The Coronation of Charles and Camilla - The future of the Monarchy!

When I left the UK, a little over seven months ago, I could never have expected, the monumental changes that have happened to the Great British Monarchy. Sitting on the Makarska promenade, overlooking the Adriatic, along the Dalmatian coast, I discovered our late Queen had died. As an ardent Monarchist, I immediately felt a sense of sadness, that I hadn't felt since the death of Princess Diana in 1997. This was the beginning of the Carolean era and the end of a reign that had spanned seventy years.

It is difficult to put into words how I felt about King Charles in September 2022, because I, like most people of my generation, have a conflict of interest. I have never forgotten the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in that Paris car crash, in the early hours of Sunday morning, 26 years ago. Watching her emotional funeral on television, I remember how angry I felt towards the then Prince of Wales and how I could never forgive him for what he had done to the people's 'Queen of Hearts.'

A lot has happened during the intervening years; the woman who was the 'third person' in the marriage of Charles and Diana, was now Queen, and the bitterness felt towards Camilla has all but disappeared. Even I have changed my opinion of the Royal couple; as I watched the Coronation on television, I felt content that our new King and Queen would be an asset for Britain, as I put my feelings on the death of Diana to one side.

HM The King appears happy with Camilla, in a way he never was with Diana. As hard as it is to admit, the new King and Queen seem like a perfect match. Their body language, affection and etiquette, towards each other, is that of a happily married couple. If they had been allowed to marry all those years ago and others hadn't interfered in their relationship, things may well have been very different. The arranged marriage with Princess Diana was a disaster because there was no love between them, very different to what you see today.

There was no public holiday in Australia yesterday, and I finished work, just as the King and Queen left Buckingham Palace to travel to Westminster Abbey. I rushed home as quick as I could, to settle down and watch the Coronation. With a tinny, plate of Chicken and Chorizo and Cherry ripe for desert, I watched this blend of the ancient and modern unfold before me. I was awestruck at the spectacle; feeling emotional watching the beautiful service, my Monarchist credentials were well and truly confirmed. This was unlike anything I had seen before; like most people alive today, this was the first Coronation I had witnessed, and I was transfixed at the historic occasion. This was my homeland doing what it does best, and I wasn't disappointed.

As someone who understands the historic significance of the coronation and the institution it represents, I was delighted to be able to pay my respects to our new King and Queen, who have, and continue to, work tirelessly for the Commonwealth, charities and country I once called home. Their service and duty is without question and without a doubt, they are the future of the Monarchy and a link to a past, rich in history and symbolism. The King's continued commitment, is the bond that connects the British people together, in a way no elected Head of State could ever do. They are the embodiment of a country that I will always call home, and also the King and Queen of Australia, where I have chosen to live.

Reflecting on such a historic occasion, has allowed me to remember important milestones in my own life and the opportunities afforded to me as a result. The King and Queen have large shoes to fill, but they are now both in a position to make things happen. The Monarchy will change and adapt during King Charles reign, of that I am sure. Despite his advancing age, Charles, like his Father before him, was always a moderniser, but he must be careful not to go too far. Modernise the institution of which you are head, but keep the elements that allow it to flourish and grow, at the centre of its existence. My fear is, any streamlining of the Royal Family will go too far, and we will be left with a mere shadow of the past.  The Monarchy's appeal is in the mystique it portrays, not in the power it wields; for that reason, the King must remember the journey that brought him to the throne, and respect the heritage that is indicative of its success!

Like everyone, I wish the new King and Queen well; it is time to embrace Charles for all his faults and, most importantly Camilla, as his loving wife. History is littered with the failures of the past, let's not let that happen to an institution that sits at the very heart of the British psyche. As a Brit, the King has a special place in my heart, as his Mother did before; I am happy to pledge my allegiance to His Majesty and hopeful for the future that pledge represents!

---