All language subtitles for King.Charles.III.The.New.Monarchy.2023.1080p.AMZN.WEBRip.DDP2.0.x264-FLUX

Prince Charles,
now King Charles III,

was always destined
to wear the crown.

From a royal childhood
in Buckingham Palace

to his naval career and life
as the Prince of Wales,

it's been both
smooth sailing

and a few rough seas
along the way.

Say what you will
about the new British king,

but one cannot argue
that Charles has faced

every obstacle in his life
with grace and fortitude.

Charles is very much
a dominant figure today

in the monarchy,
in the institution.

He was waiting to become king.

But at the same time,

he recognizes
the gravitas of his position.

From a fairy tale marriage
that went awry

to finally walking down
the aisle with his first love,

he's fought most of
his battles on the front pages

of international news outlets.

From a young prince
to now the king,

he's been a constant
in the British royal family,

hoping one day to
not only wear the crown,

but to usher the British royals

into a new modern era
as King Charles III.

On September 8, 2022,

the world lost a beloved queen,

and a new monarch began
his legacy.

Few leaders receive
the outpouring of love

that we have seen.

People of loving service
are rare in any walk of life.

Leaders of loving service
are still rarer,

But in all cases,

those who serve
will be loved and remembered...

In the wake
of Queen Elizabeth's passing,

the world paused to mourn
a great lady,

and all eyes
turned to the royal family

as they grieved and entered
this new phase of their lives.

The transition will be difficult
in that we have a population

in the United Kingdom
that have known nobody else

but Queen Elizabeth II, and to
suddenly have King Charles III,

it would feel very strange.

But one man in particular
stood out in the spotlight

on the world stage--

the gentle, introspective
first son of Elizabeth,

the now-King Charles III.

I think in many ways,

Charles has lived most
of his life in the shadows.

He's lived most of his life
in the shadow of his mother

and being there as--
as Prince of Wales,

the longest serving
Prince of Wales in history,

and a job that has required
a great deal of patience

because he spent over 60 years

waiting for, you know,
the top job.

Nobody wants to be overshadowed,

particularly when
they're doing such good work

and particularly when they've
spent their whole life knowing

that they are
the eventual, uh, sovereign.

But at the same time,

I think he was quite proud
of the position,

and he was proud
of the people in his life.

As he now prepares
for his coronation,

Charles has many new ideas about
the monarchy and the future

of their role in the world
and the United Kingdom.

But what lies beneath the crown?

All great stories have
a beginning,

and Charles has
74 years of successes,

heartbreaks,
loves, and noble pursuits

that have made him
into the king he is today.

He's been
preparing all his life,

um, certainly since he left
the Navy in the mid-1970s,

and he's done incredibly well.

He'll be the best prepared
monarch that we've had,

um, ever in the United Kingdom.

King Charles III
was born on November 14, 1948,

at Buckingham Palace,

the first child
of then-Princess Elizabeth,

Duchess of Edinburgh,
and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

As a future lover of the arts,

it is only fitting
that at a month old,

he was christened
in the music room

at Buckingham Palace

under the eyes of
his grandfather, King George VI,

and his grandmother,
then-Queen Elizabeth I,

with whom he would have
the closest relationship to

of any present.

Charles had three siblings--

Anne, Andrew and Edward,

but it was Anne with which he
developed the strongest bond.

It was quite interesting that

the queen had Charles and Anne
quite young,

and then there was a gap
of give or take, ten years,

before Andrew and Edward
came along.

And so, really,
Charles and Anne sort of really

leaned on each other
in many respects.

The two were not only close
in age,

but they grew up
as a devoted sibling duo,

often relying on each other
for company and comfort

when their parents
were away on royal tours,

the brash and confident

opposite Charles's
gentle and sensitive nature.

The two enjoyed
horseback riding and music,

and Anne was often
Charles's defender and advocate.

This relationship persisted
well into their adult years,

with Anne remaining
Charles's steadfast confidante

and continuing
to encourage Charles

to break out of his shell.

He was incredibly close
to his sister, Princess Anne,

but essentially,
they were raised by nannies,

by governesses,

and I think quite protected
from the outside world.

You know,
the queen sort of didn't--

didn't really consider
the nursery her domain,

and she was largely absent
as a mother

because of her job being queen.

Charles had an artistic soul,
inquisitive mind,

and introverted disposition

that materialized
in the form of many hobbies,

including painting,
countryside sports

like fishing and hiking,
reading, and playing the cello.

His love of arts and nature
was encouraged

by his grandmother, whom he
spent much of his time with

and had a large hand
in raising him and his sister,

a shy, introspective thinker
from a young age.

Winston Churchill
once remarked that,

"He is young to think so much."

Though Charles was surrounded
by nannies and governesses,

his childhood was
ultimately a lonely one.

Elizabeth was seemingly
disinterested in having a role

in raising her children,
and Philip was a stern man

who reprimanded Charles
fiercely.

Little Charles, you know,
so excited

to see his mother
and waiting for her,

and then when
she gets to him in line,

he gets a handshake rather
than a hug.

And I think that sort of says
everything that we need to know

about Charles's upbringing.

Well, actually, Charles
was quite a sensitive boy.

He loved the stage.

Um, he was quite shy in many
ways, not at all like Philip.

His grandmother would
often write to Charles's parents

on his behalf, pleading
with them to spend more time

with their devoted son,
but to no avail.

In the midst of this,
a shy Charles,

grappling with his place
in the family,

was thrust into the spotlight

upon the death of
his grandfather, King George V.

Charles was automatically
named heir apparent

at only three years of age,

a title he would hold
for the next 70 years,

and as a change begets change,

on June 2, 1953,

Charles attended
his mother's coronation

at Westminster Abbey

as she became
Queen Elizabeth II.

And here,
in the most mysterious

of the rites of coronation,
the Archbishop anoints her

with holy oil and consecrates
her to her great office.

The popularity
of the royal family is--is,

without question down to her
from her coronation in 1952

and the longest reigning
monarch ever.

He was the first
child to witness the coronation

and stood at the place
of honor beside his mother.

An exciting time for
his family was overshadowed

as the now-Queen Elizabeth
grew increasingly destined,

preoccupied with fulfilling
her duties to the Crown.

Here was a young queen

who was entirely dedicated
to duty,

as she was for her entire life,

but that did mean leaving
her two young children behind.

It's quite easy to criticize
the queen and Prince Philip

for not being present
in their children's lives,

but we have to understand

that when Prince Charles
was a little boy,

they had
a huge constitutional role

that they were obligated to.

Her father's untimely death
meant that she was really

thrust into a role into what was
a largely male-dominated era.

When Charles began
attending school,

things unfortunately continued
to be difficult

for the young royal.

I think now, if a parent
were to sort of have a child

that's very sensitive,
there are so many outlets.

