After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8, the United Kingdom deployed ‘Operation London Bridge’, a whole protocol in which the nation dresses in mourning and says goodbye to who reigned for 70 years.
Therefore, in the line of succession, his eldest son is the one who took his position, becoming king the instant the queen died. Today at St. James’s Palace in London was his proclamation as the new monarch.
“Prince Carlos Felipe Arturo Jorge now becomes, due to the death of our sovereign lady of happy memory, our King Carlos III. God save the king!” the Ascension Council proclaimed.
But one of his attitudes in the imminent event caught the attention of the public, in a video that went viral on social networks, he is seen with a despotic attitude towards those who are at his service, a behavior that was disapproved by many, including , by the former mayor of Bogotá, Enrique Peñalosa, who on his Twitter account said:
“We can strongly disagree with any of our presidents. But none would act like that. I don’t want a king, or anything like that,” he wrote.
The video that Peñalosa retweeted is accompanied by the following text: “The servant must clean the desk for me. You cannot expect me to move things”, an image that bothered the Colombian political leader.
The statements of King Carlos III
“My mother’s reign was unmatched for its duration, dedication and devotion,” said the new 73-year-old sovereign following his proclamation, who said he was “aware” of the “great heritage” and his “duties and heavy responsibilities”.
It is worth mentioning that the proclamation was later read to the public from a balcony of the Saint James Palace, to the sound of royal trumpeters and in the presence of the royal guard with their ostentatious hats, as well as a large group of onlookers.
Following a centuries-old tradition, another public proclamation took place in various parts of the country such as the City, the financial heart of London. Representatives of their local government paraded in their colorful medieval uniforms, carrying a golden scepter and a heavy sword as symbols of power.
Likewise, the members of Parliament swore allegiance to the new monarch, who also met with the government of Liz Truss.
It is worth remembering that during a religious service in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London on September 9, the modified British anthem was sung, which decreed “God save the King” for the first time in 70 years.
When is Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral?
According to a Buckingham Palace announcement the state funeral will be held on September 19 at Westminster Abbey, declared a public holiday by Charles III.
For the public tribute that will be provided for September 13, the president of the United States, Joe Biden, is expected to attend, as well as other dignitaries from around the world. At this, an estimated one million people parade before the coffin of the late queen in Westminster Hall, the oldest building in the British Parliament complex.
What awaits the UK?
The rise of Carlos IIImuch less popular, opens a delicate period for a monarchy that faces multiple challenges, from the desire to distance itself from some countries of the British Commonwealth to criticism of its colonial and slave-owning past.
In addition, the country, which has seen four prime ministers pass in six years, is suffering one of its worst economic crises in recent decades, as well as divisions caused by Brexit and the desire for independence in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
*With information from AFP