On Tuesday, the King, 75, welcomed the Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and Chief Cashier Sarah John to Buckingham Palace to receive the first bank notes featuring his portrait. The sovereign, who has postponed public-facing duties while receiving cancer treatment, appeared in good spirits during the small audience, where he had a lighthearted reply to the £5, £10, £20 and £50 bills featuring his face. "Very elegant," King Charles said of the design, which is an engraving inspired by a picture of him taken in 2013, the BBC reported. According to the outlet, it’s tradition for the British sovereign to receive the first issues of a new tender. The new polymer banknotes will enter circulation on June 5 and the existing bills featuring the late Queen Elizabeth will remain in use. The Bank of England said that the new banknotes will only be printed to replace bills that have become worn or meet necessary increase.  "Our approach is in line with guidance from the Royal Household, to minimize the environmental and financial impact of this change," the national bank explained in a statement — no surprise given King Charles’ lifelong interest in sustainability and conservation. The Bank of England Governor also told the King that the new money marked the hub’s first time swapping sovereigns on the currency, as Queen Elizabeth was the first sovereign to have her image on all Bank of England bills, the BBC said. Unlike the money famously affiliated with his late mother throughout her record 70-year reign, however, King Charles is not wearing a crown in the currency. The outlet added that the induction of the new money marks "one of the last major steps of the transition" to King Charles’ reign following his accession in September 2022 upon his mother’s death. His likeness is already featured across coins and stamps in the U.K., and where he is depicted without a crown in a portrait facing to the left. That shot is an adapted version of the portrait created by Martin Jennings for The Royal Mint. Kings "have not always worn a crown, so quite rightly, the King has decided that's the image he wants, and we are very happy to show that image as he chose," David Gold, director of external affairs and policy at the Royal Mail, said of what King Charles chose. The sovereign’s latest audience at Buckingham Palace came a week after his surprise Easter Sunday walkabout with Queen Camilla. In an unexpected move, the royal couple shook hands and exchanged holiday wishes with a small crowd following a service at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on March 31.  The public interaction was unexpected, as the royal couple sat apart from the rest of the congregation (including several members of the royal family) in line with medical advice to minimize the risk of infection amid the King’s treatment.  The sovereign briefly spoke about his health during the mini walkabout, as seen in video shared to X by Rebecca English of the Daily Mail.  "Get well soon, Your Majesty," one woman said outside the chapel, prompting the King to reply, "I'm doing my best!" A royal source tells PEOPLE that the sovereign is "progressing well" in his treatment and there is an "amplified confidence" amid the sophisticated treatment receiving. "He is positive, the doctors are optimistic," the source says.   Source: People  

Britain's King Charles III said it was "heartening" to hear how sharing his diagnosis had helped promote understanding of the disease. In his first statement since being diagnosed with cancer, Britain's King Charles III on Saturday thanked well-wishers in a note posted on the monarch's website and the royal family's official page on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. "I would like to express my most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received in recent days," Charles said in a statement. Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that 75-year-old Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and that he would be postponing some engagements to undergo treatment. The diagnosis comes just 17 months into Charles' reign, following the death of his 96-year-old mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022. King emboldened by support The king also said it was heartening to hear how his diagnosis had helped to shine a light on the organizations that support cancer patients in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. "As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement," Charles said. News of his cancer came after Charles spent three nights in the hospital last month when he underwent a corrective procedure for a benign enlarged prostate. Buckingham Palace has not given any details of his condition other than to say it was not prostate cancer but said the king was remaining "wholly positive" and looking forward to returning to public duty as soon as possible.