There's so much guidance
in terms of how

to bring out
the best in a child.

But in those days, you just got
packed off to school

and told to get on with it,

and I think that's what
made things quite difficult

between Charles and Philip
for a number of years.

In 1956,
when Charles commenced classes

at Hill House School
in West London,

he was the first heir apparent
to attend school

rather than be
educated by a private tutor.

He was treated as any other boy
would be by the school's founder

and headmaster, Stuart Townsend,
who advised the queen to have

Charles then attend two
of his father's former schools--

Cheam Preparatory School
in Hampshire in 1958,

followed by Gordonstoun

in the northeast of Scotland
in 1962.

Charles was bullied
for being quiet

and harassed
for his large ears.

And Gordonstoun,
being particularly rigorous,

was a bad fit
for the quiet and clement Royal.

He often felt
very misunderstood,

none more so than
when he was at Gordonstoun,

a school that he really
wasn't suited to.

It was a school
his father went to.

It was brilliant for Philip,
but for the shy,

sensitive,
and rather introvert Charles,

it was just a miserable,
miserable time.

Though Charles states
that he was ultimately grateful

for his education,
he remarked that,

"I didn't enjoy school
as much as I might have,

but that was only because

I'm happier at home
than anywhere else."

It really informed the man
the king is today.

He's a deeply empathetic
human being.

He cares enormously about
young people in particular,

and he's devoted
his adult working life

to the betterment
of young people,

to making sure young people have
the opportunities they need.

Not one to follow traditions,

Charles followed his love
of learning to Trinity College

instead of joining
the British Armed Forces,

where he studied archaeology
and anthropology,

followed by history,

later attending
the University College of Wales,

where he learned
the Welsh language,

and finally graduating

from the University of Cambridge
with a Bachelor of Arts.

He was the first heir apparent
to earn a bachelor's degree.

Though Charles was made
Prince of Wales

by patent letter in 1958,

it wasn't until more than
a decade later, in 1969,

that he was formally crowned
by his mother

at a televised ceremony
held at Caernarfon Castle.

In the preceding years, there
has been a swell of Welsh unrest

under British rule
and a growing desire

to establish Wales
as its own nation.

Coupled with the release

of the controversial
documentary,Royal Family,

in which the behind-the-scenes
preparations

for the investiture was shown
for the world to see,

Charles was under
considerable pressure

to make a good impression.

I, Charles, Prince of Wales,
do become your liege man

of life and limb
and of earthly worship,

and faith and truth
I will bear unto thee

to live and die
against all manner of folks.

But Charles had taken
his role as Prince of Wales,

something many before him
had considered ceremonial,

very seriously
for a number of years.

What he was adamant
on doing as Prince of Wales

was covering a role for himself

and creating a role for that--
that royal in waiting,

because essentially
that was what he was doing.

He was waiting to become king.

His formal education in
the Welsh language, history,

and culture, and his many tours
of the Welsh countryside

led him to give
the first two paragraphs

of his investiture speech
in their native tongue,

which boosted Welsh nationalism,

according to then-
Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

This was Charles's

most prominent
public appearance to date

and was seen worldwide
by 500 million people.

The ooh-ing and ahh-ing isn't
just because they're famous.

It's because they have
a kind of fame

that reaches back
a thousand years.

That doesn't happen here,
and nobody can get

without doing
what they're doing.

Recently, Charles has
commented on the importance

of listening to and respecting
all his citizens,

stating that, "Something
as curious as the monarchy

won't survive unless you take
account of people's attitudes.

After all, if people don't
want it, they won't have it."

So you had this contact. You had
this--this personal touch

that prior to that was missing,

and what you see now
isthat personal touch.

He gets involved with it.

I think responsibility is
the most important thing,

is the actual trust
that's put in you

to deal with other people

and the feeling
that they can perhaps put

their trust in you as well.

I think that
that is the basis of one's job,

you know, to serve other people.

I think if
you have a sense of duty,

and I like to think I have,

then service
is something that you--

you give yourself to people

if, you know,
particularly if they want you

and sometimes
if they don't want you.

If you feel
that you can do something,

even if they think that,
you know,

you're not doing something
very useful

and you think
you're right there,

then you can be of service.

Charles's fierce dedication

to representing
and defending the people

soon led him
to a career in the military.

And in 1971,

a little over a year after
Charles became Prince of Wales,

he followed in the footsteps
of his father, grandfather,

and great grandfathers
by joining the Navy.

A desire to fly had been
an early wish for Charles,

and while at Cambridge,

he followed that ambition
by requesting flying lessons.

He was such an adept student
that he even flew himself

to his own
jet piloting lectures

at the Royal Air Force Cranwell
in Lincolnshire.

After training, he enrolled

in the Britannia
Royal Naval College

and thus began a successful
five-year career

in the skies and on the seas.

Not merely following
the path of his forefathers,

Charles attributes his desire
to serve

to his great-uncle
Lord Mountbatten,

who he saw as an honorary
grandfather and confidant.

Charles was incredibly close
to Lord Mountbatten,

and I think probably did,
for some of his life,

consider him to be perhaps more
a father figure

than his own father.

Certainly, um, he spent
more time with Mountbatten.

I think Mountbatten
understood Charles

in a way that--
that Philip didn't,

and he was able
to sort of draw out

the more fun side to Charles.

He referred him as
his honorary grandfather.

They really
shared a lovely relationship,

and I think, you know,
Lord Mountbatten--

he had a very close relationship
to the British royal family,

and as a result,
he understood the dynamics,

and I think he did share
quite a few interests

with the young Prince Charles,

so he really served
as something of a mentor.

In 1976, towards the end
of Charles's naval career,

he was given command
of the HMS Bronington,

and later that year,

he used his severance pay
to establish The Prince's Trust,

a charitable organization

dedicated to funding
community initiatives

that support
disadvantaged youth.

Ever since he left the Navy
and used that severance

to set up The Prince's Trust,

was determined that he was
going to use his title

and his spotlight
to do something important,

to do something meaningful,
which was really just as well.

His great success
of Prince of Wales was

creating an identity of his own.

Though his official service
had ended,

Charles is a staunch believer
that learning and practicing

is a lifelong pursuit,
leading him to complete

parachute training and pilot
from time to time,

even flying the monarchy's
official aircraft.

More recently, in 1995,

Charles was
promoted to group captain

for the Royal Air Force

and granted
honorary five-star ranks

in all three
of the armed forces,

becoming a field marshal,
admiral of the fleet,

and marshal of
the Royal Air Force in 2012.

But schooling and serving

weren't the only thing
on Charles's mind,

as he had a number of

romantic entanglements
throughout his youth.

He even dated Sarah Spencer,

his future first wife
Diana's older sister.

While still training
for his naval career,

Charles met his current wife,
Camilla,

strung through mutual friends.

