REVIEW FROM PRESS – Between the incarnation of a “continuity” and a “fearful” and “stilted” look, the new king Charles III. the subject of all the attention of English and sometimes foreign newspapers.
By Clara Hidalgo and Hugues Maillot
Published 07/05/2023 at 08:00, updated 07/05/2023 at 08:08
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Charles III and Camilla at their coronation. SWIMMING POOL / Portal
On this historic day for the UK, the British press admits King Charles III. and the monarchy a place of honor. At the top of every English newspaper page are photos of the new sovereign, crown on his head. Sometimes in Westminster Abbey, sometimes next to Queen Camilla on Buckingham’s balcony. Such is the enthusiasm that the English have not seen a coronation in seventy years, during the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953.
Much, if not all, of the English press headlines celebrate the new royal era under Charles III and Camilla. The Telegraph also paid tribute to the long-avoided couple, with a headline: “The King and Queen go down in history as he hoped they would: together”.
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Most UK newspapers are publishing a ‘souvenir edition’ this morning to commemorate this historic day. Such is the case of the Mail on Sunday, which highlighted a photo of the royal couple staring straight into his eyes and captioned: “The look that says darling it was a triumph!”
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The Sunday Express relies on a passage from the national anthem: “Happy and Glorious”.
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The monarchy, a symbol of continuity
The American press also devoted part of its pages to the new king. The Washington Post reads that Charles III. be the “monarch whose concerns and priorities are in tune with the times”. Between his passion for the environment and his fight against global warming. Convictions that did not abandon him on this great day when he did not hesitate to challenge the Brazilian President to the Amazon state of emergency. For the American newspaper, “the monarchy is seen as an institution of emotional support” and embodies “continuity” in the context of a severe economic crisis in the UK.
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By becoming king, Charles III inherits. a kingdom but also a monarchy and “in good financial shape,” reports the Wall Street Journal. In an article, the American newspaper takes an interest in the sovereign’s real estate portfolio thanks to “exploding asset prices” and “low real estate interest rates”. “One thing is certain, the annual income of the monarch is significantly higher than it was ten years ago,” he summarizes.
In France, too, the few Sunday newspapers left a good space for the coronation. Le Journal du Dimanche titled “The Crown”, in reference to the famous series that airs on Netflix. The weekly interviewed former Prime Minister Tony Blair and returned to “the challenges of a non-conformist king”.
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The Parisian just gives him a blindfold for the event, captioning it “a traditional and modern coronation at the same time”. Finally, Ouest France in One hints soberly: “A royal couple for the United Kingdom”.
Kate, the center of attention
But not only the king and queen make headlines. Kate and William also caused a stir with the press. The Princess of Wales has attracted particular attention. “Iridescent”, “radiant”, “the Princess of Wales has shown us that the future of the monarchy is secure”, various newspapers comment on her outfit. The Chron particularly applauds the “touching nod to his late mother-in-law,” Lady Diana, through a set of pearl and diamond earrings.
» READ ALSO – The divine appearance of Kate Middleton and her daughter Princess Charlotte, in white dresses and the same headdress
A few other amusing anecdotes also line the newspaper pages. As always, Prince Louis made the gallery laugh. “It doesn’t disappoint,” writes The Telegraph. The five-year-old made his family proud with an enthusiastic performance of the national anthem. Her “VERY lively” and “incredibly cute” performance on the Buckingham balcony was also noted by the Chron.
La Repubblica criticizes that there were only a few members present, who greeted the insane crowd on the balcony of the palace. Between the various scandals that shook the monarchy and the king’s desire for a “light” monarchy, the balcony has never been “so little visited”, comments the Italian newspaper.
“Stiff” and “Anxious”
For some newspapers, however, this coronation day was not without gray areas. If The Times considered the music played “worthy of the occasion”, The Guardian called the ceremony “infinite”, particularly because of Justin Welby’s sermon, which was “bordering on the incomprehensible”. So much so that Prince Louis disappeared for a long time. “I was lucky,” jokes the newspaper. “The only time he looked reasonably happy was when the gospel choir was singing,” it said.
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On this historic day, when every minute detail is filmed, scrutinized and commented on, the monarch’s attitude did not escape the radar. “Why did Charles look so brooding?” asks the Guardian when The Times headlines: “King Charles looked stuffy and anxious”. Even in its Sunday edition, the venerable British daily plays sobriety on the front page, simply titled: “Coronation of King Charles III”.
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During the ceremony in Westminster Abbey, Charles III. concentrated and only smiled occasionally. A single touching moment, when Prince William swore allegiance to his father, shaped the memories. “Thank you, William,” the king whispered, his eyes clouded with tears of emotion.
” READ ALSO – Magnificence, Balcony and Royalty… Pictures of Charles III’s Historic Coronation
How can you talk about an English monarchy event without mentioning Prince Harry? Since his retirement from royal life and the publication of his gory book about his family, Charles III’s youngest son has become portrayed as an “outcast” by the English press. “Banished to the back pews,” writes The Times – in third place – in the abbey he only had a somber and expressive appearance. As soon as the ceremony was over, he “walked down to Heathrow with a smile” to join his wife, who remained in Los Angeles, the Chron reports. Result of the races, “he will not appear in any official portrait,” points out The Telegraph.
References to the few anti-royalist demonstrations in the royal procession crowd are surprisingly rare in the pages of English newspapers. Despite the 52 arrests by the police on the fringes of the coronation, the English monarchy ultimately showed no weakness and proved that Queen Elizabeth’s continuity is assured.