King and Queen Plan to Visit Australia in 2024

THE TELEGRAPH: Public reaction to the visit could indicate the level of support for the monarchy in the country, where calls for republicanism are growing

The King and Queen are expected to travel to Australia and New Zealand in October CREDIT: Shutterstock
The King is planning to visit Australia next year in what is likely be a key test of his popularity as monarch, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported.

His Majesty, accompanied by the Queen, is expected to travel to Australia just before or after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, which is being held in late October.

“King Charles is planning to visit Australia and New Zealand in October,” the newspaper reported, quoting an anonymous diplomatic source, who had contact with the monarch. » | Roger Maynard in Sydney | Tuesday, December 5, 2023

When I saw this photograph, I was reminded of my childhood: I was reminded of the nursery rhyme, Old King Cole was a merry old soul. And a merry old soul was he. …

As much as I respect our monarchy and our king and queen, I must say that that photo looks rather anachronistic in 2023.

Still, having a respected monarch is a whole lot safer and better than having a republic. Were we to have a republic, we could end up with a president like Trump! Just imagine that! Perish the thought! – © Mark Alexander

I Thought I Knew Royal Greed – but King Charles Profiting from the Assets of the Dead Is a Disgusting New Low

THE GUARDIAN: For decades, parliament has been far too lenient about the royal family’s finances. This avaricious practice needs to end

‘Over the centuries, the royals have continually bleated poverty and demanded more money from the taxpayer.’ Photograph: Reuters
As a royal author, I have come across plentiful examples of royal greed. It is standard practice for the royals to seek to minimise their personal expenditure while maximising their income from other sources, normally the public purse.

But the revelation that King Charles III’s personal slush fund, the Duchy of Lancaster, is having its already bulging coffers augmented by the estates of people who die in parts of England with historical links to the royal estate plumbs new depths of disgusting avarice.

Like many so-called traditions, the feudal hangover that is bona vacantia should have been consigned to the dustbin of history centuries ago, but it has been all too tempting for successive royals to preserve this royal fruit machine that pays out again and again. Over the past 10 years, it has collected more than £60m.

Under this system, the Duchy of Cornwall, owned by Prince William, can claim the assets of people who die in Cornwall intestate – without a will – if no relatives can be found. Charles’s Duchy of Lancaster does the same when their last known residence is within what was historically known as Lancashire county palatine. » | Norman Baker | Friday, November 24, 2023

As I have said before, it’s a case of gold, diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires for the royal family, and millions upon millions and millions per annum in pounds, but for the people, a few crumbs will have to do. And you’re lucky to get a few of those! Scratch around under your master’s table; collect what you can! According to French legend, at least Marie Antoinette had the generosity of spirit to tell the French peasants to eat cake!

Many years ago, I had the privilege of living for four years in Zürich, Switzerland. And what a great privilege that was! And what an eye-opener, too! A far superior way of life; and a far superior mentality as well. I so wish that this country could be run like Switzerland is run. There, it is taken for granted that it is not only the privileged few who deserve to live the good life. La dolce vita is afforded the many.

I have never heard of the working poor in Switzerland having to go to food banks to put food on the table for their young children. Nor have I heard of people being homeless and sleeping rough on the streets. So, if the Swiss are able to achieve such high standards, why can’t we?

There is something so grotesque and repulsive seeing a few people at the top of our society being able to live in grand splendour whilst the rest of us are expected simply to look on, fawn, and be grateful for small mercies.

One would have thought that in the twenty-first century, things would have turned out differently. I am not actually a republican, but when it comes to royalty, the government (of whatever stripe and hue) can find no end of money; yet when it comes, for example, to the triple lock, it is said to be unsustainable. Unsustainability is not a problem, however, when it comes to the finincing of the super-privileged lifestyles of the royal family.