She was pretty, she had
a great sense of humor,

and she shared
a very similar sense of humor

with Prince Charles.

The two quickly became
close friends

and then romantic partners,
and it was said that Charles

liked that she was so natural
and easy and friendly,

not in any way overawed by him,

not fawning or sycophantic,
so he pursued her tirelessly.

They were often spotted
at polo matches,

of which Charles
was extremely fond

and were known as a well suited
pair in their social circles.

If you speak to anyone
who knows Charles and Camilla,

they will say that Charles
is a better man

for having Camilla in his life.

I think you only need to look
at him when he's with Camilla

to see just how happy he is.

Absolutely. She's been--
She's been wonderful for him.

As they grew more serious,

Charles vacationed
with her family,

and she had begun
to pierce the veil

of his secret royal life

by meeting several
of his family members.

But their blossoming
love affair was cut short

before it could truly begin,

as Charles was deployed
to his formal naval career.

There are speculations
that the deployment

was due to the royal family
not approving of Camilla,

thus orchestrating to separate
the two,

that the two met too young.

And still others say
that the relationship ended

because Charles didn't
ask Camilla to wait for him.

And Camilla married
Andrew Parker Bowles,

a man she had been on again, off
again with since the late 1960s.

Charles was devastated.

He sent mournful letters
to his friends.

He confided
in Lord Louis Mountbatten,

his honorary grandfather.

Truly, this was a man shattered.

He hadn't been ready
to propose before he left

to go to the Caribbean,

but he had hoped
that Camilla would wait.

During this time,
Lord Mountbatten encouraged

his young protégé
to sow his wild oats

and have as many affairs as
he could before settling down.

Charles looked
to Lord Louis Mountbatten

as a mentor, as someone

that he would turn to
for guidance, for advice,

someone that was
on his side no matter what.

But this all fell apart
when Charles's mentor,

advisor, and great-uncle
was assassinated

by the Provisional
Irish Republican Army

due to mounting conflicts

following the partition
of Ireland.

It was a tumultuous time
for England,

and Charles was personally
devastated beyond words,

openly weeping during
Mountbatten's funeral

at the abbey.

I think there's
probably a lot of children

that can relate to that.

It's quite nice to be
able to speak to someone

who is a trusted advisor,
but also they have a keen love

and an understanding
of who you are,

And I think
that's why Charles really

gravitated towards Mountbatten.

During this time,
Charles leaned heavily

on the now-married Camilla,

and rumors of a renewed
love affair began circling.

But Charles's grief led him
into the arms of another woman,

Diana Spencer.

One of the most notoriously

publicized relationships
of the modern world,

Charles and Diana's story
began in 1977,

when Charles was actually dating
Diana's older sister Sarah,

and he joined her
for a weekend of shooting

at the family estate.

It was there he met Diana,

commenting on how fun
he thought she was.

Soon after, his relationship
with Sarah fizzled.

And it was at a party
with mutual friends where Diana

really caught Charles's eye.

The eventual princess
emphatically talked to Charles

about how tragic the death
of Lord Mountbatten was

and how sorry she felt for
Charles and his entire family.

Struck by her candor,

Charles was deeply
affected by Diana's words,

and a love affair quickly
sprouted from her compassion.

I began to realize, you know,
what was going on in my mind,

and hers in particular,

and all these things help,

but you know,
it was a gradual business.

I had a long time
to think about it

because I knew the pressure
was on both of us and, um...

it wasn't a difficult decision
in the end.

It's what I wanted.
It's what I want.

The two became public
a few months later

when the couple was
spotted by a photographer

at the royal family's
private estate in the Highlands.

And from then on,
very few details

of their love life weren't part
of the growing spectacle

that was Charles and Diana.

After less than a year
of dating,

Charles proposed
to the then-19-year-old Diana,

making her one of the most
famous women in the world.

Diana couldn't help
but absolutely eclipse Charles.

I mean, she was beautiful.
She was, you know,

the most photographed woman
in the world.

I mean, she eclipsed every
member of the family at points,

even the queen.

And so I think Charles's feeling

was that he didn't
really stand a chance.

And there was a very
famous moment in Australia

where the crowds were all out,
waiting for the newlyweds

to--to come and greet them.

And there was Charles
apologizing to the crowds

that hewas meeting
and shaking hands with,

because he knew that actually

they wanted to shake hands
with Diana.

You know, Diana was breaking
new ground here as a princess,

and I'll say this, and other
people will back me up on it,

that she was the sort of
modernizer of the royal family

in the '80s and '90s,
and what we see today

is very much a byproduct
of her activities.

Though she handled
much of it with grace,

anybody would be shaken

with the eyes of the world
upon them.

When the two wed in 1981,
750 million people tuned in

to watch Diana
walk down the aisle,

making it the most watched
royal event in history.

And there, too, have given
and pledged their troth

either to other,

and have declared the same
by giving and receiving

of a ring
and by joining of hands.

I pronounce that they be
man and wife together.

In the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

Amen.

Charles and Diana,
now man and wife,

move up to the high altar
for the blessing.

It was a historic
moment for pop culture,

with thousands of women
flocking to dress shops

to get their own version
of Diana's iconic gown.

But behind the glamour
and flash sat heartbreak.

And from the very start,
Charles's affection for

Camilla Parker Bowles,

his on again/off again love,
wore heavily on Diana's heart.

She later famously said,

"There were three of us
in this marriage,

so it was a bit crowded."

The two had their first son,
William, quickly after marrying,

and Harry followed suit
only a couple of years later.

William and Harry
she always referred to,

certainly to
everybody she spoke to

and so many times to me,
"my boys."

They were
Prince Charles's boys as well.

Let's not forget there are two
parents in this relationship,

and both were
extremely good parents.

Diana was a doting mother
who was dedicated to making sure

they lived some semblance
of a normal life

and was just as likely to take
them on a royal tour

as she was to kick
off her shoes and participate

in the school's field day.

There's no question
Diana, Princess of Wales,

was hugely affectionate
with her children.

She thought nothing of throwing
her arms around the boys,

whatever the situation.

She recognized when
it was a formal occasion

and when everyone had to be
suited and booted and on parade.

But at the same time, she--
there were those moments

where she just
couldn't hold herself back.

William has said often
that he appreciated this

about his mother
and credits her with making sure

he wasn't cut off from reality.

Charles, on the other hand,
was so consumed with work

and his many pursuits
that it often seemed like

he didn't have time
for his sons.

It is said
that he loved them very much,

making an effort
to attend their school functions

and even leaving them
handwritten notes.

But by his nature,
Charles was remote

and so consumed by his desire to
make a difference in the world

that many of the people
he loved may have felt ignored.

Charles did everything
that hecould

to be more hands on,
to be perhaps more of the parent

that he wanted
his own parents to be.

