While not a monarchist, I am a figureheadist. Figureheads, if skillful, if empathetic, if accessible and visible -- as was Elizabeth Windsor -- can be a commonwealth asset, a shared identity symbol in the same way as is joining together to sing a national anthem whether republican or democrat, conservative or liberal, native born or immigrant, black, brown, red, yellow, pinkish gray, or blue. (cf We Need a New National Anthem, below, July, 2022.)
Charles has chosen to become Charles, the Third. (They do have a choice and don't, as do we, have to go to court to change their name. Even the dramatic change from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor, in 1917, was done simply by royal decree.) But as for "Charles": to this Anglophile, that is an inauspicious choice.
Charles the First's head was separated from his body in 1649. Charles the Second kept secret his Catholicism after pledging faith to the Episcopal Church of England. He also broke his marriage vows to Catherine. He treated Parliaments with disdain. He was haughty and dissolute, and barely avoided being driven from the throne, as was his son just three years after his death in 1685.
For three hundred years, kings of Britain have eschewed the name Charles; they opted to be a George, a William, or an Edward. But now the Brits have a Charles again.
I hope it works out. Long Live King Charles III.
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