It has been exactly three years since King Charles was crowned at Westminster Abbey in May 2023, a day of joy that marked the start of a reign filled with unexpected turbulence. From family health crises and political upheaval to the arrest of his brother Andrew and the ongoing rift with Prince Harry, the monarch has faced challenges that few could have predicted.
A Reign of Trials
When St Edward’s Crown was placed on his head, Charles looked forward to putting his own stamp on the monarchy. Instead, he has dealt with his own cancer diagnosis, the Princess of Wales’s cancer battle, three prime ministers in as many years, and the re-election of Donald Trump, who has stirred global tensions. Royal expert Jennie Bond, a former BBC correspondent, summed it up: “Your mother dies, you get cancer, your daughter-in-law is also diagnosed with cancer, your son is estranged, your brother disgraced and arrested, you have three Prime Ministers, Donald Trump is re-elected, and then talks about annexing Canada before starting a Middle East war. It’s certainly not the ideal scenario for a new King.”
Family Feuds and Fallout
The most dangerous domestic issue has been the scandal surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, leading to his arrest. Bond noted, “Some say he should have acted sooner, but when he did take action, he was ruthless in publicly humiliating his brother and evicting him from his home.” Regarding Prince Harry, she added, “Some say he should be a better parent and make peace, but his son has squandered family trust, and that’s hard to regain.”
A Different Kind of Monarch
Unlike his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Charles has shown a more approachable side. “He has shown that he is a much more approachable monarch than his mother. She was a woman of her time, but from the off, Charles showed that he was open to a hug from total strangers. That has endeared him to the public,” Bond explained.
Diplomatic Triumphs
On the international stage, Charles has earned admiration. “Skilfully, subtly, he has delivered some pointed messages to President Trump. He flew to Canada to open the Parliament, where he declared that part of North America to be ‘strong and free’. He charmed Trump on his state visit to Windsor, and then wowed the world with fiendishly well-chosen words during his recent trip to the United States,” Bond said. His address to a joint session of Congress was a historic highlight.
Royal sources say Charles is not resting on his laurels but is already focused on the year ahead, including a trip to Antigua and Barbuda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. A palace source remarked, “This is a man who is absolutely driven by duty. Driven by service.”
Looking Ahead
Despite the difficulties, Bond believes Charles can be pleased with his first three years. “Few men of his age and living with cancer would want such a busy life. But Charles appears to relish it and still seems in a hurry to get as much done as he can during what will inevitably be a relatively short reign.”
