilch and I watched **The Crown** start to finish. In Season 3, when Tobias Menzies was playing Philip, he mentioned that he had to attend a meeting of the British Concrete Society, and that cracked us up. First of all, WTF is a concrete society? A society of…concrete manufacturers? To what purpose? And second, because he said it so forcefully and pompously: “The British **CONCRETE** Society!!!” Since then, it’s become a catchphrase with us, like if we see a road being paved. “Oh look, it’s the British **CONCRETE** Society!!!”[/hijack] Hmm. You know, my daughter has been watching a lot of _Peppa Pig_ lately, and Daddy Pig works in Concrete, and seems to have a strange amount of influence because of it. Maybe there’s something to that British Concrete Society… ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1453 "2024-03-06T15:17:08Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The purpose is simple. To bad together to promote the interests of that industry to whatever entities regulate them. And to, where possible, meet and collude against the public. Years of playing Civ 4 have burned this quote (which played when you researched Guilds) into my mind: > “People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public.” ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1454 "2024-03-06T15:21:31Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Maybe there’s something to that British Concrete Society… It the UK affiliate of the Illuminati. fnord. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1455 "2024-03-06T15:23:02Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > It the UK affiliate of the Illuminati. I thought that was the Royal Society for Putting Things on Top of Other Things. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1456 "2024-03-06T15:29:54Z")
Additionally, Prince Charles - having actually read the room - thinks that the royal family itself should be smaller. Elizabeth had cousins who were working royals. Charles is not wheeling out Princess Margaret’s children to cut ribbons. And its doubtful that unless he has to, William will have Andrew or Edward or Anne’s children do much. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1457 "2024-03-06T15:37:58Z")
If I had to guess, she had a hysterectomy. Mine took six weeks to recover fully from before I was 100% on running to the grocery store and lifting bags of groceries out of the car. And my duties do not include standing for hours in heels without shifting my weight, gracefully squatting/bending over to greet small children, or kicking a soccer ball all while looking good and behaving well. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1458 "2024-03-06T15:42:57Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > British Concrete Society Their archenemies are the Villiage Green Preservation Society. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1459 "2024-03-06T15:53:26Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > “People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public.” –Adam Smith ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1460 "2024-03-06T16:19:19Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Additionally, Prince Charles - having actually read the room - thinks that the royal family itself should be smaller. Elizabeth had cousins who were working royals. Charles is not wheeling out Princess Margaret’s children to cut ribbons. And its doubtful that unless he has to, William will have Andrew or Edward or Anne’s children do much. I don’t disagree with your contention, but a side effect of a much smaller active royal contingent (even while everyone is healthy and of vigourous years) will be a _lot_ ~~less~~ fewer ribbons being cut or charities with royal members on their fictive boards of advisors. A smaller active royal contingent is also one that does a lot less of the pomp & circumstance stuff. Which is really the key to a lot of their public legitimacy. Like Gorbachev, Charles III may be unwittingly unleashing the forces that undo his own institution. Charles’ ill health simply emphasizes the changes coming, and perhaps, unlike Mr Gorbachev, means he won’t live to see the _denouement_ he has catalyzed. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1461 "2024-03-06T16:35:10Z")
Perhaps. The other European nations with royals have smaller royal contingents and still have legitimacy. Its part of the national identity. The royal family has been undergoing change since WWI - and will continue to change - the rate seems to be picking up right now. But that doesn’t mean it will necessarily disappear. Even if Britain would get rid of the remaining pomp - the red boxes, the opening of parliament, there would still be a family, that family would still - if THEY chose - be visible as ribbon cutters and active in charitable causes, whose weddings would be media events and who we would follow what they wore, with enough personal wealth to do so. (I think its really unlikely to disappear, as there is still someone claiming to be Tzar of Russia). (The royal family most likely to disintegrate is not England’s, but Japan’s) ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1462 "2024-03-06T16:47:47Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > I thought that was the Royal Society for Putting Things on Top of Other Things. This deserves a link. (for those Dopers whose knowledge of the sacred canon may be incomplete.) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFrdqQZ8FFc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFrdqQZ8FFc) (2 minute Monty Python sketch) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2024, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/1463 "2024-03-06T17:11:06Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Additionally, Prince Charles - having actually read the room - thinks that the royal family itself should be smaller… He’s King now, y’know. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232.md?page=72) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232.md?page=74)