As the King’s coronation on the 6th of May gets closer, many wonder how he will choose to reign. In the past, he has never shied away from making his opinions clear and while this may be troubling for some, others view it as his way of bringing the Monarchy into the 21st Century. In spite of the sceptics, I believe the King will be a champion for progressive ideals whilst still representing and indeed celebrating the rich tradition that encapsulates the monarchy.
Defender of the Faiths
Whilst the Monarch in Britain is ‘The supreme Governor of the Church of England,’ the King has also taken an interest in non-Christian faith as well as various denominations of Christianity. When meeting with faith leaders, the King expressed how important it is to ‘respect those who follow other spiritual paths, as well as those who seek to live their lives in accordance with secular ideals.’ This respect for all religions arguably points to his devotion to modern Britain. After all, the last census showed an increase in both Islam and Hinduism in Britain with 3.9 million Muslims and around 1 million Hindus.
The King fuses passion for his own religion while keeping an openness in his mind and heart towards other faiths. This echoes what the Queen frequently did in her annual Christmas broadcasts to the nation that showed her awareness of our multicultural society. However, King Charles has taken this a step further by expressing a sense of pride in Britain’s religious diversity.
The new King has a particular affiliation with Islam. In a 1993 speech, he sighted the West’s ‘ignorance about the debt our own culture and civilisation owe to the Islamic world.’ He has also said, ‘I feel that we in the West could be helped to rediscover those roots of our own understanding by an appreciation of the Islamic tradition’s deep respect for the timeless traditions of the natural order.’ This quote, of course, reflects another passion for which the King has become very well known.
The Constant Environmentalist
It’s no secret that the King has always been a champion for the environment. While carrying an obligation to remain politically neutral, King Charles’ deep-rooted love for protecting nature is likely to be a unifying rather than dividing force. Having followed his environmental zeal for a very long time, he now has plenty to show for it. In 1985, Charles converted the farm at his Highgrove home in Gloucestershire to organic status. You could reasonably argue that the King was one of the first high-profile environmental campaigners. In fact, well before Greta Thunberg, the King has said: ‘There is the growing menace of oil pollution at sea, which almost destroys beaches and certainly destroys tens of thousands of seabirds.’ He has likewise reflected on the ‘horrifying effects of pollution in all its cancerous forms.’
When more than two-thirds of young children between seven and twelve years of age are concerned about climate change, the King’s passion for protecting the environment is certainly a source of inspiration for the younger generation.
The King has also demonstrated how his environmental practices can benefit the country. In January this year, the Crown Estate agreed to lease sites for six new offshore wind projects that promise to generate enough green electricity to sustain over seven million homes by 2030. The King has also expressly said that profits generated by these projects will go towards ‘wider public good,’ rather than the royal household. This sort of pride in environmental reform ensures that the Monarchy works for all, including the younger generations.
Shortly after the Queen’s death, 63 per cent of the public agreed that King Charles will be a good monarch, while 45 per cent thought he would handle the role differently from the late Queen.
As Prince of Wales, King Charles was a champion for many charities. Recently, he has had to acknowledge that it will ‘no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply.’
Some have questioned the King’s ability to remain neutral, despite his new role. Indeed, many hope that he will continue to be an open champion for sustainability and environmentalism. But even if this is not to be, he has already expressed interest in another, equally important cause. Kind Charles hopes to be a defender of all faiths. As he continues to modernise and reform Britain, the desire to be a unifying influence not just in environmental matters, but religious ones too, gains him support from younger generations who share his generous vision of the future.
DISCLAIMER: The articles on our website are not endorsed by, or the opinions of Shout Out UK (SOUK), but exclusively the views of the author.
