Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU in thinking that King Charles' passing will devastate Britain?

781 replies

monrymeadows73 · 07/12/2025 10:28

If you remember back when Queen Elizabeth II died, how upset most British people were and how it caused some social insecurity as many British people saw her as a sense of strength and a rock due to her continuity and longevity, but with her gone, they weren't sure how Britain would fare. Hence, the large crowds of mourners and a lot of upset.

King Charles III - though not as admired as Queen Elizabeth was - also has longevity and a sense of continuity in a different way: not as monarch since he's only been in the role for three years, but as a royal figure, i.e. he has been in the spotlight since the 1940s and conducting royal duties since the 1960s. When he dies, will Britain finally feel as though the older generation of royals - who for so long have provided reassurance and comfort to the British people - have gone?

Will this lead to a lot of soul-searching about where next Britain must go and perhaps cause social tensions due to the insecurity of identity? Who will the British look to to guide the nation from then on? Who will be their new rock?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
lifeonmars100 · 07/12/2025 13:03

Notmyreality · 07/12/2025 10:37

This. Hopefully the BBC learned a big lesson when the Queen died. Their coverage model assumed we were all still living in the 50s.

Show quote history

never have I been more thankful for streaming services, it meant I could avoid the whole circus and just watch films of my choice or put Spotify on while I sat and read a book

LidlAmaretto · 07/12/2025 13:02

CatPawsAreCute · 07/12/2025 12:27

But you do understand what he does? How?

The Duchy is run by its own CEO, someone who was employed after William took over from his dad. William's role will be more like a trustee, more governance than operations, so it's hardly going to take up too much time.

Edited
Show quote history

Exactly. All of those things are done by a huge staff. Something like 60 staff in his office alone. If he's sitting there typing out a load of letters why are we paying for all those people? At most he's signing things or reading things prepared by someone else. Its very easy for Royalists to say 'Oh they do loooods of stuff behind the scenes'. That's not the point of them. They are meant to be seen- to smile and wave, wear fancy clothes for people to gawp at and be basically baubles. What 'secret work' is he doing? He is a public servant. We should know what he is up to. If he doesn't like it he can release his kids from it and end the Monarchy with him. He could give his lifetime as notice to everyone to sort it out. I will bet my house that he wont do it or slim down the cost and privilege of the Monarchy in any way. Just how much he does.

TwotierChristmas · 07/12/2025 13:02

@popcorncake whisky every day !😱
Well it wouldn't surprise me at all if he was a boozer but it contradicts his one meal.a day ?

HairyToity · 07/12/2025 13:00

I'd like a republic and then they'd have to pay inheritance tax. Biggest benefit scroungers in the country.

lifeonmars100 · 07/12/2025 12:59

12345onceIcaughta · 07/12/2025 10:33

😆😆😆 most people won’t care.
The royal family don’t guide the nation, thank god!

Can you imagine if they did! It would probably be legal to traffic young women

soocool · 07/12/2025 12:57

When they donate a patch of their multi acre estates to swiftly build houses for those that need them, when they account for their accumulated wealth as provided by the taxpayer and other sources, easily accessible by all, line by line, and when they have their wills published just like their subjects must, then I will consider having a bit of respect for them.

Until then, I won't shed no tears.

ChaToilLeam · 07/12/2025 12:56

I've got no interest in them whatsoever.

cramptramp · 07/12/2025 12:56

When he dies it won’t resonate with people the way it did when his Mum died. I don’t want him to die obviously but I’m looking forward to seeing William becoming King. I’m not a fan of Camilla so really looking forward to Kate being Queen.

KittyFinlay · 07/12/2025 12:55

I think most normal functioning adults will continue to guide themselves and if they need a "rock" turn to people that actually support them rather than someone they've seen on TV.

x2boys · 07/12/2025 12:55

I know the BBC were adamant that the whole of the nation were devastated when the Queen died but I suspect i good proportion were not overly upset that a 96 year old who had never known a day's hardship in her life had died.

CatPawsAreCute · 07/12/2025 12:55

Lifebeginsat40theysaid · 07/12/2025 12:53

I'm not talking about those who are genuine, just those who are literally scroungers and who could easily work but just choose not to. We all know they exist.

Show quote history

Indeed we do, we have an entire family of them as our heads of state!

JLou08 · 07/12/2025 12:54

In recent times there have been war crimes committed by British people in power, cost of living crisis and housing crisis leaving people in absolute poverty and/or homeless, government ministers ripping off the public and giving to their rich businesses associates. Austerity causing rises in mental health issues, unemployment, domestic abuse and avoidable deaths. The royal family don't provide me with any reassurance or stability. They just let the government fuck us over whilst they sit on their huge wealth. I know we're supposed to be a democracy but no head of state should have allowed the shit shows we've been experiencing.

Lifebeginsat40theysaid · 07/12/2025 12:53

LilyCanna · 07/12/2025 12:49

@Lifebeginsat40theysaid maybe you could try to extend some of your generous mindset towards the wealthy Royal Family towards the poor and disabled as well rather than dismissing them as ‘benefit scroungers’?