For example, um,
he would have it,

as much as possible, worked into
his official schedule

that he could be home
for bath time and bedtime,

so that he could be there
to read stories to the children.

And he loved
being able to do that.

And it wasn't just
Diana who was a hugger.

Charles was a hugger, too.

The press always cut
before it gets to Charles.

The press never
printed the photos

when it was Charles.

It was always about Diana.

And so I do think
that he was unfairly portrayed

by the press
for a number of years.

Charles's work as heir apparent
and the large swaths of time

he spent away from Diana

deepened a growing divide
between the two.

And though they initially
presented a beautiful picture

of family bliss to the world,

receiving the adoration
of millions,

they struggled
behind the scenes.

Princess Diana
chafed at the royal duties,

the ribbon cutting,
the handshaking,

the grip and grin
that went with the job.

But she was
also very good with it,

and she expanded its role.

She made it more personable,
more likable,

less remote
than it had been before.

So as the marriage
deteriorated and soured,

you know, Diana was the victim,
Charles was the villain,

and, you know,
that was the narrative

that followed him
for many, many years.

So whether it was being
overshadowed by his wife

or painted as the villain,

it was, um, it was a very
difficult period for him.

Some speculate that the two
felt forced into their union

by the international popularity

or the pressures
of the royal family.

Others say the marriage
was doomed from the start due

to Charles's
enduring feelings for Camilla.

And many also believe
that Diana's rocket into

stardom
caused the young princess

a level of stress
she can never escape.

Diana was the very
prim and proper princess

everybody thought
did exactly the right thing,

and this generated

perhaps some friction
within the family, too,

that wasn't there
in the first place.

It's a very ugly thing to see,
and I can understand

how horrible
it must be to live under it.

Charles and Diana spent
the next few years

distant and unhappy,
both leading separate lives.

Charles's friends covered up
for him as he carried on

his thinly veiled affair
with Camilla

and helped the two
see each other,

leading Diana to feel more
and more ostracized,

causing her to fall into
the arms of another as well.

Though a fashion icon who was
internationally loved,

a reporter at the time commented
that, "Diana was the love object

of everyone in the world
except her husband.

She was faced in her mid-20s

with something she found
chilling to contemplate--

a fairy tale marriage that had
called into an arrangement."

The British media is
a different kettle of fish.

We have ten national newspapers

every single day of the week
on the breakfast table

at 7:00 in the morning,

and they're all hungry
for news.

And if it's raw news
and if it's salacious,

um, and if it's gossipy,
they'll publish it.

With Diana's struggles
with her mental health,

an incendiary tell-all
by Andrew Morton

detailing the two's private life

and the unrelenting negative
attention from the press,

Charles and Diana
decided to separate in 1992.

In an interview
with Jonathan Dimbleby

centered around
a recent documentary

on Charles and his career
as the Prince of Wales,

the only answers
the public really wanted

were about how
the marriage fell apart.

Dimbleby asked Prince Charles if
he had been faithful to Diana.

Yes, absolutely.

-And you were?
-Yes...

until it became
irretrievably broken down,

us both having tried.

You've been
very open about all of this

and what you've--
what you've said.

Do you now hope that this issue

and expect
this issue to go away?

I do think
it's quite interesting

to note that regardless

of everything that transpired
between Charles and Diana,

he never publicly said a bad
word about her, ever, ever.

There is not
one moment where he was

disrespectful towards her,
where he criticized her,

where he blasted her
for the comments

that she made about him,

and I think that really
sort of speaks to the man he is

and how much respect
he had for her.

In fairness to both
the prince who was and Diana,

they kept their disharmony
away from the children.

Um, And so, in that sense,

neither William or Harry
really, really understood,

you know, the drama,
the unhappy drama that existed

between their parents because
they themselves dealt with it.

We know that it was
played out

on the international circuit
through media, et cetera.

This scandal threw a light
on the royal family that drew

the speculations of the world.

But underneath it all
was two people who just

weren't right for each
other and were deeply saddened

by the inability to
maintain a happy relationship.

A year after
their divorce became finalized,

Diana was killed in the car
crash that stopped the world.

It was here,
just after midnight,

that a Saturday night out
in the City of Lights

turned to tragedy.

The precise details are
still sketchy,

but the Mercedes 600
carrying the princess,

her Egyptian companion,
Dodi Al Fayed,

a driver, and a bodyguard
emerged from the tunnel

a complete crumpled wreck.

Circumstantial evidence,
at least,

that the driver lost control

while driving
at very high speed,

according to some reports,
at over 100 miles an hour,

as he sought to escape
from several paparazzi.

It felt as if everyone

collectively held their breath,

flocking to TV screens
as Diana's adoring fans

struggled to grasp the truth
that she was gone.

London was absolutely silent

as the coffin
was brought down the street,

and occasionally you would
hear people sobbing

and wailing, "Diana. Diana."

So there was an emotion
in the Princess of Wales

that people responded to.

Many will say they remember
exactly where they were

when Diana died--

a moment of tragedy
so impactful

that it has been burned
into history forever.

It was unprecedented,

but none felt the sting more so
than Charles and his sons.

Charles did the very best
that he possibly could

in really difficult, trying
circumstances, you know?

Any parent that is left
to pick up

after another parent has died

will say how monumentally
challenging that job is,

but Charles had to do it
on the global stage.

He had to do it with everybody
having an opinion.

He had to do it while having
to fulfill the obligations

expected of one
in his position as well.

It was Charles who broke
the news to his sons,

striving to be there for them

and protect them
in a way he hadn't

until tragedy
brought them together.

Pictures of the then-15-year-old
William as a pallbearer

at his own mother's funeral
flooded the tabloids,

and the family struggled
to mourn while upholding

their roles as public figures.

A very extraordinary,

yet refined and restrained
expression of adoration

here in London.

Here is the Prince of Wales,

a solo parent, um, having to do
a really difficult job

raising two princes on his own.

He did the best he could

under very,
very hard circumstances,

um, but I think
he probably wasn't around

as much as he perhaps
might have wanted to be.

There were huge pressures
and demands, given his role,

and all of the work
and the diary commitments

that came
with being Prince of Wales.

As he had once before,

Charles turned to the now-
divorced Camilla for comfort,

but remained intensely aware
of how his renewed relationship

with his old flame
might affect his sons.

There have
been periods since 1997,

when Diana,
Princess of Wales, died,

that Charles's relationship
with his sons has wavered.

There were many years there
where William

was angry towards his father,

where he struggled with Charles
moving on and marrying Camilla,

even though I think both
William and Harry recognize

that Camilla
made Charles very happy indeed.

Again, any child of divorce
will often struggle

to see their parent marry
somebody else.

He let William and Harry
set the pace,

keeping his love affair at
a distance until the wound left

by the loss of their mother,
Diana, became more tolerable.

