Shortly after becoming King on the death of his mother in September, it was reported by the Times that the then prime minister Liz Truss – who let’s not forget appointed multiple advisors with a record in opposing climate action, including a key aid from a think-tank funded by oil giant BP – had objected to the environmentalist monarch attending the COP27 climate change summit. During a green awards speech at Buckingham Palace in 2014, he described climate change sceptics as the “headless chickens brigade.” He had later reflected that his green activism at the time meant people had thought he was “completely potty.” But his principles have stayed with him over the decades. “We are faced at this moment with the horrifying effects of pollution in all its cancerous forms,” he had said in a speech in 1970. Years before it had captured the public imagination, Charles was advocating concepts like natural capital and the circular economy. Unlike the late Queen Elizabeth II, whose steadfast apolitical diplomacy meant she could do no wrong in the eyes of Conservative monarchists and their media allies, King Charles has never kept his quasi-political views secret, much to the disproval of many royalists who believe the monarch should stay out of politics. Such adulation comes even though many right-wing royalists have long suspected that Charles would break with the Queen’s habit of political ‘discretion.’ They must be bursting with frustration, under strict instructions to ‘keep it zipped,’ at least until the Union Jack flag bunting has been taken down and the Charles and Camilla coronation face masks thrown in the dustbins. No doubt the pro-Establishment newspapers are nervous about criticising His Majesty in the run-up to the lavish ceremony that can be traced back more than 1,000 years in Britain, is rooted in Christian symbolism, and is all but guaranteed to cause a huge spike in circulation figures. Of course, the condemnation of the public allegiance pledge by anti-monarchy campaigners as ‘ridiculous’, didn’t make it into the headlines. ‘Nation to join chant for Charles,’ rhapsodised the Sunday People’s headline. ‘Pledge allegiance to the King from your sofa,’ suggested the Sunday Telegraph. Well, it seems that history is repeating itself, as similar levels of hypocrisy are being showered over King Charles and his coronation by the same right-wing forces.įor weeks, the conservative newspapers and commentators have gushed about the coronation, printing ‘procession detail’ specials, and ‘how to throw a party fit for a king.’Īnd as for the invitation for us “all” to swear allegiance to the King… An ‘historic break with centuries of tradition, that will turn Charles’ big day into the People’s Coronation,’ enthused the Mail on Sunday. She really is damned if she does, and damned if she doesn’t. “The King was there for you… So sad you can’t make it for him,” splashed an emotionally charged Sun, alongside an image of Charles walking Meghan down the aisle. The latest snipe… she won’t be attending the King’s coronation. These are the same newspapers which have consistently hounded the couple, having spent years meticulously detailing the ways in which Meghan has apparently dissed the monarchy and offended the British public.

“Harry ever after,” read the frontpage splash. The Sunday Times described it as a ‘great British occasion.’ The Sunday Telegraph hailed it as a ‘day of happiness, for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and for the nation,’ while the Mail on Sunday went for a 47-page wedding bonanza.

Remember Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018? The newspapers couldn’t get enough of it. Editors, especially editors of the papers that bang the whole Brexit / patriotism drum the loudest, seize the opportunity to reap the rewards of a royal story. There’s nothing quite like a royal splash to sell a newspaper.

Twitter trump ban then enthuses about