I'm not talking about those who are genuine, just those who are literally scroungers and who could easily work but just choose not to. We all know they exist.

Chattygirl123 · 07/12/2025 12:49

When the Queen died it was the end of an era and I made sure to watch the funeral. It was upsetting as she'd been the only monarch I'd known. I also watched Charles Coronation as who knows if I'll see the next one. Both the funeral and Coronation were historic events. Ithink he does work hard and although is very rich I wouldn't want his life lived in a golden cage your every move watched and dissected. I'm against a Republic as I'd dread having someone like Trump as our Head of State. So I'll be sad when Charles dies as the end of one reign the start of another.

LilyCanna · 07/12/2025 12:49

@Lifebeginsat40theysaid maybe you could try to extend some of your generous mindset towards the wealthy Royal Family towards the poor and disabled as well rather than dismissing them as ‘benefit scroungers’?

Calliopespa · 07/12/2025 12:47

thetemptationofchocolate · 07/12/2025 12:43

I am not sure how many charities the royals have supported over the years. Mostly it's done without any big fuss. I volunteer for one where the King is the patron. He took that over from the Queen. So that's one charity and years of financial support.
There must be hundreds which they support in this fashion and I'd say that was practical help. It's certainly appreciated by the charities who receive it.

I find it odd to be defending the royals here, as I am certainly not a staunch royalist.

Show quote history

No I'm not staunch either. I think it's just when views are unbalanced it is hard to resist putting the other side.

JHound · 07/12/2025 12:46

I was not upset when Queen Elizabeth II died and I won’t be upset when King Charles III dies.

I don’t know them.

ilovesooty · 07/12/2025 12:46

CatPawsAreCute · 07/12/2025 12:01

I hope when William takes over he will modernize the RF and cut away a lot of the chaff staff/hangers on and the Sovereign Grant and also return the Crown lands to their rightful owners, the Nation.

We can only go on his actions so far, so based on that I think your hopes are sadly a bit fantastical.

He'll only do what benefits him and his immediate family, or what looks good in the media. I've no time whatsoever for him and would be glad to see the end of the monarchy when Charles dies.

Calliopespa · 07/12/2025 12:45

gudetamathelazyegg · 07/12/2025 12:35

I do appreciate that Charles was a bit unique for the environmentalism but essentially this is just having strong opinions on a political topic and voicing them - we all have opinions. I don't see being controversial as working hard.

Also people tend to forget Charles' "black spider memos" where he used his position to influence politics behind the scenes. The whole point of being royalty is that you don't get involved in government business!

Edited
Show quote history

I do appreciate that Charles was a bit unique for the environmentalism but essentially this is just having strong opinions on a political topic and voicing them - we all have opinions. I don't see being controversial as working hard.

Yes, I have to agree with you on that. I suppose from my pov though, it helps if the person voicing the opinions has a platform - otherwise he'd likely have been some quirky guy who raised a few eye rolls in the village.

I think it takes a certain conscience - and in his case intelligence - to use your platform for something worthwhile. It would be much easier to have said Royalty cuts ribbons and kept his head down on issues he believed needed airing. It wasn't just jumping on the bandwagon of things that were already well aired.

And I suppose that is why to some extent I possibly don't see the black spider memos as being as negative as they sound. He has had beliefs in things that went beyond his own personal interest and wasn't afraid to stick his head above the parapet for them.

In a funny way I think his great strength was that he wasn't a "popular" royal as he had less to lose!

Parky04 · 07/12/2025 12:45

Santasbigredbobblehat · 07/12/2025 10:32

I’m here for the republic.

Me too!

JoyfulOwl · 07/12/2025 12:44

This can't be a serious post. I don't know him so no it won't affect me at it.

JifNtGif · 07/12/2025 12:44

May his giant sausage fingers be reunited with the holy toast and beans

thetemptationofchocolate · 07/12/2025 12:43

gudetamathelazyegg · 07/12/2025 12:25

But they don't actually DO anything for these causes themselves because they're royalty. They are figureheads. Every speech, event, initiative is planned by their employees in these organisations and none of them get credit for working hard. I would like to see them thank the people who do the actual work for their chosen causes!

Show quote history

I am not sure how many charities the royals have supported over the years. Mostly it's done without any big fuss. I volunteer for one where the King is the patron. He took that over from the Queen. So that's one charity and years of financial support.
There must be hundreds which they support in this fashion and I'd say that was practical help. It's certainly appreciated by the charities who receive it.

I find it odd to be defending the royals here, as I am certainly not a staunch royalist.

Dontyoulooktired · 07/12/2025 12:41

I can’t muster a solitary shit about any of the Royals.

IAxolotlQuestions · 07/12/2025 12:41

ItsameLuigi · 07/12/2025 12:38

I was only upset because the radio was playing depressing music for like 4 days straight.

Show quote history

Agreed. It got boring fast. I just turned it off in favour of Spotify.