This is the sad state of our once proud, Imperial nation. – © Mark Alexander

Revealed: King Charles Secretly Profiting from the Assets of Dead Citizens

THE GUARDIAN: Exclusive: Assets of thousands of people in north-west England used to upgrade king’s property empire via archaic custom

The diversion of bona vacantia funds has proven a financial boon to the king’s estate. Composite: Guardian Design/Francis Dias/Newspix International
The king is profiting from the deaths of thousands of people in the north-west of England whose assets are secretly being used to upgrade a commercial property empire managed by his hereditary estate, the Guardian can reveal.

The Duchy of Lancaster, a controversial land and property estate that generates huge profits for King Charles III, has collected tens of millions of pounds in recent years under an antiquated system that dates back to feudal times.

Financial assets known as bona vacantia, owned by people who died without a will or known next of kin, are collected by the duchy. Over the last 10 years, it has collected more than £60m in the funds. It has long claimed that, after deducting costs, bona vacantia revenues are donated to charities.

However, only a small percentage of these revenues is being given to charity. Internal duchy documents seen by the Guardian reveal how funds are secretly being used to finance the renovation of properties that are owned by the king and rented out for profit. » | Maeve McClenaghan, Rob Evans and Henry Dyer | Thursday, November 23, 2023

‘He would turn in his grave’: the dead whose assets went to King Charles’s estate: For those who die with no will or heirs in parts of England, the king’s estate claims their assets. Here are some of their stories »

How royal estates use bona vacantia to collect money from dead people: Latin term meaning ‘vacant goods’ relates to people who die without a will or known heirs »

King Charles III Opens Parliament for the First Time as Monarch

King Charles outlined the British government’s legislative priorities during his opening address of Parliament. | By Reuters and The Associated Press•November 7, 2023

O Silicon Valley! Hurry! Move over! The Brits are coming. – Mark

Anti-Monarchy Protesters Shout at King Charles before King’s Speech at Parliament

Nov 7, 2023 | Anti-monarchy protesters shouted at King Charles as he headed to the Palace of Westminster for the King’s first speech to parliament as monarch. The King’s Speech contained 21 new pieces of legislation including proposals to introduce tougher sentencing laws, a ban on the sale of cigarettes and measures to increase oil production in the North Sea.

Wow! What can one say? I'm shocked! I have never seen anything like this in my country before. But, on second thoughts, one can say the following: Far too much privilege, ostentation and wealth on display in the face of abject poverty and suffering for so many. It's a case of billions for the few, but crumbs for the many. Diamonds, emeralds and rubies for the super-privileged few and foodbanks, tents and sleeping bags for the seriously underprivileged.

History tells us much about outcomes in such scenarios. Those in the Establishment need to put their thinking caps on! The successful government of tomorrow will not be the one that takes a man's right to smoke a cigarette away; rather, it will be the government that brings prosperity to the many. – © Mark Alexander

Emmanuel Macron : “So Proud.”

Sep 22, 2023

Vive le Roi ! France Has Welcomed King Charles as though Brexit Never Happened

GUARDIAN – EUROPE: Such a warm and touchy-feely state visit should remind both nations of the closeness they once shared – and could do again

This is what you call taking a country by storm. King Charles and Queen Camilla’s state visit to Paris and then Bordeaux was always going to be a feast of bons mots and cordiality. Such is the rule of this diplomatic game. However, on a Richter scale of affability, Britain and France’s heads of state scored high. After all, France was one of the countries Queen Elizabeth II most visited during her long reign, and where she enjoyed five state visits. The affection runs deep.

If there ever was a rule that said one should not touch the monarch, that rule died in the streets of Paris on Wednesday afternoon. Or perhaps, a new rule was born: only a French president can touch the British sovereign. They didn’t go as far as their wives, who were on cheek-kissing terms at first sight, but Emmanuel Macron and the king were very often seen touching each other’s backs and arms during the couple of days they spent together. This didn’t feel like misplaced familiarity, but rather warm affinity between the two men. A most welcome change after the disastrous Boris Johnson and Liz Truss episodes, which saw the bilateral relationship between our governments sink deeper and deeper. (+ videos) » | Agnès Poirier | Friday, September 22, 2023

France State Visit: King Charles Addresses French Senate | In Full

Sep 21, 2023 | Britain’s relationship with France is vital to ensure the “climate and biodiversity emergency” is tackled “more effectively”, King Charles has told senators in a historic speech.