But after years of watching
their parents

in an unhappy marriage,

the boys recognized how
enormously happy

Camilla made their father,

and after
many difficult conversations

and moments of strife,
gave him their blessing.

Years after Diana's passing,
Charles and Camilla

were seen together publicly
for the first time

and officially announced
their relationship to the world.

He was a different man,
all smiles and affection,

loving Camilla in a way

he and Diana had clearly
never felt for each other.

Though their relationship

had been dogged by scandal,
drama, and heartbreak,

it became clear that the two
were indeed well-suited.

And though life had
pulled them apart in the past,

it had now brought them
back together again.

She has shaped him both
in the past and today

by simply being there,
never eclipsing him,

never overshadowing him,

and being there as
a constant and as a companion.

She loves him
for the man that he is.

It's just that there's
an awful lot of baggage

that comes with loving him,
namely him being the king.

Um, but I think, really,
the reason

the latter years of his life
have been such a success

are because
of what she brings to the role.

Carefully, after years
of ups and downs,

they took
their relationship slow,

and it wasn't until 2005
that the two became engaged.

And only two months later,

they were wed
in a small, civil ceremony,

in sharp contrast
to the spectacle that had been

his wedding day with Diana.

-There he is.
-There he is.

His Royal Highness--

Her taking his arm.

His Royal Highness,

the Prince of Wales,
and Her Royal Highness,

the Duchess of Cornwall.

So there they go, back into
the queen's Rolls-Royce.

Very relaxed-looking, were they?

Yes, she's a
little bit awkward with her way.

Yes, why not?

She's finally got him
in a grip, yes.

And I think he recognized
that public opinion was,

to some degree,
still against he and Camilla

and their relationship.

It was going to take many,
many years for Camilla's image,

really, to be rehabilitated,

as far as
the public were concerned.

But I think
really what they've shown

is how great their love is

and how well
they complement each other.

Though all their
children attended the nuptials,

Queen Elizabeth and King Philip
were famously absent.

But it seems when
it came to love,

Charles was tired
of living in the shadow

of what was expected of him
and wasn't going to let

the royal family's disapproval
of Camilla

stand in the way
of his happiness.

The idea that Camilla would be
marrying into the royal family

was--was unthinkable,

certainly in 1997,
after the death of Diana,

which was a pivotal moment
for the royal family.

It was a moment where
everything changed for them,

and the moment where
I think the majority thought

that they would never hear
of Camilla Parker Bowles again.

And yet this was
Charles's one true love,

and he was determined
to bring her back into his life,

to rehabilitate her image,

her reputation,
and to make it possible,

both to the palace
and to the public,

that there could be
a relationship there

that was accepted by the public

and most importantly,
accepted by the queen.

I think, really,

that very public endorsement
from the queen

meant so much to both Charles
and Camilla,

and, really, it was a testament

to how they have conducted
themselves

and how well
they have served the queen,

the country,
and the Commonwealth of Nations.

And I think, uh, really,

they continue to complement
each other

in the very best ways.

Because he had previously
been made to feel constrained

when it came to love,

Charles wanted to ensure
that his children

had the right to choose who they
wanted for their life partner.

He was determined
that William and Harry

should be able
to follow their hearts,

regardless of their position
in life

or the station
of their love interests.

But choosing the right woman
would prove to not be

an easy path for his boys.

After all,
these were Diana's sons.

And it really is up to
both William and Harry

to make their marriages work,
because at the end of the day,

when all this sort of lust
and the passion has worn off,

um, a marriage is a job.

So when William met Catherine,
the now Princess of Wales,

at St Andrews University,

he was both smitten and torn
on whether she would be

the right fit to be queen
or that she would

want to bear the same pressures
as his mother.

The press pestered William
incessantly to make up his mind,

continuing to make the situation
disturbingly similar

to what Charles experienced
before he married Diana.

William's internal turmoil

and then extreme
external pressures

caused the infamous
short-lived breakup

between William and Kate,

which clearly left them both
feeling deeply unhappy.

William, distraught,
turned to his father

to discuss the matter at hand,

and Charles gave his son
some resounding advice.

He told him that if he did
not commit to her now,

he could lose her forever

and to not make
the same mistake he did.

And William listened
to his father.

A holiday in Kenya,

um, we had
a little private time,

um, away together
with some friends,

and I just decided that it was
the right time, really.

Um, we've been talking about
um, marriage for a while,

so it wasn't
a massively big surprise,

but, uh, I took her up
somewhere nice in, uh, Kenya

and, uh, I proposed.

It's very romantic.

There's a true romantic
in there.

There is.

And you said yes, obviously?

-Of course, yes, yep.
-Thankfully.

Charles is projecting an image

not just of--of him
and his crowned queen,

this is also about
the future of the monarchy.

This is about the future
of the House of Windsor,

and of course,
William and Kate,

as the Prince and Princess
of Wales, are the future.

Even though Kate was a commoner,

Charles made sure that she was
welcomed into the family

and had all the help she needed
settling into palace life.

From the proper tutorials
on royal family etiquette

to helping choose music
for William and Kate's big day,

Charles made sure
that this union

would be one that is everlasting

and based on a strong foundation
of familiar support.

After the wedding,
father, son and their two wives

have forged
a very close relationship.

You're now looking
at this sort of core unit

of the monarchy.

It's the new Fab Four,
I suppose.

It's Charles and Camilla.
It's William and Kate.

It's absolutely imperative
that they are aligned,

that they have the same visions
for the monarchy,

because the future
of the monarchy

and the House of Windsor rests
on both of their shoulders.

William and Kate are
more modern in their approach

to being royal
and raising children,

with William just as determined
as his mother Diana was

to ensure his children have
a semblance of a normal life.

But the differences
between the two couples

does not stand in the way
of Charles and Camilla

being doting grandparents.

Being a grandfather
and marrying Camilla

has melted
Charles's hard exterior,

turning him into a warm

and generous man
who prioritizes family

in a way
that he didn't in the past.

He's, I think, far more
of a family man these days

than he ever was, and that's
very much down to Camilla.

She adores her family.

She maintains
very, very close links

to her son and her daughter.

She's a very hands-on
grandmother as well.

I think
she's really opened his eyes

to the joys
of being a grandparent.

Not only has Charles's newfound
sense of fun

been enjoyed by his family,
but he has shared

his good-natured attitude
and humor

with the British public,

unafraid of having a laugh
at himself from time to time.

Uh, in the west, rain will be
lighter and patchier.

There will maybe
a few drier interludes

over Dumfries House in Ayrshire.

Aha.

There'll be snow for the higher
ground of the Highlands

and Aberdeenshire,

the potential for
a few flurries over Balmoral...

Who the hell wrote this script?

...uh, as the afternoon goes on.

