Following his mother鈥檚 death on Sept. 8, King Charles III has had two months to settle into his new role as sovereign. In that short time, the world is already seeing a shift to what seems to be a less formal and more accessible monarchy, said 麻豆影视 royal commentator Richard Berthelsen.
One day after the announcement of Queen Elizabeth II鈥檚 death, the King greeted a sea of well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace. More recently, during a reception at the palace on Friday, the King kissed fashion designer Stella McCartney on the cheek as they greeted one another.
鈥淭hat would have been unthinkable with [Queen Elizabeth II] in public,鈥� Berthelsen told CTVNews.ca in a telephone interview on Tuesday. 鈥淏oth the King and Queen Camilla are fairly tactile with people and don鈥檛 stand on a lot of ceremony with things like that.鈥�
During a visit to the English city of York on Wednesday, one protester threw eggs at both King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla. However, the royal couple carried on with the engagement and continued to greet the crowd of people. No eggs appeared to hit the couple, but one man was arrested.
These kinds of interactions may be a sign that the monarchy is entering a new era, said Berthelsen 鈥� one less focused on rules of etiquette and more concerned with connecting to the public.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to mean a more contemporary monarchy where people can see the sovereign and feel that they can ask to take a picture,鈥� Berthelsen said. 鈥淎 very different kind of monarchy is starting to show [and] I think it will appeal to a broader segment of the population.鈥�
This shift in the Royal Family鈥檚 approach to engaging with the public is one of several changes that are likely to take place as the King begins his reign, Berthelsen said.
Another sign that the monarchy is entering a new era involves the release of Queen Consort Camilla鈥檚 new cypher. Revealed by Buckingham Palace on Monday, the monogram features the initials 鈥淐鈥� for Camilla, and 鈥淩鈥� for Regina, the Latin word for Queen.
Although Buckingham Palace has referred to Camilla as Queen Consort since King Charles ascended the throne, she can simply be referred to as Queen, Berthelsen said. The title of 鈥淨ueen鈥� can be used for a female monarch or the wife of a monarch.
According to royal tradition, the Queen Consort is as part of his coronation, in 鈥渁 similar but simpler鈥� ceremony. According to a statement released by Buckingham Palace on Oct. 11, King Charles鈥� coronation will take place at .
鈥淭here鈥檚 really no significance to the use of 鈥楺ueen鈥� or 鈥楺ueen Consort鈥� for Camilla 鈥� she鈥檚 still Queen by marriage,鈥� Berthelsen said.
However, if the new monarch is a Queen, her spouse is not crowned or anointed during the coronation.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a matter of constitutional as well as common law,鈥� Berthelsen said. 鈥淭he title 鈥楰ing鈥� would have overshadowed the Queen 鈥� in a patriarchal society.鈥�
鈥淜ing鈥� can only refer to a reigning male monarch, as royal titles held by women do not transfer to their husband. Following Queen Elizabeth II鈥檚 coronation, for example, Prince Philip held the title of Prince Consort.
It鈥檚 likely the palace will continue to refer to Camilla as Queen Consort until the coronation, Berthelsen said. By then, the public may be used to the fact that she is Queen, and that the title no longer refers to Elizabeth.
WILL SOME ROYAL FAMILY MEMBERS RECEIVE NEW ROLES?
As the new sovereign continues to settle in, Berthelsen also anticipates King Charles will soon look at expanding the pool of royals who can be called upon as Counsellors of State.
In Parliament on Oct. 24, British politicians raised questions about whether Prince Harry and Prince Andrew should remain Counsellors of State. Both dukes are among a short list of royals who can be summoned by King Charles III to stand in for him on royal duties if he is outside the United Kingdom, or feeling ill. According to the Regency Act 1937, a monarch鈥檚 spouse, and the first four people in the line of succession to the throne over the age of 21.
With Prince Harry no longer a working member of the Royal Family, and Prince Andrew having stepped down from public duties in 2019, there are few people the King can turn to as deputy.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a difficult situation,鈥� Berthelsen said. 鈥淗e needs more Counsellors of State.鈥�
Along with Queen Consort Camilla, Prince Harry and Prince Andrew, the King鈥檚 remaining Counsellors of State are Prince William and Andrew鈥檚 daughter, Princess Beatrice. However, Princess Beatrice is not technically considered a working member of the Royal Family. Additionally, Camilla is likely to be travelling with the King when they are out of state, leaving just one viable option when the King and Queen Consort are travelling abroad.
The solution would involve the government rewriting the law to allow other members of the Royal Family to be Counsellors of State as well, Berthelsen said. This larger pool of royal deputies is expected to include the King鈥檚 remaining siblings, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, he said.
Kate, Princess of Wales, may be considered for the role as well, Berthelsen said, in order to replace Princess Beatrice.
鈥淭hat hasn't been done before,鈥� said Berthelsen, referring to the wife of an heir becoming Counsellor of State. 鈥淏ut it's possible she could be included.鈥�
Rather than strip family members of their existing titles, it鈥檚 more likely that others will be added to the list of royals to choose from, Berthelsen said. This does not necessarily mean there will be more working members of the Royal Family, just that more of these members may be called upon to assist with official duties.