Charles spoke fluently in French during parts of the first-ever address by a British monarch from inside the chamber of the country’s parliament in Paris.

The monarch made a “pledge to do whatever I can to strengthen the indispensable relationship between the UK and France”.

Concluding his address, he drew on the climate change causes that have long been close to his heart, as he urged the assembled politicians and dignitaries to “cherish and nurture our Entente Cordiale”, the landmark treaty of 1904 that helped thaw cross-Channel relations. The King continued: “Let us renew it for future generations so that, I would like to propose, it also becomes Entente pour la Durabilite - a partnership for sustainability - in order to tackle the global climate and biodiversity emergency more effectively.”

Elizabeth II addressed the French Senate in 2004, but she did so from the Salle des Conferences, which adjoins the main chamber.


Related links here, here and here.

Stars Join King Charles at Versailles Banquet during French State Visit

THE GUARDIAN: Trip designed in part as show of friendship to reset UK-French relationship after Brexit years

Queen Camilla and King Charles with Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday evening. Photograph: Stéphane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images
King Charles was welcomed at a lavish state banquet at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday night, at the start of a state visit to reinforce the renewed UK-France relationship after the near total collapse in trust during the Boris Johnson years after Brexit.

In Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors, the famed 17th-century gallery built by the Sun King Louis XIV to project the power and majesty of the French monarchy, King Charles told the French president, Emmanuel Macron: “Your generosity of spirit brings to mind how my family and I were so greatly moved by the tributes paid in France to my mother, the late Queen … You said that she had touched your hearts – and it was she who held France in the greatest affection.”

He added: “I would like, if you would allow me, to raise a toast to President and Madame Macron and to the French people, as well as to our entente cordiale – a sustainable alliance. Whatever lies ahead, may it endure, faithful and constant, for centuries to come.” He was accompanied by Queen Camilla, who wore a blue silk crepe dress and matching cape by Dior, with diamonds inherited from the late Queen. » | Angelique Chrisafis in Versailles | Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Rapport to the Fore as King Charles and Macron Rebuild Cross-Channel Trust

THE GUARDIAN: State visit by British monarch to Versailles and Bordeaux offers chance to further reset UK-French relations

King Charles and Emmanuel Macron, pictured here at Cop26 in November 2021, are said to have a relationship built on ‘friendship and trust’. Photograph: Reuters
Emmanuel Macron and King Charles will dine on lobster at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday night in a three-day state visit by the British monarch, marking a crucial reset of the UK-French relationship after the near-total collapse in trust of the Boris Johnson years.

At a one-to-one discussion at the Élysée Palace, the king and the French president will discuss the war in Ukraine, military coups in the Sahel region of Africa and the challenges of artificial intelligence.

During his visit, the king will also address French lawmakers at the Senate, view restoration work at Notre Dame Cathedral, meet business leaders to discuss biodiversity at the Museum of Natural History and travel to Bordeaux, where he will meet emergency workers and communities affected by the 2022 wildfires. Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron will launch a new annual Franco-British literary prize, to be awarded from 2024. » | Angelique Chrisafis | Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Première visite en France du roi Charles III et de la reine Camilla : trois jours pour mettre en scène l’amitié franco-britannique : Après un projet de visite en mars, reporté à cause des manifestations contre la réforme des retraites, le roi et la reine britanniques seront en France de mercredi à vendredi. De Notre-Dame de Paris au Sénat, en passant par les vignobles du Bordelais, leur programme a été largement calqué sur celui de leur visite initialement prévue. »

« La visite de Charles III est le signe que Londres souhaite renforcer le lien avec la France » : Décidée par le premier ministre, la venue du monarque dans l’Hexagone montre que Rishi Sunak souhaite rompre avec la politique des précédentes administrations britanniques, affirme Stephen Bates, journaliste spécialiste des affaires royales, dans une tribune au « Monde ». »

EN DIRECT - Visite de Charles III : menu, vins, cadeaux... Le programme de la soirée à Versailles : La venue du roi britannique sera marquée par un somptueux dîner d’État donné ce mercredi au château de Versailles, mobilisant trois grands chefs français. »

Lien lié à cette histoire ici.

