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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
NoKidsSendDogs · 07/12/2025 11:16

Not even a tiny bit. Hopefully we will get a public holiday though, that's the only thing I, and most people I know, were interested in when the queen died.

Doteycat · 07/12/2025 11:17

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?

When is your article out?

Original poster
monrymeadows73 · 07/12/2025 11:17

Funnywonder · 07/12/2025 11:12

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.

Isn't that just because you're an Irish nationalist?

OP posts:
LidlAmaretto · 07/12/2025 11:17

InlandTaipan · 07/12/2025 11:11

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.

I did make my children watch all the ascension to the Throne business because it was a moment in history that most people had never seen. That won't be the case when Charles dies. They werent bothered then, and will be even less bothered the next time it happens.

ObelixtheGaul · 07/12/2025 11:21

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?

I think it was different with the late Queen because she'd held the role for so long. My mother was 5 when she became Queen. I was 48 when she died. She'd just always been there in the top job. She was from an era when perhaps the Royal family was held in higher regard.

William will take over and I think he may prove more popular generally, but I am not bothered myself. I think when David Attenborough dies it will be more of a big deal.

heartsinvisiblefury · 07/12/2025 11:21

I wasn’t upset when the Queen died and I won’t be upset when the King does. Grief, as she said, is the price we pay for love and I don’t love either.

PinkyFlamingo · 07/12/2025 11:21

Insecurity about identity?? Oh please 😂😂😂

Funnywonder · 07/12/2025 11:22

JUST? Are you suggesting that makes my opinion irrelevant? I live in the UK. For now.

Calliopespa · 07/12/2025 11:22

ComedyGuns · 07/12/2025 11:01

Are you in your late 80s?

Far more likely the op is someone lurking with fingers crossed for exactly your kind of comment.

reallyffspeople · 07/12/2025 11:22

I didn’t care when the queen died and I won’t care when he dies. My nail lady was open on the day of the funeral last time and I went and got my nails done 😂

Luckyingame · 07/12/2025 11:23

No.

HeyThereDelila · 07/12/2025 11:23

So much ignorance on this thread. Yes, OP’s post was a bit bizarre, but the vitriol on here is shocking.

The King and Princess Anne are workaholics; usually undertaking 3 events a day, travelling the length of the country and, in the King’s case, championing the underprivileged by setting up The Princes’ Trust which helped hundreds of thousands of NEETs (as they’re somewhat oddly called today) in to decent work. That was - and is - real help to thousands of working class kids. The King raised the alarm about climate change decades ago, and Anne has been President of Save the Children for decades and championed the needs of the disabled.

William has set up the Earth Shot prize and is building a lot of social housing in Cornwall, as well as aiming to eliminate homelessness. And even Camilla, whether you like or loathe her, does loads on violence against women (as does the Duchess of Edinburgh) and literacy. Kate meanwhile does lots on the early years and addiction.

Andrew’s daughters, referred to up thread, both work independently and aren’t paid by the public purse.

Be a republican all you want, but at least get your facts right.

HoneychurchLucy · 07/12/2025 11:24

Zero F’s given here other than down with the monarchy!

reallyffspeople · 07/12/2025 11:24

HeyThereDelila · 07/12/2025 11:23

So much ignorance on this thread. Yes, OP’s post was a bit bizarre, but the vitriol on here is shocking.

The King and Princess Anne are workaholics; usually undertaking 3 events a day, travelling the length of the country and, in the King’s case, championing the underprivileged by setting up The Princes’ Trust which helped hundreds of thousands of NEETs (as they’re somewhat oddly called today) in to decent work. That was - and is - real help to thousands of working class kids. The King raised the alarm about climate change decades ago, and Anne has been President of Save the Children for decades and championed the needs of the disabled.

William has set up the Earth Shot prize and is building a lot of social housing in Cornwall, as well as aiming to eliminate homelessness. And even Camilla, whether you like or loathe her, does loads on violence against women (as does the Duchess of Edinburgh) and literacy. Kate meanwhile does lots on the early years and addiction.

Andrew’s daughters, referred to up thread, both work independently and aren’t paid by the public purse.

Be a republican all you want, but at least get your facts right.

it’s not like their “work” is particularly hard

ARoomSomewhere · 07/12/2025 11:24

'Resilience & comfort' ??? No ...
QEII: I went to see the coffin & to the funeral parade (in Scotland) as it was of historical interest. Charles III - nope (been there, done that plus he's always seemed self indulgent)
I don't wish him ill but I don't feel he has 'contributed to the Nation' especially.

I have been watching 'The Crown' with Dd, 18, who is Autistic (we are both aware it's not an historically 100% factual document btw)

We've just got up to the episode where Margaret discovers the existence of Nerissa and (Rosemary?) - the cousins with learning disabilities who were hidden away & actually listed as dead in Burkes peerage. We had an interesting conversation about this in particular but in general her comments so far are: 'they're not very 'Resilient learners are they' and 'what do they have to do with ordinary people's lives?'. Quite.

pigmygoatsinjumpers · 07/12/2025 11:24

Well, I certainly don't see HRH as my "rock" nor do I look to the monarchy for "reassurance and comfort". What a weird post.

