Coronation and crisis in the family
This is how the year went for King Charles III.
King Charles at his coronation in Westminster Abbey.
© imago/Cover Images
King Charles celebrated his major coronation in 2023. Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan, on the other hand, continue to cause unrest among the royals.
King Charles III (75) has been on the British throne since September 2022. His great coronation took place in 2023. While he has made a confident impression as monarch over the past twelve months, including at the Trooping the Color military parade and the opening of Parliament, rumors surrounding a dispute within the royal family continue to make negative headlines. This is how the year went for Charles III:
The coronation in May
King Charles was crowned on May 6th at Westminster Abbey alongside his wife, Queen Camilla (76). The ceremony became a televised spectacle worldwide, combining centuries-old traditions and modernity. The guests included Prince Albert II (65) and his wife, Charlène of Monaco (45), King Felipe of Spain (55) and Queen Letizia (51) as well as many other stars from the royal families and politics. The ceremony was followed by street parties and a large coronation concert.
Rumors about family discord
What was also a topic at the coronation: the alleged family dispute among the royals. Prince Harry (39) attended his father’s coronation ceremony, but shortly afterwards he is said to have gotten back on the plane to the USA. He has lived there since 2020 with his wife Duchess Meghan (42) and their two children Archie (4) and Lilibeth (2). Meghan was not present at the coronation.
In the months after Queen Elizabeth II’s death, Harry and Meghan attacked the royals in a Netflix documentary series, Harry’s memoir “Reserve” and television interviews. Among other things, the Duke of Sussex accused his family of colluding about negative media coverage. Most recently, Omid Scobie’s (42) tell-all book “Endgame” caused a stir. The journalist should have access to Harry and Meghan’s environment.
The sale of the book was stopped in the Netherlands with media attention. The translated version is said to have included the names of two royal family members who are said to be involved in allegations first made by Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan in 2021. At the time, the Sussexes spoke in an interview with Oprah Winfrey (69) about how a member of the royal family had allegedly expressed concerns about the skin color of their son Archie before his birth. Thanks to Scobie’s book, the allegations were once again a topic in the British press for weeks. Tensions between Prince Harry and his family don’t seem to be getting any less…
Things are said to have become quieter elsewhere. In October there were reports that Prince Andrew (63), who fell into disgrace after the Epstein scandal, would not have to move. King Charles has allowed his younger brother to stay in the Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle indefinitely. At least that’s what “The Mirror” wrote. A conflict that had been simmering for months between Andrew and Charles allegedly arose over the Royal Lodge. The monarch is said to have initially advised his brother to leave the property immediately in order to move to the smaller – and, above all, newly renovated – Frogmore Cottage, which was previously lived in by Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan.
Charles traveling
Given these problems, is the British monarch sometimes happy to be able to travel? In March, at least, Charles and Camilla shined during a visit to Germany in Berlin and Hamburg. In June he traveled privately to Romania, among other things to go hiking. He then traditionally enjoyed his summer vacation at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Later visits to France and Kenya followed.
Charles celebrates Christmas with his family at the royal estate in Sandringham – this is also a tradition that the king inherited from his mother. The monarch can probably take a breather here for a while before things continue to be no less exciting for him and his family in 2024.