This not only
endeared him to the world,

but set a new precedent

for the public personality
of a monarch,

rattling the previously
untouchable nature

of the royals,
if only just a bit.

But Charles's main focus

in the past and today
continues to be his sons,

especially as it is now seen
that his youngest, Harry,

had found
his partner and future wife.

The union of Harry and Meghan
was supposed to herald in

a new look for the royal family,

one of unity and inclusion
that Charles was firmly behind.

To some degree,
everyone was excited to see

Diana's youngest son
find his happy ending.

It was no secret that he wanted
to get married,

he wanted to have children.

He'd been looking
for the perfect bride.

But Meghan herself was exciting.

The road to their wedding
was not an easy one,

but the new king showed
his support for Meghan

by walking her down the aisle

to take her place
next to Harry,

a move that melted
many hearts around the world

and placed Charles firmly at
the side of both of his sons

as a supporter
of their decisions.

Charles adores Meghan,
adores Catherine.

We saw at Harry and Meghan's
wedding how he took over

the fatherly role
and walked Meghan,

the last part of the aisle,

through the choir
of St George's Chapel,

how he looked after
Meghan's mother Doria,

um, when they went
to sign the register.

Harry was hugely
grateful to Charles

for stepping in
and walking Meghan up the aisle.

He, um, you know, he makes
the point in Spare

just how much of a fuss
Charles made over Meghan

to really make her feel welcome.

I therefore proclaim
that they are husband and wife.

However,
even though their wedding

was one for the record books,
the strain of royal life,

the expectation to follow
certain traditions,

and the nasty criticism
from the tabloids

and public pressure eventually
wore down Harry and Meghan.

Their break from the roles

placed strain on both
Queen Elizabeth and Charles,

and the world began asking
a lot of questions

about the internal lives
of the royals.

There are no innocent parties
in this scenario.

Everybody is at fault.
Everybody has made mistakes.

And I think,
again, in order for them

to be able to come together

and really start
to hash this out,

everybody is going to have
to own their own mistakes

and the role that they played

in the breakdown
of this relationship.

It's a shame, because
I think had they stayed,

they could have done
more to improve the institution

than they can do
from the outside.

At this time, Charles's priority
was mending the divides,

yet he was left
with no clear path to do so.

But as it always does,
family loss always finds a way

to bring people together again.

Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,

Earl of Merioneth,
and Baron Greenwich,

Knight of the Most Noble Order
of the Garter,

Knight of the Most Ancient and
Most Noble Order of the Thistle,

in the name of Jesus Christ,
who suffered for thee,

in the name of the Holy Spirit,
who strengthened thee,

may thy portion this day
be in peace

and thy dwelling

in the heavenly Jerusalem.

Amen.

The death of his father,
King Philip,

was a very difficult moment
for Charles.

At times the relationship
was strained,

and it could hardly be said
that they were close

when Charles was growing up.

But the loss of a parent
can transcend all issues

and is tough for anyone.

In the final years
of Philip's life,

and certainly
during the pandemic years,

that really was an opportunity
for Charles

to get much closer
to his father.

He would spend a lot of time
at Windsor, was, um,

was the last person
before the queen

to see his father
before he passed.

Added to this was
the immeasurable grief

of the queen upon losing
her husband and life partner,

causing Charles, in some ways,

to become the leader
of the family.

As his mother pulled
away from public life

and those around him looked to
him for support more than ever.

In the funny way
that grief does,

it did bring
the family together.

Harry flew in for the funeral
as Meghan remained

behind in the U.S.
to take care of their family.

And for a brief period of time,

it seemed like the brothers
could bury the hatchet

for the sake
of their grandfather's memory.

Even though the relationship
between Charles

and Harry's new family,
is rather strained,

the king has not lost hope

that one day they will
be able to mend the divide.

I want also to express
my love for Harry and Meghan

as they continue to
build their lives overseas.

The trust has been broken,

and the moment
the trust is broken,

that is incredibly difficult
to get back.

The idea of Harry being able

to patch things up
with his father is wonderful.

Whether or not that can happen
before the coronation

remains to be seen,
but I think you'd have to be

an optimist
to think that it would.

After all, Charles has
learned from his mistakes

and those of his forefathers

and plans to continue making
an effort

to prioritize family in the face
of the ever-increasing demands

of the royal's public lives.

Just as Prince Philip
was laid to rest,

one could feel
that Prince Charles

knew what lay ahead.

Even though
the Queen's Platinum Jubilee

was a sight to see,

one could see that she was
bravely using all the energy

she had to continue the promise
she made years ago.

In the few months
following the Jubilee,

Charles was firmly and lovingly
by her side, always watching,

still learning what
it means to be both honorable

and steadfast as the monarch
up until the very end.

The queen
has died, um, very sadly.

Um, she died peacefully
at Balmoral this afternoon.

Uh, the King and Queen Consort

were referenced there
to Charles.

He automatically becomes king,

will remain at Balmoral
this evening.

We could all only imagine
what Charles felt as his mother

took her last breath
that fateful day in Scotland.

He did, after all,
lose his mother

and had to share that grief
with his family.

But he had a different and new
responsibility as the now-king.

A new era was about to begin.

Well, I think the death
of the queen was a huge shock

to the British public,

and Charles stepped in
in a most reassuring way.

While we've missed the queen,
he has stepped into that role

in a way
that I think most people feel.

He's off on the right foot,
he's making a success of this,

and I think most people
have faith in King Charles III.

But before this new stage
could commence,

the world needed time to mourn
the passing

of not only a great queen,

but a cherished
mother and grandmother.

He has allowed people
the time they needed to grieve,

to get used to the idea
that we now have a country

in which the queen is
not the head of state.

I think he recognized
that while he was grieving,

Britons were grieving, too.

Any division
between family members

had to now lie dormant,

while each paid their respects
and said farewell.

King Charles
and Queen Consort Camilla

both steered the family
with grace and dignity.

Just after the queen
passed away,

when he and the Queen Consort
arrived back in London,

they had the car stopped
just short of the gates

to Buckingham Palace
so that they could get out

and meet the mourners,

meet the people
that had bought flowers,

who had come
to grieve collectively

outside Buckingham Palace.

From the funeral

to leading the charge
with heartfelt emotion,

Charles started to show
the kind of king he would be.

Alongside the personal grief
that all my family are feeling,

we also share
with so many of you

in the United Kingdom,

in all the countries where
the queen was head of state,

in the Commonwealth
and across the world,

a deep sense of gratitude
for the more than 70 years

in which my mother, as queen,

served the people
of so many nations.

With Charles as the new king,

his former title,
Prince of Wales,

naturally transferred to William
and his wife, Catherine.

This power duo have truly shown

what a strong partnership
can produce,

especially when it comes to
the monarchy and their family.

