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LONDON (AP) — King Charles III’s cure cancer More pressure has been placed on the British monarchy, which is still evolving after the 70-year reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
When Charles succeeded his mother 17 months ago, his task was to demonstrate that the 1,000-year-old institution remains relevant in a modern nation whose citizens come from all corners of the globe. Now the king, who turns 75 in November, must lead that effort while undergoing cancer treatment.
Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that Charles had been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer. The king planned to continue fulfilling his state dutiesLike reviewing government papers and meeting with the Prime Minister, but he will step back from public appearances.
While royal experts say the diagnosis is unlikely to destabilize the House of Windsor, significant pressure remains.
Here’s a look at the major challenges facing the royal family.
old emperor
Charles waited almost 74 years to become king – longer than any previous heir. Now, at a time when most of his contemporaries have retired, Charles has less than two years to put his stamp on the monarchy.
FILE – Britain’s King Charles III sits with Queen Camilla during the State Opening of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster in London on November 7, 2023. The king’s cancer diagnosis put more pressure on the British monarchy, which is still evolving after the 70s. The year of the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II. When Charles succeeded his mother 18 months ago, his task was to demonstrate that the 1,000-year-old institution remains relevant in a modern nation whose citizens come from all corners of the globe. Now the king, who turns 75 in November, must lead that effort while undergoing cancer treatment. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool, File)
Although the duties of a constitutional monarch are largely ceremonial, the royal affair can be exhausting. In addition to occasional processions in full royal regalia, there are also meetings with political leaders, dedication ceremonies and events honoring the achievements of British citizens. It consisted of 161 days of royal engagements during Charles’s first year on the throne.
The pressure on the aging king is not exclusive to Charles. Queen Margrethe of Denmark last month became the first Danish monarch to abdicate in nearly 900 years, handing over the throne to her son Frederick. 83-year-old Margaret had always said that she would not leave her job.
But Britain is not Denmark. Queen Elizabeth II She clung to her commitment to dedicate her life to service died on the throne Charles made a similar commitment during his coronation at the age of 96.
“I don’t think he’s going anywhere anytime soon,” said Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine. “I still think abdication is not a word that is discussed at Buckingham Palace. I mean, who knows what the coming years will bring, but with the best will in the world, Charles III will rule like his mother and until the moment of his death.
shrinking workforce
Charles’ illness comes at an awkward time as he cuts costs, partly by reducing the number of “working royals”.
Not only is Charles stepping away from public duties, but his daughter-in-law, Kate, Princess of Wales, is not expected to resume her royal duties until April after recent abdominal surgery.
FILE – Britain’s Prince William, left, and Britain’s Kate, Princess of Wales, attend the ceremonial welcome of the President and First Lady of the Republic of Korea at the Horse Guards Parade in London, England on November 21, 2023. Charles’ illness comes at a strange time, as his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, also has health problems, having recently been hospitalized for two weeks after undergoing abdominal surgery at a private London clinic. The former Kate Middleton will not return to public duties until after Easter and that may prompt other members of the royal family to pick up the slack. (Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP, File)
With the two most visible members of the family ill, it will be more challenging for the family to keep up. Hundreds of charities seek links to royals to keep interest in their work high.
Who will cut the ribbon, open the swimming pool, shake hands with civic leaders in institutions across the country If not Windsor?
“They are flexible. Lord knows the royal family has been through a lot over the years… and they’re back. But the underlying fact is…he is 75 years old. The queen is 76 years old,” said Sally Bedell Smith, author of ”Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life.”
“It’s a reminder that they are vulnerable in ways that people don’t particularly like to think about.”
harry and meghan
Charles’ relationship with his young son was already strained after Harry and the Duchess of Sussex moved closer to former Meghan Markle’s home in California and stepped down from royal duties in 2020.
Charles broke the news to Harry about his cancer and his son traveled to the UK shortly after its announcement.
FILE – Britain’s Prince Harry, left, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive for a tour at the town hall in Düsseldorf, Germany, on September 6, 2022. King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis puts more pressure on the British monarchy, which is still evolving after the 70-year reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Charles’ relationship with his younger son has been strained even before Harry and Duchess of Sussex moved closer to the California home of former Meghan Markle and left royal duties in 2020. Charles broke the news to Harry about his cancer, and his son traveled to the UK. Immediately after its announcement. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
But With his book “Spare” And in his Netflix series, Harry shadows the early years of the monarch’s reign. Can illness provide a chance for reconciliation?
“It can only be a good sign,” Little said of Harry’s visit. “What will come of it remains to be seen. It is unlikely that the palace will tell us anything officially. So, again, a lot of guesswork will come into play. But we think the king and his young son have not seen each other since his coronation in May.”
“So, it will be a welcome meeting from both sides.”
Relevance of monarchy
Charles rules a country that looks very different from the one his mother inherited in 1952.
Over the past seven decades, Britain has become a multi-cultural nation where schoolchildren speak more than 300 languages and just under half the population identify as Christian.
Against this backdrop, Charles has sought to demonstrate the continued relevance of the monarchy by reaching out to religious leaders, ethnic minorities and each of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom.
Supporters argue that this is what makes the monarchy so important. The Crown is a unifying force, a symbol of stability in a rapidly changing world and a reminder of the common history and traditions that unite the country of 67 million people.
But others consider the hereditary king to be anachronistic, a relic of Britain’s feudal past that cannot possibly represent people today. During Charles’s coronation, republican campaigners protested against replacing the monarchy with an elected head of state.
“The monarchy works for the happiness of the people. And people need to believe that the monarchy is in line with what’s going on in the world,” Smith said. “And, and I think it’s kind of a constant challenge.”
legacy of empire
While the monarchy is a symbol of Britain’s history, it can be a double-edged sword.
The crown also serves as a reminder of the British Empire’s dominance over indigenous peoples around the world and its role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Charles faces pressure to address these issues, including from Prince Harry, who has called on the royal family to confront its unconscious racism, and from Caribbean countries demanding reparations for slavery. Has been.
The king responded to these calls by opening the royal archives to scholars researching the monarchy’s relationship with the slave trade.
He also addressed the misdeeds of Britain’s colonial history State visit to Kenya in October.
Charles said during that visit, “The wrongs of the past are a cause of the greatest sorrow and deepest regret.” “Disgusting and unjustified acts of violence were committed against Kenyans as they waged a painful struggle for independence and sovereignty – and there can be no excuse for it.”
“Coming back to Kenya, it means a lot to me to deepen my understanding of these wrongs, and to meet some of the people whose lives and communities were so seriously affected.”
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