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?

I'd love to see a fixed price Civil List as an interim measure prior to dissolving the monarchy entirely but I think you may mean the Sovereign Grant?

I haven't seen any reports W intends to reduce his take from the public purse and while I'd hope he might reduce the numbers of hangers on the process has been agonisingly slow so far and it's hard to see him getting off his lazy arse to speed it up.

He can't if hes King. They have plenty of privacy- they do about 2 months ' work' a year and are shut away in various castles and massive estates or on private holidays the rest of the time. They may say they want an ordinary life but as Harry has shown, they dont want ' ordinary' bills or an ordinary salary!

No.

My belief is that without the PR and good management William would have been quite a bit like Harry if let loose. I think William is actually far more entitled.

I'd be sad as I'm a royalist and probably watch the funeral as I like a bit of historical pomp (I studied royal history as part of my history degree)

But I don't think the public grief will be as much as for QE2 (nation's granny, longest running monarch) compared to KC3 (who may only be king for like 10-20 years). Diana's public mourning was OTT but that was because it was sudden and young.

I think the concept of the royal family is a disgrace in modern times. It goes against the idea of working hard for reward and supports class privilege by birth. They waft around in their huge houses which are not earned. I know this happens with other very wealthy people but at least we don’t have our noses rubbed in it or have to subsidise their weddings and funerals.
I was sad for the queens passing on a level of her being someone I was very familiar of. I don’t have any ill will for them personally, they are human and fuck up according.
the whole concept of them morally leading the nation really gets my back up, they don’t, nor should they. They have been born to a life of insane privilege, what right should they have to project any morality over the rest of us, when they do not walk in our shoes.

Well said. From the media coverage of Lizzie's death you'd have thought the nation was barely able to function as we were all inconsolable with grief and wailing in the streets. The reality was that I didn't see a single person in real life (i.e. excluding oddballs on TV hanging around outside Buckingham Palace), who was properly upset. The prevailing view seemed to be 'Oh well it's pretty sad but she was almost 100, bound to happen at some point, wheel in Charlie boy for his turn then'. When Charles dies we'll give even less of a toss, there'll just be more eye rolling at the next dimwit we'll have foisted on us as head of state.

Charles’ death will be sad for his immediate family, close friends, and longstanding grovelling staff. But everyone else will shrug and move on unless they’re those unsettling oddballs who camp out overnight to catch a whiff of Kate’s scent.

A day off work might be nice, though. Wouldn’t say no to that.

You are being unreasonable for using the word 'passing' when you mean 'die'.

Why has 'passing' become the norm now for the words' die and death'?

They are the best words. 'Passed away' was always just about acceptable but this 'passing' nonsense needs to stop.

Was the nation devastated when the late Queen died? There was some sadness yes, and the feeling that an era had ended and yes, a lot of people respected her, but I seem to remember life progressing pretty much as normal.

Your post made me laugh! I will feel utter indifference when King Charles dies. You have got a very vivid imagination if you think that he is viewed as 'the nation's rock' by the general public.

This has got to be a Russian bot! 🤣

I have absolutely nothing in common with the royal family, they are so out of touch with ordinary people, The vast majority of people in the UK are really struggling, my first personal purchase in five years, was last week when I bought a pair of pyjamas from Lidl for £5.99.

I was quite devastated when the queen died. Mainly because she was a constant. Can't imagine giving a shit when Charles dies.

No. The monarchy consider everyone else to be beneath them. They wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire OP, so why should anyone give a monkeys.
It's the biggest racket ever and should end.

I'm in NI and there are people who 'care' about the Royal Family far too much and go out of their way to demonstrate just how loyal they are by making sycophantic, overblown statements at the drop of a hat. The rest of us couldn't give a stuff about the Royal Family. Some privileged bloke whose posh twit face occasionally appears on my telly dies. I still have a sick child to look after, bills to pay, dinner to make. It will make not one iota of difference to me. I do not care. He has his own family for that.

He's never seemed to stick as king so I doubt there will be much anything felt by the population. People still single God save the queen accidentally at national anthem all the time. Also the monarchy as a concept is stupid in 2025, they're just some mid range rich people. Not the brightest, strongest, most moral, charismatic or even the richest. Monarchy is an anachronism that I tend to forget about day to day until I spot some ridiculously entitled money grab or piece of sleaze. Get rid.

I am not necessarily against the monarchy, a republic and a head of state like in Germany who represents is not really cheaper.
I think a head of state should represent, be there as a figure of warning, of moral unity.

I do hope though that William will cut down and make the monarchy similar to other European ones, very slim, very low key and go away with all the pomp and circumstances especially the very antique coronation ceremony.

Charles knows he is an inbetween one and so far nobody is rocking the boat out of respect but I am sure behind the scenes lots is already prepared how to go forward.

I think people will remember him as the last of his kind.

He’s been ill for the entire time he’s been King. I don’t think he’s been in the public eye enough (understandably) to be missed.

He’s a crude vulgar little man. I won’t give his death a second thought.

Well, the BBC was certainly devastated! Wall to Wall coverage that was completely over the top.

Even die hard Royalists are not enamoured with sausage fingers.

He is not even one tenth as popular as his mother was.

There were some complaints about that. I hope they listen for next time.

I was surprised that I felt upset at Elizabeth's passing. Not hugely, but it felt like the end of an era. She'd been Queen all my life, and it still sounds odd to see a senior barrister referred to as KC or to hear God Save the King.

No way I'll feel like that when Charles goes.

What's with the two deep and meaningful threads today started within minutes of each other OP?

You barely returned to the first and haven't returned to this one at all 😳