Royal Family

On 6th May 2023, King Charles III became the oldest monarch in our royal history to be crowned. Led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, this important ceremony marked the official start of his reign and took place at Westminster Abbey, where Coronations have been held since the rule of William the Conqueror. Our first Coronation for seven full decades, the crowning of His Majesty was viewed by an estimated 20 million people in the UK alone, and millions more worldwide. In the year since his inauguration, the monarch has dedicated himself to his official duties in the United Kingdom and overseas, including continuing his support of charities for causes such as sustainability. In November, he marked his milestone 75th birthday by launching the Coronation Food Project, which aims to tackle food poverty and waste, and, one month later, delivered the opening address at the UN’s COP28 conference in the UAE, that addressed the issue of climate change.

In July, Charles III and Queen Camilla embarked on a two-day visit to the Channel Islands where they were greeted by thousands of local well-wishers. While in Guernsey, His Majesty learnt about the island’s environmental initiatives in place to protect its flora and fauna from climate change, a cause famously close to his heart. Later in the year, our sovereign, for the very first time as monarch, is set to travel to Australia and Samoa. In Australia, he will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the New South Wales Legislative Council, marking a key milestone in the nation’s democratic history, plus attend events highlighting the important relations between the two countries. The King will also participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa. Held every two years, the summit brings together leaders from all 56 members of the Commonwealth to collaborate on creating a more sustainable future.

Exactly 85 years ago, George VI spoke to the people of Britain in a radio broadcast as the Second World War began. Throughout the conflict, which spanned six full years, the King, accompanied by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, boosted the morale of troops, workers, and victims of war, gaining popularity by empathising with the public and visiting communities to offer support. As a powerful symbol of courage and fortitude, Their Majesties remained at Buckingham Palace for the majority of the war, despite nine direct bombings and severe damage during the Blitz. The monarch also visited his Army in Northern France just ten days after D-Day, one of the key turning points of the war. This year marked the historic 80th anniversary of this important mission, and George VI’s grandson, King Charles III, attended official commemorations in both France and Portsmouth, accompanied by other members of the Royal Family to honour the heroes of the Battle of Normandy.