I'd be happy to see all of them go.

CurlewKate · 07/12/2025 11:25

HeyThereDelila · 07/12/2025 11:23

So much ignorance on this thread. Yes, OP’s post was a bit bizarre, but the vitriol on here is shocking.

The King and Princess Anne are workaholics; usually undertaking 3 events a day, travelling the length of the country and, in the King’s case, championing the underprivileged by setting up The Princes’ Trust which helped hundreds of thousands of NEETs (as they’re somewhat oddly called today) in to decent work. That was - and is - real help to thousands of working class kids. The King raised the alarm about climate change decades ago, and Anne has been President of Save the Children for decades and championed the needs of the disabled.

William has set up the Earth Shot prize and is building a lot of social housing in Cornwall, as well as aiming to eliminate homelessness. And even Camilla, whether you like or loathe her, does loads on violence against women (as does the Duchess of Edinburgh) and literacy. Kate meanwhile does lots on the early years and addiction.

Andrew’s daughters, referred to up thread, both work independently and aren’t paid by the public purse.

Be a republican all you want, but at least get your facts right.

You are aware that some of the events are a 20 minute phone call?

Larymarylary · 07/12/2025 11:25

I have no fucks left to give over the royals.

Calliopespa · 07/12/2025 11:26

Applepe · 07/12/2025 11:11

This has got to be a Russian bot! 🤣

It's that or a goady republican. From the stiff style maybe the former.

FancyNewt · 07/12/2025 11:26

Charles is already elderly and has cancer. I don't think anyone would be surprised when he dies. For the majority of people the Queen was the only monarch they knew so her passing had more impact.

I hope the royal family and their hangers on are severely reduced once Kate and William take over. I think the concept of a royal family is out of step with modern life. I don't really know what they bring to the table any more.

William and Kate's fake sincerity whilst they waffle about their latest topic does nothing for me and I'm sure I'm not alone.we don't need a bunch of entitled tax scroungers telling us what we should do whilst telling us nothing that isn't obvious. Eg Addiction is terrible and kids benefit from early years education .

Yes love, we'd all like our children to benefit from an early years education like your children had!

Telling everyone to be kind to addicts. Jeez. Kill me now.

LlynTegid · 07/12/2025 11:26

I want to keep a monarchy, albeit without any formal powers, just ceremonial. I appreciate the history it brings and like a part of public life without the grubbiness and all the nasty parts of politics.

I don't think when King Charles dies the sadness will be anything like that for the late Queen Elizabeth.

sprigatito · 07/12/2025 11:26

HeyThereDelila · 07/12/2025 11:23

So much ignorance on this thread. Yes, OP’s post was a bit bizarre, but the vitriol on here is shocking.

The King and Princess Anne are workaholics; usually undertaking 3 events a day, travelling the length of the country and, in the King’s case, championing the underprivileged by setting up The Princes’ Trust which helped hundreds of thousands of NEETs (as they’re somewhat oddly called today) in to decent work. That was - and is - real help to thousands of working class kids. The King raised the alarm about climate change decades ago, and Anne has been President of Save the Children for decades and championed the needs of the disabled.

William has set up the Earth Shot prize and is building a lot of social housing in Cornwall, as well as aiming to eliminate homelessness. And even Camilla, whether you like or loathe her, does loads on violence against women (as does the Duchess of Edinburgh) and literacy. Kate meanwhile does lots on the early years and addiction.

Andrew’s daughters, referred to up thread, both work independently and aren’t paid by the public purse.

Be a republican all you want, but at least get your facts right.

Char has literally never done a day’s work in his life. He is a spoiled, thin-skinned manchild with no concept of the lives of the taxpayers who prop up his useless existence. Deference is the English disease.

MadameSzyszkoBohusz · 07/12/2025 11:27

My main thought on Charlie dying will be “ah FFS, now we have to pay for another state funeral AND a coronation. Can’t we just be done with the lot of them?!”

ByWisePanda · 07/12/2025 11:28

Funnywonder · 07/12/2025 11:22

JUST? Are you suggesting that makes my opinion irrelevant? I live in the UK. For now.

The reason why NI was created so that the establishment in England can get more taxes. That's all the establishment cares about. The Republic of Ireland wanted no part of England.

goldboots · 07/12/2025 11:28

Surely this is a joke?

No- people wont give a toss. It was bad enough him being crowned parading through the street in a bloody gold carriage when many people are struggling to even pay bills.

The insensitivity was off the scale and frankly, it was shocking. It's 2025 now, not 1980 and people are pissed off with them and their stupid posturing.

Noone gives a shit about Charles. They only liked the queen because she was in post for such a long time and she looked liked a benign sweet old lady.