King Charles III Set to Begin Postponed State Visit to France • FRANCE 24 English

Sep 20, 2023 | Charles III finally makes it across the Channel from Britain to France this week, six months after rioting and strikes forced the last-minute postponement of his first state visit as king.

Met Police Taking No Further Action on Cash-for-Honours Claims Involving King’s Charity

THE GUARDIAN: Force launched investigation after reports alleged offers of help were made to secure honours for Saudi national

No further action will be taken by detectives who have been investigating cash-for-honours allegations involving the king’s charity the Prince’s Foundation, the Metropolitan police said.

The force launched the investigation in February after media reports alleged offers of help were made to secure honours and citizenship for a Saudi national. » | Guardian staff and agency | Monday, August 21, 2023

King Charles to Receive Huge Pay Rise from UK Taxpayers

THE GUARDIAN: Details published by Treasury show royal family’s grant is expected to increase from £86m to £125m in 2025

The Treasury’s announcement on funding for Charles and the rest of the royal family was described as ‘grossly misleading’. Photograph: WPA/Getty Images
King Charles III is to receive a huge pay rise from the UK taxpayer, according to government plans to boost public funding of the monarchy by 45% from 2025.

Details of the increase, which comes against the backdrop of a cost of living crisis, were contained in a review of royal funding published by the Treasury on Thursday. It revealed the royal family’s grant is due to increase from £86m to £125m.

The monarchy’s annual budget, known as the sovereign grant, is pegged against the profits from a national property portfolio called the crown estate.

The review of the royal funding settlement was heavily spun by the Treasury to give the impression that the king would be taking a pay cut so that crown estate funds could instead be spent on public services. » | David Pegg, Rob Evans and Severin Carrell | Thursday, July 20, 2023

King Charles will really be able to laugh all the way to the bank now! But so what! The King is surely worth every penny of this increase, for doesn’t he reign over a country which, after all, is the home of fair play, the Mecca of egalitarianism, the haven of equal opportunities, the birthplace of social justice? God save the King! Long may he reign over us. And of course, send him victorious, happy and glorious!

Forget about the pathetic state pensions, the lowest in Europe, forget about the people who cannot afford heating in winter, forget about the proliferating food banks and the army of homeless people sleeping rough. The King needs a rise. God save the King! – © Mark Alexander

The Guardian view on the king’s pay rise: there is no justification for handing over more millions: The latest deal between the Treasury and the palace shows why the cosy system created by David Cameron should be scrapped »

King Charles III: Thousands on Edinburgh's Royal Mile for Thanksgiving Celebration

Read the article here.

Scottish minister leads protest at King Charles coronation event: Partick Harvie, co-leader of Scottish Greens, addresses protesters as Charles is presented with Scotland’s medieval crown jewels / A ceremony in Edinburgh marking King Charles III’s coronation has been targeted by politically significant republican protests led by a Scottish government minister. »

King Charles & the Future of Britain | Melanie Phillips

May 24, 2023 | An outspoken British journalist with a reputation for fierce and honest opinions, Melanie Phillips offers cut-through commentary on a number of significant cultural and geopolitical issues. She and John discuss the coronation of Charles III, the cultural problems gripping the UK, and the relationship between Israel and the West.

Melanie considers what the reign of King Charles will mean for Britain socially and politically. Although she acknowledges that Charles has been more politically opinionated than his mother, Melanie points out that there is good reason to be optimistic about his reign on the basis of his character. Melanie gives a particularly scathing critique of law enforcement and state education in the UK.

