For (former) Prince Charles, the death of his mother means his time to sit in the big seat is finally here. For Prince William, meanwhile, the Queen’s passing sees him promoted in the line of succession, as well as become the new Prince of Wales. For his brother Harry, meanwhile, Charles being King could mean a whole raft of changes, and there’s no telling what that might mean for his future within the royal fold.
Father Time comes for queen and pauper alike. Last week marked the end to a glittering reign that began all the way back in February, 1952.
The word first broke regarding the Queen’s death on Thursday, the week before last. Worrying reports had emerged during the day suggesting that she was in ill health, then the serious nature of the rumors was confirmed when royals from all over the UK and beyond began to make their way to the monarch’s Balmoral home.
In a statement last Thursday evening, Buckingham Palace said:
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and the Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
The flag atop Buckingham Palace was lowered to half-mast at 6:30 p.m. local time, while an official notice announcing the Queen’s death was posted on the gates to the palace, as is tradition.
The Queen’s eldest son and heir, Charles – the former Prince of Wales – has now become King of the United Kingdom and the 14 Commonwealth realms.
“The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” King Charles said in a statement.
“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”
King Charles added: “During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.”
Indeed, much of the world stood still on Monday to pay respects to Queen Elizabeth as she made the journey to her final resting place. 2,000 people, many of them world leaders and other important dignitaries, were in attendance for the funeral, while the Royal Family were said to have held their own private ceremony later on in the day.
It should go without saying that the Queen’s funeral was a grand affair, one watched by millions of people across the globe. From every corner they tuned in to mark the historical moment, while the sheer weight of the coverage meant that absolutely nothing was missed.
That includes the other members of the Royal Family, forced to stand under scrutiny for the entirety of the ceremony.
The emotions were certainly on show within the Queen’s inner circle. To be expected, of course, given the magnitude of the loss with which they’re dealing.
Yet the show, as they say, must go on.
The Queen’s death marks the end of an era, it’s true, but it also heralds the dawn of a new one. If rumors are to be believed, King Charles has already signaled his intent to scale-back the monarchy in a bid to cut costs.
Of course, Harry and Meghan Markle have little to fear on that front given that they’ve already officially stepped back from royal duties, but that doesn’t mean the book is closed on their interactions with the Royal Family as an institution.
Far from it.
No, according to royal commentator Neil Sean, Meghan is seeking to extend something of an olive branch by reaching out in an attempt to secure a meeting with King Charles before she leaves the country to return to the US.
“She’d now like before they return back to California to have a one-to-one audience with King Charles III,” Sean told OK! Magazine. “That’s right — Meghan one-to-one with King Charles. You heard correct.”
Sean went further by suggesting that Markle had sent a letter to King Charles himself, adding:
“It’s a very brave move from Meghan herself. It would be an opportunity to clear the air, pull the rights from wrongs and explain some of the rationale behind what they’ve been doing over the last two years.”
Of course, whether or not Charles accepts or even entertains the peace offering remains to be seen. He of all people was said to have been left infuriated with Harry and Meghan’s infamous tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, and though the Queen was more sympathetic to the situation, it’s natural to assume Harry’s father yet harbors anger.
“Truthfully, we have no idea if this is going to go forward,” Sean said.
In any case, we hope that Harry and Meghan can repair some of the bridges burned with regards to the Royal Family.
What do you think is going to happen moving forward? Will Harry return to the royal fold in some manner?