September 23rd 2023.
A new book about the royals has suggested the monarchy should lead by example in public life following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Dr Ed Owens, the royal historian who wrote the book, believes drastic reforms are necessary in order for the institution to stay relevant in modern life.
According to Dr Owens, King Charles III should look to dispense with much of the pomp and ceremony associated with the monarchy and make it more transparent in order to win over younger generations who are becoming increasingly disengaged. He has set out a plan for the monarchy’s survival once the Queen has died in 2022, suggesting that the institution needs to remain relevant in order to avoid abolition.
The royal family have been busy recently with Prince William attending a summit for his signature project The Earthshot Prize in New York, and King Charles and Queen Camilla on a three-day state visit to France. Dr Owens believes the royals should focus more on issues close to home that British people care deeply about, such as transparency in public life and the quality of elected representatives. He suggests that the monarchy should become more modest and forward-looking, with no more private jets and a downscaling of the institution.
Dr Owens' book, ‘After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself?’, also looks at the divide between different generations and their view of the monarchy. According to a YouGov poll, 62% of Britons believe the UK should continue to have a monarchy, but this drops to 37% among 18 to 24-year-olds, compared with 80% of the over-65s. Dr Owens believes this is due to wider social attitudes and a lack of faith in democratic politics among the younger generations.
He believes that the King can set a very good example to the rest of the democratic system by embracing a new role as a trendsetter in democratic politics and emphasizing values such as transparency, integrity, and accountability. He also thinks there is an opportunity to make the monarchy more palatable to the younger generation by doing things that resonate with their ideas and beliefs.
The future of the monarchy is uncertain, but Dr Owens' book sets out a roadmap for ensuring it remains an integral part of British life in the 21st century. He suggests that the monarchy should look to modernise itself, becoming less focussed on pomp and ceremony and more in tune with other European monarchies.
Ultimately, whether the monarchy survives or not will depend on how well it can adapt to the changing times and gain the support of the younger generations.
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