Melanie's column currently appears in The Times, but over the years she has been published by the Guardian, Observer, Sunday Times and Daily Mail. She also writes for the Jewish Chronicle and Jewish News Syndicate.

Her best-selling book Londonistan, about the British establishment’s capitulation to Islamist aggression, was published in 2006 by Encounter, New York. She followed this in 2010 with The World Turned Upside Down: the Global Battle over God, Truth and Power, and in 2018 with her first novel, The Legacy. This is the third time she and John have sat down to talk.

King Charles III - Life before the Throne | DW Documentary

Dec 28, 2022 | After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles became the British King. He was just shy of his 73rd birthday when he took the throne on September 8, 2022. May 6, 2023, marks the coronation of Charles III. This documentary traces the course of his life.

Born Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor in London in 1948, Charles was the first child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Thus, he was heir to the crown.

The biography of the Prince of Wales was marked by ups and downs. As a child, he was said to have suffered as a result of his strict upbringing at boarding school intended to prepare him for his role as future king. After his military service, he became involved in numerous charities, especially those working with disadvantaged young people. For a long time, Charles III, was not very popular with the British public; the failure of his marriage to Diana, the "Queen of Hearts," hurt his standing. He and his then-mistress and later second wife Camilla Parker Bowles filled the gossip columns for years.

Before Charles III became king, his main commitment was to environmental protection and sustainability. He is also committed to fighting climate change. He is considered a gentleman farmer and defender of endangered species. The documentary looks back at the life of the man who is now head of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Commonwealth and the Church of England.

His Majesty King Charles III in a New Portrait

HELLO! Magazine
With many thanks to HELLO! Magazine on Pinterest for this regal photograph.
Here are portraits of both the King and the Queen, courtesy of HELLO! Magazine.

The Guardian View on Coronation Day: A Mix of Serious and Absurd

THE GUARDIAN – EDITORIAL: The crowning of King Charles III was rooted in Britain’s past but disconnected from its future

King Charles III and Queen Camilla. ‘It bears repeating that there was no constitutional need for the coronation.’ Photograph: Shutterstock
For many, the coronation of King Charles III was another great British occasion in a seamless tradition. That was the way the ever respectful broadcasters mostly saw it. For others, though, the coronation was either an affront to the way we live now or, perhaps in most cases, just an irrelevance. Most people had other things to do with their time than watch the events in Westminster Abbey and the streets of London.

True, the crowds in the Mall on Saturday represent something real about modern Britain. But they are only one part of the weekend story. Other parts matter too. In Glasgow and Cardiff there were demonstrations under Not My King banners. At Anfield, Liverpool football supporters drowned out the national anthem that was being played to mark the occasion. » | Editorial | Sunday, May 7, 2023

ALSO READ:

Protesters in handcuffs and nonstop bling: this coronation has been an embarrassment: Other European royals would never have risked a display on this scale. From the much-mocked pledge of allegiance onwards, Charles’s gamble has gone terribly wrong »

Are we supposed to believe in the 'Divine Right of Kings'? Isn't that what that anointing oil was all about? If we are, count me out! I could never believe in that! Surely, one would have to have lost one's marbles to believe in such an absurd notion. – © Mark Alexander

Après l'extravagance pour la famille royale, la pénurie pour les paysans ! – © Mark Alexander

King Charles III's Secret Love Affair... with Another Country | The New Statesman

May 5, 2023 | For decades the King has been making private visits to a tiny village in Transylvania, Romania. This secret "affair of the soul" reveals much about what the King really believes - and what kind of a king he will be. …

St Kitts and Nevis Is Not Totally Free under King Charles III, Says PM – BBC News

May 8, 2023 | The prime minister of a Caribbean nation has said his country is "not totally free" as long as King Charles III remains head of state. Dr Terrance Drew said that a public consultation on whether St Kitts and Nevis should become a republic would begin during his leadership. He also said he would welcome an apology from the monarchy for its historic links to the slave trade. Buckingham Palace said the King takes slavery "profoundly seriously".