I think perhaps William,
having a family of his own,

he can understand,
in hindsight,

some of the difficulties
that his father went through.

I think he can understand
the pressures of the job.

William also understands
the enormity

of the role his father
is undertaking

because he knows
that will be his role one day,

and I think he understands,
because he has Kate by his side,

just how much
Charles needs Camilla.

In fact, the new Prince
and Princess of Wales

have taken every precaution
to ensure that their children

have a lovely upbringing,

from baking cookies
in the kitchen with their mum

to hugging Grandpa,
AKA the new king,

at any given royal event.

William and Catherine
want their kids to have

a normal life while
upholding the family values.

It is without a doubt
that the new Prince

and Princess of Wales
will take center stage

at the first coronation
in several decades.

Word on the street
is that the king's coronation

will be steeped in tradition
with a modern flair.

The occasion itself
will generate

global television audiences.

I think the king is going to be
very keen to honor

the ancient rituals,
the religious elements,

the traditional elements

that people are expecting
from the coronation,

but at the same time,
he recognizes that there are

going to have to be
some practical changes.

We do know that it will be

rather scaled back, certainly,
compared to the number of people

attending
the queen's coronation.

We know it's going to be shorter
in length,

which Charles is very aware
that he doesn't want

the coronation to be a great
drain on the taxpayer purse.

Nonetheless, it's going
to be an incredible spectacle,

the likes of which most of us
have never seen in our lifetime.

The guest list will be
one that everyone

will keep an eye on,
with everyone asking,

will Harry and Meghan
have a part in his big day?

Though the king is
sure to be rather hurt

by everything that has occurred,
family is family,

and most believe some form
of communication will happen

between father and son
to ease recent events.

Prince Charles, who I'm sure was
very hurt by this,

because he was the one
who had planned

this new kind of royal family,

Prince Charles can
extend a hand after this year

and say, "What about it?
What do you think?

We can renegotiate the terms of
your being in the royal family."

Whether Harry and Meghan
decide to attend,

well, that remains to be seen.

Certainly an invitation will be
extended to them.

It'll be up to them as
to whether or not they want

to be there in person.

On Queen Elizabeth's coronation,
the biggest discussion

was regarding cameras
within the event,

broadcasting to every corner
on the globe.

Today, cameras are a requirement
for large royal events

such as weddings,
funerals and, of course,

the coronation of a new monarch.

Millions around the globe are
expected to tune in as Charles

is officially crowned
the new King of England.

It's also an opportunity
for Great Britain to dominate

the world stage
for a positive reason.

It's an opportunity for national
unity, for national pride,

for the Commonwealth realms
to come together,

for the Commonwealth of Nations
to come together.

It is going to be
a grand and glorious occasion,

but one in which the king
is very mindful of how much

people are struggling
and how much they could

also use a boost to optimism
and a boost of national pride.

So I think it promises to be
a very special day indeed.

But what impact does Charles
plan to leave on the world

after many years
of tireless preparation

and personal introspection
on the role of the monarchy

in this new age?

Charles is very much
a dominant figure today

in the monarchy,
in the institution.

He's very much to the fore
in terms

of the organizations,
so people know who he is.

Charles has
often spoke of his desire

to balance tradition
with progress

and has long been known as a man
of many opinions on everything

from fast fashion
to climate change.

He will be
a different sort of monarch.

Charles is "a deep thinker,

romantic, sentimentalist,"
a royal biographer once said.

But Charles is also the first

to show esteem
for his mother's rule

and must have learned much
from watching her.

I think Queen Elizabeth II

leaves
the single greatest blueprint

of any previous monarch.

Truly, when you look back
at her reign, it was remarkable.

She walked a very careful line.
She was stoic.

We, to this day,
don't know anything

about her political likes
and dislikes,

her political leanings.

But of course, he also
had all those years of tutelage,

of mentoring from his mother

that will, I'm sure,
stand him in very good stead.

Yes,
he will do things differently.

I think his approach
will be different.

I think we've already
seen evidence of that.

But I think he will take

the core values
of the Elizabethan age

and interpret them
in his own unique way.

But that fundamental principle
of service before self

will be at the heart
of his reign, too.

Queen Elizabeth was
a staunch believer that

the Crown should not interfere
with politics or social issues.

And though
she was often questioned

about matters of her day,
including apartheid,

feminism, and Brexit,
she remained stoic and neutral.

She believed that as a ruler,
one should be a constant,

consistent, immovable presence,

a pillar of strength
for the people in changing time.

And by and large, she was loved
for it, even among her critics.

Though it is not a position
Charles altogether agrees with,

it is one he understands.

Having stated that he knows
he won't have the same time

to dedicate to his passions
when he is king and must focus

on upholding the austere nature
of the position.

Charles publicly spoke

in an interview
to mark his 70th birthday

that he absolutely understood
the differences between being

Prince of Wales and being
king and the restrictions

and constraints
that came with being king.

And certainly in the early
months of his kingship,

we've seen him
very aware of that.

He has made
certain fundamental decisions

so that no one can accuse him
of being a meddling king

when many accused him

of being
a meddling Prince of Wales.

I think King Charles III is keen

to make his own mark,
but at the same time,

he recognizes the gravitas
of his position,

and he doesn't show any
sign of wanting to implement any

sort of radical change.

If there are any changes,
they're going to be slow,

and they're probably going
to be universally approved.

Though he claims to value
the benefits

of political neutrality,
Charles, by his actions,

with something as simple as
letting a mourner kiss his cheek

when he addressed the crowd
upon the death of his mother,

has striven to make
the royals more accessible

to the public and to chip away

at the aloof nature
of the monarchy.

Uh, constitutionally,
the monarchy as an institution

cannot be put political,

cannot make
political statements,

uh, cannot be as vocal.

Where there are rules,
they're not written down rules.

But constitutionally,

there are things you can do
and you can't do.

As the longest serving
heir apparent

in British history,
Charles had plenty of time

to nurture his passions
and form educated opinions.

His huge love of reading
really is what sets him aside.

He is incredibly well versed
in so many different topics.

He understands
the inner workings

of various institutions.

He understands
how to make a difference,

and he cares deeply.

Those close to him
and his organizations

have found him to be very
concerned about social issues,

the economy and the environment,
starting as a young man,

and his ample time
waiting in the wings

has only allowed him to
become more deeply involved.

Where Queen Elizabeth
was quick and efficient

with her dealings,
Charles is known to linger,

asking his subjects about
their work and very interested

in the details of why
they do things a certain way.

I think the king recognizes
how important it is to get out

among the people,
to be seen, to be visible,

to engage with people
from different backgrounds,

from different minority groups,

different cultures,
different races,

different religions.

He is fascinated
by the multicultural society

that makes up
the United Kingdom.

