Saturday, February 8, 2025

Opinion | Post Elizabeth newsletter: Britain has a new king. Why do people care?

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You’re studying Publish Elizabeth, Opinions’ e-newsletter following the British monarchy’s transition. Click here to get this newsletter in your inbox daily.

In a centuries-old ceremony televised for the primary time Saturday, full with troops and trumpets, Britain’s Garter King of Arms formally proclaimed Charles III king of the UK.

It’s a good query — and one I’ve been requested so much as an American royal watcher. Right here’s a brief reply: A few of us similar to these items. We delight within the pomp of royal ceremonies (whether or not for the historical past or the opulence). Some individuals comply with personalities as if the Home of Windsor is a real-life cleaning soap opera. Not everybody cares, in fact, they usually don’t must. In the event you consider, as I do, that each one persons are created equal, the idea of a hereditary monarchy is archaic. And as latest reactions to the queen’s dying on Black Twitter and Irish Twitter indicated, for many individuals the British monarchy’s legacy is inextricably linked to slavery, racism and colonialism. As one author noted: “For many people who’re descendants of colonized ancestors, it’s troublesome to mourn an individual who represents a legacy of oppression.”

There’s another excuse to be eager about — and even respect — the monarchy: as an institutional power for stability that partisan politics might by no means present.

To my eye, the brand new king goals to challenge continuity in his mom’s custom. We received’t know for some time which methods Charles might break from her method. However the heraldic customs on show, unseen for a lot of many years, underscore that a part of the problem earlier than him is to indicate the relevance in our age of the traditional establishment he now leads.

Some helpful hyperlinks for maintaining with the transition: “Operation London Bridge” was the not-so-secret code identify for the plan of all of the occasions that will comply with the queen’s dying. Listed below are the small print that The Publish has confirmed about her funeral plans, with a visible information here mapping her journey to her closing resting place. And, ICYMI, watch King Charles III’s first official address.

Protection from round The Publish

In her seven-decade reign, Elizabeth II visited greater than two dozen U.S. cities. See photographs in our slide show.

The queen was “The Boss” — however was she a feminist? asks London correspondent Karla Adam. “The queen wasn’t recognized for making daring declarations in regards to the rights of girls — and a few Britons held that in opposition to her.” Nonetheless, others noticed her as a feminist icon.

Publish editorial cartoonist Michael de Adder marks “The end of an era.”

The individuals of Eire largely sympathize with Britons over the dying of their queen — with some exceptions, writes Publish reporter Claire Parker. Politicians had been fast to reward the late monarch’s efforts to restore relations between the nations, “however for a lot of Irish, the event of the queen’s dying — and her legacy — surfaced feelings that had been rather more blended.” (Associated: Publish political reporter Matt Viser reminds us that when President Biden, a proud Irishman, first met the queen, he adopted his mom’s directions to not bow.)

Britain’s late queen was probably the most disciplined public determine of the previous century, writes Publish Opinion columnist Fareed Zakaria. “In a confessional age, after we publish each thought, urge, impulse and picture that pops into our heads, this girl stored her personal counsel.”

A share from @washingtonpost

Observe @washingtonpost and @postopinions on Instagram for extra information protection.

Do you’ve gotten questions on Britain’s royal transition? Submit them here and I’ll reply them in a future version of the e-newsletter.



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