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

[monrymeadows73]

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?

No.
QEII was the force of stability.
If it all falls apart it is because she has gone.
On the other hand, give them a chance. KC has been fine so far.
It takes a while for anyone to settle into any big visible role.

Compared to the £2-£3.5 billion for ending the two child benefit cap? Yes, it’s a drop in the ocean. And I actively prefer the Royals to the government - at least nobody pretends they represent me.

They don't do much ringing these days. If you're keen to be part of their polling, join the online YouGov site, and you'll have the opportunity.

1000 people seems to be a statistically sound number, by all accounts.

You have quite a way with words! Whilst I would not express myself this way, I think I relate to your sentiments a hundred percent!

However they are gathering their information for the poll, it is not representative AFAIC

on here 95% thinks the OP is unreasonable to think we are all going to be crying into our pillows when Charles dies.

Yes, in many ways the RF lead very privileged lives, but I bet most people would not want to trade places with them for any price. Imagine never being able to step outside your door without being stared at and photographed, always having to look immaculate and not being able to do what you really feel like.

It is well known that the king is a workaholic. Some people may think much of what he does is of little value or relevance, but he is the head of state and there are constitutional duties he has to perform. I’d rather it is him than some washed-up politician as president.

The current RF is already quite slimmed down and once William ascends the throne, there’ll be only him, Kate/Catherine (if her health allows) and their children, plus Anne, Ed and Sophie (for a few years - they are getting on…).

Think a lot will come out about Saville's friend, Andy's protected brother. Knew nothing about both of them, apparently

The Daily Mail will have a total melt down and view anyone who isn't prostrate with grief while simultaneously overcome with joy at the prospect of King Billy and Queen Kate as a traitor who should be executed

I call him King Prince Charles and when the media bang on about the Princess of Wales I still think of Diana.

Lol! I still think of QE2 when they say the Queen.
King Prince Charles sounds so much better. I'm going to nick that one 😀

They can step quite far out of their doors without being photographed- they have 100s of acres of grounds surrounding their many homes. The personnel may be slimmed down but the money they take sure hasnt. In fact its gone up, hugely. Its all part of the PR that they would all be happy being peasant farmers but they are sacrificing themselves for their duty to us. They dont want to live like a peasant farmer. They dont even want to live like Aristocrats who often have to sell their stuff to pay for their own houses. Their lifes work is to keep The Windsors on the Throne. Thats it. Everything they do is for that purpose.

Well I didn't cry when Princess Diana died nor when the Queen died but I do like having a Royal Family and I think William and Kate, when their time comes, will make a great King and Queen.

Doesn't make it any less true.

Rich bloke dies, and so what? Only thing i can think is a day off for a funeral, and one for the coronation.

It won’t be anything like when the queen died. She’d been more or less unchanging for so many decades!

The late Queen was different; she was from and different time and generation when the Royal Family actually mattered.

King Charles is a privileged rich man with excellent PR who ended up marrying his mistress. I don't know a single person who views him with as much respect as QEII.

Most people I know can't see a point to the monarchy; it's not a system anyone would vote for now and the whole Andrew scandal has put the spotlight on the flaws of the whole concept of a hereditary Head of State.

Are you actually suggesting that a
millions for a funeral for an incredibly rich old woman is a better use of public money than helping children who were born into poverty? Really? 🤯

When the changing of the guard eventually happens, it won't be so much grief that's expressed but goggle eyed curiosity as to whether H, M and kids, or just H, or none of them attend the obsequies. And who sits beside whom, and who glares at each other, and will H and W reconcile, and are Kate and Meghan still at loggerheads, and who is most dignified, and how many file past the coffin for a gawp.

It's going to be a spectacle alright, but not one that's usually associated with a stately Royal funeral, you know, the dignified dirge like type. Well in the meeja anyway for sure. I hope the BBC reins in its faux grief on behalf of the nation this time.

People are just waiting in the wings for this to happen, I'm sorry to say. That is to a large extent human nature, which shows that the RF is not admired for its dignity and leadership, rather the other gossipy bits overall.

I will be sad….because it will be the last extra days holiday I will see maybe ever (depends if I outlive William but I will be old and retired anyway). I will mourn him as much as Steve I don’t know who lives in London…very little.

I noticed Anne turned round and had a friendly word with Harry on his arrival at the coronation and I did think that she is a bit of a class act, not to mention her awesome outfit that day when she rode horseback to get there ( or did I dream that ???).

I am a monarchist - more so under the reign of Queen Elizabeth II than under King Charles III, so no, I don’t think I will feel anywhere near the same depth of emotion as I did when the Queen died. She had been the Queen for the whole of my life, and had an influence on every decade, imo. At his age, I don’t think the King can make the same impact so I don’t think there will be the same level of sadness when he dies.

To the person who says that Charles hasn’t worked a day in his life - there’s the Prince’s Trust 1976 which supports young people, patron or president of 800 organizations and charities, advocate for environmental issues and conservation long before it became fashionable, many other causes which he supports bout people don’t hear about.

I literally know no one who would care

Wait and see.

Being purely a figurehead to a trust or charity really isn’t work, is it?

How on earth can any member of the RF talk with a straight face about environmental issues while having multiple homes, cars, private planes? Massive carbon footprint on every level.
Having given up my own car and being veggie all my life, it will be a cold day in hell before I take advice from them.