As major milestones in British life passed, the two could hardly have less in common: Saturday’s coronation of King Charles III, the grandest of all royal ceremonies, and two days before that, grassroots elections for the mayor and other officials responsible for pothole patching and scavenging.
However, each side, in its own way, asserted a changing Britain.
The bitter defeat of the Conservatives Thursday’s elections suggest that Britain’s ruling party is most likely to be stripped of power in the general election that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak must call for January 2025. Charles’ coronation decisively turned the page after the 70-year reign of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and thrust the monarchy into an uncertain future.
Three years after Britain left the European Union and nine months after Britons grieving the queen’s death amid political and economic upheaval, the country is still searching for a post-Brexit identity. But even if its final shape is unclear, Britain seems poised for a new era, both in politics and in monarchy.
“The country is in the waiting room,” said Simon Schama, British historian and author of the book “History of England”. “People are saying, ‘Give our special new king a chance’, while the prospect of an election will ease a lot of the frustration and anger that people would feel if without it.”
Of course, change is not guaranteed. Charles, as a 74-year-old king, may prove to be a more cautious figure than his biographers expect. The coronation, with its medieval rituals – the king is anointed with holy oil from a silver spoon dating back to 1349 – is nothing but an exercise in succession.
Likewise, the Conservative Party, already exhausted after losing more than 1,000 seats in the city, can still cling to power. Their leaders pointed out poll estimates, extrapolated from the results of local elections, would still leave the opposition Labor Party relying on the support of smaller rivals to take the reins. permission.
But political scientists prefer to focus on longer-term trends, and those are strongly against the Conservative Party. The elections have exposed anger and impatience towards a party that critics say has left the country scarred by scandal, division and economic toll. extending from Brexit after 13 years in power.
Similar pressure is building of the monarchy, which had ruled England much longer than that. Recent polls show that many Britons, especially young peopleconsidered the royal family irrelevant and questioned its necessity.
Tony Travers, professor of politics at the London School of Economics, said: “The royal family will have to think about the future. “Like other organs of state and government, it is less trusted than it used to be. You have two change streams pushing in the same direction on the waterway.”
Professor Travers added: “The combination of elections and the coronation of a king must lead to a moment of national introspection. “One hopes it won’t turn into a battle between supporters and degenerates.”
As the sides draw the lines for a general election, there are signs that a number of social and cultural issues have dominated political debate in the UK since before the last Brexit vote in 2016. is also fading.
With inflation in the double digits and the economy on the brink of recession, local elections are largely about economic issues, not immigration, sovereignty or profits. promise to “Get Brexit done,” which motivated then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. , leading to a resounding victory in the 2019 election.
Timothy Garton Ash, professor of European studies at the University of Oxford, said: “We have passed the peak of Brexit. “The structural problems stemming from Brexit are still there, but it’s the beginning of a long, slow and painful journey.”
Among the biggest questions is shaping Britain’s future relationship with the European Union. This will shape the political debate, says Professor Garton Ash, but it will be left unanswered for several years, perhaps by the winner of the next general election.
Under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the government has taken steps to re-establish ties with the rest of Europe. Mr. Sunak eased tensions with French President Emmanuel Macron, a guest at the coronation ceremony. Britain has signed a trade dispute settlement agreement in Northern Ireland with the European Union, which has sent three top leaders to the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
The king played a symbolic, if scrutinized, role in that agreement by inviting one of those leaders — the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen — to Windsor Castle. right after she and Mr. Sunak signed the agreement.
Critics said the king was inappropriately drawn into politics, an impression enhanced by the fact that Downing Street has referred to the agreement as the Windsor Framework. That suggests to some that he has put his stamp on it. Windsor is his surname, as is the name of the castle west of London, where on Sunday evening Charles and his family celebrated their coronation with a star-studded concert.
Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and British band Take That performed on stage surrounding the east façade of the castle. Fashion designer Stella McCartney praised Charles for his work against climate change. Tom Cruise appears in a series of videos, flying a vintage fighter jet as he declares, “Your Majesty, you can be my go-to assistant any time.”
Lights and lasers turned the castle into the backdrop for the Federal flags to flutter, while a fleet of drones created an image of a blue whale circling the night sky.
For all the glare, the concert felt a little less star-studded an institution last year for Queen Elizabeth in her platinum celebration. That shows the challenge Charles faces in succeeding his mother, a beloved figure who has reigned longer than any other monarch in English history. Elton John, who dedicated an emotional performance of “Your Song” to the 96-year-old queen, was conspicuously absent this time.
Professor Garton Ash said: “She was an extraordinary figure one could speak of in the Second Elizabethan era. “Most kings in the 21st century won’t have their ages named after them.”
However, as a messenger for British values, he said that Charles “turned out to be a good king”. On his first foreign trip, to Germany, he won critical acclaim for his speech to the National Assembly in which he seamlessly switched between English and German, and expressed his support for strong Western support for Ukraine.
On Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine congratulated Charles and paid his respects in a speech to the nation. Recalling his meeting with the king at Buckingham Palace in February, Mr Zelensky said: “I remember my sincere feelings for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.” He sent his wife, Olena Zelenska, and the prime minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, to represent him at the ceremony.
Political scientists say the importance of the king’s role in these times should not be underestimated. At a time of great economic and political upheaval in the country — of destabilizing local elections and monumental royal displays — the monarch is an enduring symbol of British identity and status. position of this country in the world.
“All of that,” said Professor Garton Ash, “at least gives a country that is in bad shape or spirit, at least a little bit of comfort.”
Jeffrey Gettman Reporting contributions from Dnipro, Ukraine.