Among his staff, he is known
for being quite concerned

for the day-to-day life
of his subjects

just as much
as the issues facing the world

that would affect them
for generations to come.

He's helped well over a million
young people get ahead,

whether it's through grants,
mentor programs,

job training, apprenticeships.

A lot of the people
that he has helped have said

that if it wasn't for
the work of The Prince's Trust,

they would have ended up
in prison,

they would have ended up
on drugs,

they would have ended up
down and out.

And yet now, not only
are they thriving themselves,

they've been able
to employ other people.

They've been
able to pay it forwards.

And I think
that really is a testament

to who the king is
and how deeply he cares.

As heir apparent,
he formed think tanks to discuss

organic farming practices,

ethical ways
to raise healthy livestock,

and what he perceives
as the dehumanizing nature

of modern architecture.

Charles was a modernizer
as the Prince of Wales.

You know, he never sat still.

He was always
ahead of the curve.

He was talking about
GM crops and homeopathy

and mindfulness before
anyone else had latched onto it.

And he was often laughed
out of the room for talking

about such things.

At the COP26
climate summit in Glasgow,

he spoke ardently about how he
believes the world governments

are failing to adequately
address climate change

and refused to back down an inch
that it would take

an all-hands-on-deck approach
for any real change to occur,

including a radical shift
from using fossil fuels

to more sustainable,
eco-friendly energy sources.

But he was also an incredibly
forward-thinking man.

And I think it's only
now that people are starting

to really recognize

how ahead of his times he was,
how thoughtful he always was.

He was labeled "dotty"
by so many people,

And he did talk about
the fact that he found a lot

of the criticism
quite difficult to bear,

and yet now he is viewed
as one of the most

preeminent voices
on all things green.

He's hugely respected.

Nature is our best teacher.

In this regard,
restoring natural capital,

accelerating
nature-based solutions

and leveraging
the circular bioeconomy

will be vital to our efforts.

Though this stance has earned
in the esteem

of many western leaders,
those closer to home

criticize the notion
that a future monarch

would so resolutely pick a side
in such a large issue,

a reprimand
Charles has heard often.

But when
it comes to pressing concerns,

Charles has let
their words roll off his back,

accepting their disapproval with
the same grace as his mother.

Not a man of mere opinion with
no action, Charles has devoted

129,600 acres to his ultimate
dream of sustainability.

He's a patron of over 420
charitable organizations

around the globe

and has used his old love
of the rural landscape

to form
The Prince's Countryside Fund,

which is dedicated to improving
the lives of those

without access
to urban development.

So if you've got a figurehead,

a member
of the British royal family,

to head up that charity,
you're going to win,

and that's what he's doing.

If you were to ask his wife,
Camilla,

she would tell you that Charles
has spent many late nights

reading on the subjects
that interest him

and writing copious notes
to his various organizations

on ways
they can grow and improve.

I think people also
are really impressed

with Camilla's commitment
to her charitable endeavors.

She's done a huge amount of
work on behalf of osteoporosis.

She's really tried to push back
against violence against women,

and so she is giving a voice

to people
that didn't have a voice before.

With a robust résumé
of activism as Prince,

Charles will have to turn to
more modest changes as king,

focusing
on issues closer to home.

We know that he plans
to slim down the monarchy

to make it more efficient
and is not afraid of doing

any and all work
associated with the title.

He is also discussing
making the royal residences

of Buckingham Palace,
Windsor Castle, and Balmoral

into public spaces
and museums,

believing the historic sites
to belong to the nation,

not solely the royal family,

and his intent
on pushing the people

to reconnect
with these institutions.

He has claimed that the palace

is not a suitable residence
for the modern age

and plans on living
in a more modest space.

But he has also expressed
his disagreement

with the burdens
of the taxpayers

to fund
the royals' living expenses,

echoing a long-held resentment
by the public.

I think the king is very keen
to make the monarchy

more accessible,
certainly more transparent.

That is--that is
very important to him.

I think he recognizes in this
day and age in particular,

deference is dead.

That doesn't exist anymore.

People want to know what
they're getting for their money.

They want to make sure
they're getting value for money.

But I think one of
his biggest challenges

is going to be maintaining
the monarchy's relevance

in an increasingly fickle world.

The British people
have been very critical

of the Crown's spending
in the past,

and Charles sees his role
as an opportunity

to make the royal family
more self-sufficient.

A man long dedicated to
the people of which he rules,

it appears that Charles's desire
to serve the British people

will only evolve as
he takes on his new station.

Well, I think it's

the sheer range of
Charles's passions and pursuits

that have made him
the Prince of Wales that he was

and the king that he is today.

His interests
reach far and wide.

He's an incredibly well-read man

with a broad spectrum
of interests,

and I think that has been
hugely important

in shaping the man that he is

and, of course,
the king he is today.

A very different public life
as heir apparent,

coupled with living
in his mother's shadow

for many years, creates a unique
challenge for Charles

to leave his mark
as the new ruler.

The British public is divided
on their opinions of Charles,

many believing that William
should have assumed the throne,

and still others unable
to wrap their heads around

a monarch
that isn't Queen Elizabeth.

He has to consider and look at
the popularity of his two sons,

because it's
that popularity that will

maintain this global interest

in what is
an extraordinary subject.

But Charles was never
in a rush to become king

and instead believed that in
his many years as heir apparent

were a blessing,
uniquely situating him

to leave behind a legacy
of activism

as he now adopts a more
formal, neutral role as king.

Will he further shake
the foundation of the monarchy,

finding small pockets
to push progress?

Or will he leave it

to the appointed members of
government to enact change?

The landscape looks different

in every single way--
the demographic landscape,

the political landscape,
the royal landscape.

Charles is very aware that he
has to make this connection

with the people.

He comes to the throne in an age
where the royal family

need to justify its existence,

prove that they are
a vital and necessary part

of the British constitution
and of the British way of life.

So the next sovereign
will be Charles.

After Charles will be William,

and after William
will be George,

and George will take us
through to the 22nd century.

So the monarchy, the likelihood
of the monarchy surviving

is pretty good.

Um, we don't know any other.
It works for us.

It seems to work on
a number of European countries.

It is healthy. It is in
good shape. It is popular.

So, all things being equal,

we will continue
with a monarchy.

As we move forward
through the years,

no one can predict the future,

but the new king will
definitely have the massive task

of paving the road
for his new and modern monarchy

in taking
its place in the world.

For a man that has faced
his fair share of challenges,

both privately
and in the public eye,

regarding his family and reign,
one thing is for certain.

No one will doubt
that King Charles III

has the fortitude to ensure that
his royal family will survive

and endure any
challenge they may face.

King Charles is going to want
to continue the good work

that his mother carried out

while also putting his own stamp
on the institution.

And I think his reign promises
to be very, very exciting,

and I can't wait
to see what it has in store.