For his first visit as monarch, Charles III promised on Tuesday to serve “all the people” of Northern Ireland, plagued by communal tensions as he succeeds Elizabeth II in an atmosphere of popular fervor and national emotion. . The sovereign had played a major role in reconciliation in the province with a bloody past. But nearly a quarter of a century after the return of a fragile peace between Republicans, especially Catholics, and Unionists, mainly Protestants, tensions have been reignited by Brexit, reviving the idea of a separation from the United Kingdom and of reunification with Ireland.
Charles III and Camilla in contact with the public
Arrived from Edinburgh, where they joined the tens of thousands of people gathering at the coffin of Elizabeth II, Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla went into contact with the public massed in front of Hillsborough Castle. They shook hands for a long time, greeted the children, exchanged a few words: images that were hard to imagine at the time of the “Troubles”.
“With a shining example before me, and with the help of God, I take up my new duties determined to seek the well-being of all the people of Northern Ireland,” the monarch told the local Parliament, at the stopped for months.
The trickiest leg of the New King’s tour
Politically paralyzed and in upheaval under the effect of the victory in the last elections of the Republicans of Sinn Fein, which does not recognize the authority of the monarchy, Northern Ireland remains the most delicate stage of the tour started by the new king in the four constituent nations of the United Kingdom. He visited the British Parliament in London on Monday, then that of Edinburgh before going to Cardiff, Wales, on Friday.
“It’s reassuring to see the communities rally behind the new king,” observes Ann Sudlow, retired, who welcomes a certain unity in the province, like the emotion that has gripped the country since the death of Elizabeth II last Thursday at the age of 96.
Charles III discusses Northern Irish protocol during his first official visit to Belfast
King Charles III spoke on Tuesday in Belfast about the post-Brexit dispute between the United Kingdom and the European Union over the British province. At a reception held in Hillsborough with all the leaders of the Northern Irish parties, Charles expressed a keen interest in the issue of Northern Ireland’s Brexit protocol, the British news agency PA reported.
He engaged on this issue in a long conversation with Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Donaldson said he hoped ongoing talks with the EU on reforming the protocol would “progress”, the agency reported, without citing sources.
The Northern Irish Protocol, negotiated at the time of Brexit, creates a de facto customs border between the island of Britain and the British province of Northern Ireland, complicating supplies and angering unionists attached to belonging United Kingdom.
A critical moment
Tensions in Northern Ireland, separatist desires in Scotland, galloping inflation: the new 73-year-old king, older than all the British sovereigns when they acceded to the throne, takes office at a critical moment. The country, in the grip of a serious social and political crisis, has had a new Prime Minister for a few days.
The king will probably have to face the claims of some of his 14 other kingdoms (including in particular Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, New Zealand or even Jamaica) which could be tempted by a republican regime, thanks to this change of ruler. “I believe that’s the direction New Zealand will go at some point, I believe it’s likely to happen in my lifetime, but I don’t see it in the short term,” said the Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern.
The remains of Elizabeth II in London on Tuesday
Continuing her final journey, the Queen’s remains will board a royal plane for London on Tuesday afternoon, escorted by Princess Anne. He will be greeted on his arrival by King Charles and other members of the family. He will spend the night at Buckingham Palace.
Then will begin the second part of presentation to the public, London this time, which should see hundreds of thousands of people parade for a little less than five days, 24 hours a day. Some started queuing on Monday. The Queen’s state funeral will take place on Monday attended by some 500 foreign dignitaries and many crowned heads. But Russia, Belarus and Burma were not invited.