King Charles III announced awards for show business royalty Shirley Bassey and Ridley Scott, while a bereaved father who took on social media giants over harmful online content was also recognized in the UK’s traditional New Year Honours. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who crowned the king in May, led those being honored for their role at the glittering ceremony in Westminster Abbey. Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke was also honored for cofounding the brain injury recovery charity SameYou after she survived two brain hemorrhages. The annual honors list recognizes the achievements and contributions of people across the UK. Bassey, who has sold more than 135 million records, became a Companion of Honour, an elite order that can only have 65 members at any one time. “My heart is full of emotion and I am truly humbled,” the singer, who already has damehood, said ahead of the announcement. Director and producer Ridley Scott, whose works include Gladiator, Alien and Napoleon, was also made a Knight Grand Cross, upgrading his previous knighthood, while “bonkbuster” author Jilly Cooper became a dame. Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis, who is to receive a knighthood, joked that he might hand over some tickets for the world-famous event at his investiture next year. “I think [Prince] William might do the ceremony. He’s made a few mentions of wanting to come to the festival, so I’ll probably take a couple of tickets in my pocket,” he said. Famed as much for its mud as its music, the festival at Worthy Farm in southwestern Somerset has become a fixture in British life since it began in 1970. In the world of sport, former England cricketer Stuart Broad, 37, was among those decorated. Broad announced his retirement from the sport during the final Ashes Test in the summer, bowing out in stunning fashion by hitting a six off his final ball and taking the match-winning wicket as England leveled the series at the Oval. Soccer players Millie Bright, Mary Earps and Lauren Hemp were recognized for their part in helping England reach the FIFA Women’s World Cup final in the summer. England lost 1-0 to Spain in the World Cup final in Sydney having won the UEFA European Championship last year. Others receiving awards included Ian Russell, 60, who campaigned against harmful online content and contributed to the establishment of online safety legislation after the death of his 14-year-old daughter Molly. Her family set up the Molly Rose Foundation suicide prevention charity in her memory. Russell said the London schoolgirl had been a caring person and would have been “tremendously proud” to have helped others struggling with suicidal thoughts and mental health problems. The Online Safety Bill, currently making its way through parliament, has been introduced to crack down on harmful content including graphic self-harm and suicide material.   Source: Taipei Times

King Charles III launches the Coronation Food Project on his birthday. He announced it by appearing on the cover of the Big Issue magazine for the homeless. Britain's King Charles celebrates his 75th birthday on Tuesday. He will use the occasion to officially launch the Coronation Food Project to tackle food poverty and reduce waste. With his wife, Queen Camilla, Charles is going to spend his birthday visiting a surplus food distribution center. He will also meet with major British supermarkets to see how his project can help redistribute food that would otherwise go to waste. Charles, who held a celebratory event for other individuals and organizations also turning 75 on Monday, will also host a reception on Tuesday to celebrate the work of nurses and midwives as part of events marking 75 years of the National Health Service. What has Charles said about the project? The Coronation Food Project, which aims to stop people going hungry, has already been announced in The Big Issue magazine, which is usually sold by street vendors, many of whom are homeless. In his article for the magazine, the King wrote: "For many years, I have been deeply concerned about the amount of food which goes to waste across our nation. At every stage of the food production process, millions of tonnes of food are sadly discarded." "Food need is as real and urgent a problem as food waste — and if a way could be found to bridge the gap between them, then it would address two problems in one," Charles said. "It is my great hope that this Coronation Food Project will find practical ways to do just that — rescuing more surplus food, and distributing it to those who need it most," he added. Food insecurity in Britain According to the project, 14 million people in Britain face food insecurity, and the rising cost of living has pushed even more into food poverty. Charities say there has been a 38% rise in those using food banks for the first time in the year to March 2023. The Coronation Food Project aims to support the delivery of 200 million meals to people experiencing food insecurity in the UK. King Charles's own history with The Big Issue goes back decades. He opened a magazine's office not long after the organization was founded in the 1990s.  Charles's son, the Prince of Wales, William, sold The Big Issue undercover last year and also appeared on the cover to mark his 40th birthday.

Thousands gathered to witness the coronation of Charles III and his wife Camilla in a historic ceremony in London. Charles III and Camilla were crowned at Westminster Abbey as King and Queen of the United Kingdom and 14 Commonwealth realms on Saturday.  It was Britain's first coronation in nearly 70 years and the first of a king since 1937. Foreign leaders, dignitaries and other royal families attended the ceremony, while thousands lined the route to witness the coronation procession. Meanwhile, anti-monarchy protesters gathered in London, as well as in Glasgow in Scotland and Cardiff in Wales, with signs and flags that read: "Abolish the Monarchy," and "Not my King."  London police said 52 people were arrested on suspicion of planning "disruption."  Zelenskyy thanks 'true friends of Ukraine'  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted in his nightly online video address that his wife Olena Zelenska and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal had attended the coronation in London.  "On behalf of the entire Ukrainian people, I congratulate Their Majesties, true friends of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said. He wished Charles a long and successful reign and said that the ceremony marked the beginning of a "new era" for Britain's monarchy.  "It was an honor for me to meet His Majesty personally in London," Zelenskyy said, recalling a visit in February. "I remember our conversation, I remember the sincere emotion for Ukraine and all Ukrainians."  Police say 52 arrests made  Londons Metropolitan police said 52 people were arrested in connection to anti-monarchy protests, saying they had information that some people would seek to deface public monuments with paint and disrupt "official movements." "We absolutely understand public concern following the arrests we made this morning," Commander Karen Findlay of the London Metropolitan police said in a statement. "Over the past 24 hours there has been a significant police operation after we received information protesters were determined to disrupt the Coronation procession." A group campaigning to have the monarchy replaced said earlier on Saturday that protest organizers had been arrested by police. "Organisers of the #NotMyKing protest have been arrested — police won't say for what," the group claimed in a Twitter post. Anti-monarchy protesters want the monarchy replaced with an elected head of state and have been gathering at London's Trafalgar Square, although some have been seen brandishing yellow banners among the crowds lining The Mall. "They've arrested six of our organisers and seized hundreds of placards, they won't tell us why they've arrested them or where they're being held," a Republic activist told AFP in London's Trafalgar Square. Republic chief executive Graham Smith was one of those arrested before the group had a chance to wave placards declaring: "Not My King." Police did not confirm Smith's arrest. DW's Birgit Maass said the organizers of the anti-monarchy protest had sent her a photo and said that two of their group have been arrested. "They say their protest #NotMyKing was going to be peaceful and had been agreed with the police, and that they feel deprived of their democratic right," Maass said in a tweet.  Scholz, in Kenya, lauds Charles' environmental credentials While Germany's head of state, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, joined the pomp and pageantry in central London on Saturday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was on a visit to Kenya.  Visiting one of Africa's largest geothermal power plants, in a rare developing country that generates the majority of its electricity from renewable sources, Scholz praised the British monarch's longstanding advocacy for the environment and conservation issues, an area where he had been ahead of many politicians of his time.  "For me, it was and is very important that he is someone who is committed to close cooperation between the United Kingdom and the European Union and who also has his own very important agenda to advance climate protection," Scholz said. "That will also help us."  King Charles, Queen Camilla, watch flypast The royal couple arrived at the Buckingham Palace balcony on Saturday afternoon, where they watched a Royal Air Force flypast. King Charles III and Queen Camilla gathered on the balcony alongside other members of the royal family. They were seen waving at the crowds who gathered to greet them, and watch the flypast. Cloudy skies forced the Defense Ministry to scale back the flypast, which was scheduled to include rare vintage aircraft.  Defense Ministry scales down flypast due to weather The British Defense Ministry announced shortly before the much-anticipated flypast that it would be scaled back due to "unsuitable" weather. The flypast was originally set to consist of 60 aircraft, including the Battle of the Britain Memorial Flight — a collection of still-operable World War II-era fighters and bombers that do regular events in the UK, the Red Arrows, modern F-35s and Typhoons. However, due to weather conditions, the Ministry of Defense scaled down the flypast to helicopters and the Royal Air Force aerobatic team The Red Arrows. The flypast was due to last for two-and-a-half minutes. Leaders congratulate the newly crowned king Several leaders have offered their words of congratulation to Charles III. European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the coronation as "a testament to the enduring strength of the British monarchy." "A symbol of stability and continuity. My congratulations to King Charles III and Queen Camilla," von der Leyen said on Twitter. The European Commission chief was among those who attended the ceremony. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also congratulated the new king. "For the great task that has now fallen to you, I wish you much strength and a lucky hand," he said on Twitter. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry offered its thanks to the whole of Great Britain for its support to Kyiv in the ongoing war. "On the eve of the historic coronation, we'd like to thank our British friends for your friendship. We are grateful for your unwavering support and partnership, especially in the past year!," the ministry said on Twitter.  US President Joe Biden hailed "the enduring friendship between the US and the UK" as a "source of strength for both our peoples."  "I am proud the First Lady is representing the United States for this historic occasion," said Biden, who missed Saturday's ceremony. China's President Xi Jinping also joined those offering congratulatory words to the king and queen. He said China was willing to expand cooperation and cultural exchanges with the UK, adding that both countries should jointly promote peace and cooperation, Chinese media reported. Newly-crowned king and queen leave Westminster Abbey King Charles and Queen Camilla have left Westminster Abbey and have now embarked on the coronation procession in the golden horse-drawn stage coach back to Buckingham Palace. Thousands of people have lined the route, many waving flags and some wearing crowns themselves. A little later the Charles and Camilla will receive a royal salute from the military in the palace gardens. They and other members of the royal family will appear on the palace balcony to watch a Royal Air Force flypast. Charles III crowned King Charles III has taken his oath and been crowned King in a ceremony witnessed by over two thousand guests and dignitaries in Westminster Abbey and millions more around the world. His wife Camilla has been crowned Queen. Gun salutes sounded across the UK as St Edward's Crown was placed on the King's head by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. Next in line to the throne, Prince William swore allegiance before kissing his father on the cheek. Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. World leaders among those witnessing coronation Both former and current world leaders are among those who have gathered to witness the coronation of King Charles. US first lady Jill Biden attended in the absence of President Joe Biden, while French President Emmanuel Macron was seen arriving with his wife Brigitte. Other world leaders on the guest list included Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Canadian leader Justin Trudeau. Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was among the over 2000 guests who included members of other royal households. A host of former British prime ministers were also seen filing into Westminster Abbey including, Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Tony Blair and John Major. Royal couple arrives at Westminster Abbey King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla have arrived at Westminster Abbey, having traveled the route along which thousands of people have gathered to witness the coronation procession. Guests and dignitaries from all over the world are seated and ready to witness their coronation at the Abbey, were crownings have taking place for nearly a thousand years. The service is being conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. For the crowning the Dean of Westminster will deliver St Edward’s Crown to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who will offer a blessing before King Charles is crowned. The Archbishop will lead the congregation of Westminster Abbey in saying, "God save The King." Both Princes William and Harry are there for the event. Royal carriage departs Buckingham Palace King Charles III and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla have set off from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey in a horse-drawn royal carriage for the coronation ceremony. Members of the British Armed Forces and thousands of people have lined the route of the coronation procession. Various regiments and detachments of the three branches of the armed forces numbering 4,000 personnel are involved in the ceremony. Members of the Household Cavalry are leading the procession to the Abbey. King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Buckingham Palace King Charles III and Queen Camilla have departed Clarence House in London and are making their way to Buckingham Palace where they will be preparing themselves for the procession to Westminster Abbey. At 09.20 UTC the king and queen consort’s procession is expected to travel to the Abbey where the coronation is due to take place. Doors of Westminster Abbey opened The doors of Westminster Abbey have been opened so that guests and foreign dignitaries can take their seats ahead of the coronation ceremony. More than 2,000 people are expected inside the Abbey with representation from 203 countries and over 100 heads of state having accepted invitations to attend proceedings, among them Germany's Frank-Walter Steinmeier. US first lady Jill Biden will be attending in the absence of US President Joe Biden. King Charles along with the Queen consort will be making their way in procession from Buckingham palace to Westminster Abbey where they will be crowned at 10:00 UTC. The coronation procession will be taking place along a 1.3 mile (2.09 kilometer) route. Large crowds expected, thousands of police deployed In London, large crowds of royal fans have been building up during the week, gathering along The Mall outside Buckingham Palace. It's an indication that the royals still occupy a central role in British culture and history. Many who have been camping out to witness the coronation have flown in from abroad, highlighting the royal family's standing as Britain's leading global brand, despite a number of scandals over the years. More than 11,000 police have been deployed in the capital, ready to respond to any attempted disruptions. Thousands of personnel from the British Armed Forces are making their way to positions be part of proceedings, with troops seen arriving and moving on from London's Waterloo station. They have been conducting overnight rehearsals on the streets of London in the days leading up to the coronation. Controversy over royal jewels In the runup to Saturday's events, controversy has broken out over the royal diamonds and other jewels that are expected to be on display. Camilla, Queen Consort, will not wear the Koh-i-Noor diamond at the coronation of King Charles. Does this mean the UK may be close to relinquishing its rights over the celebrated diamond? Days before the coronation of King Charles III, some South Africans called on the United Kingdom to return diamonds set in the crown jewels. The world's largest clear-cut diamond was unearthed in 1905 and donated by the colonial government in South Africa to King Edward VII for his 66th birthday. It was cut up into several pieces, the largest of which is in the scepter the king will hold at Saturday's coronation. What to expect on coronation day The ceremonies and celebrations for King Charles III's coronation have been planned down to every last detail.  Viewing areas along the parade route will open in the early morning, although some already staked out their spots overnight. The coronation itself will take place at Westminster Abbey at 11:00 BST (10:00 UTC), including customs ranging back over 1,000 years — but with some modern twists. Following the ceremonies, the newly crowned King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will process back to Buckingham Palace in a golden coach. Other royals will join the parade along with 4,000 members of the British armed forces.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended at the Commonwealth Leaders event in London on Friday, May 5.The event started at 2:00 pm Bangladesh time at Marlborough House, Commonwealth Secretariat, Pall Mall. On the occasion, Sheikh Hasina interacted with the head of the Commonwealth King Charles III in the Delegate Lounge.  And then, she attended the Commonwealth joint family photo session in the gardens of Marlborough House. Sheikh Hasina attended the Commonwealth leaders' talks in the main conference room there, which was chaired by President of Rwanda and Commonwealth Chair Paul Kagame in the office. In the evening, PM Hasina attended a reception at Buckingham Palace for the coronation of the King and Queen Consort with heads of state, government and foreign representatives.

The St. Edward's Crown has been taken out of the Tower of London to be modified for the coronation ceremony next year. Charles became the UK's reigning monarch following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth. The St. Edward's Crown has been moved to an undisclosed location for modification in preparation for the coronation of King Charles III next year, Buckingham Palace said on Saturday. The 17th-century crown is the centerpiece of the Crown Jewels, displayed at the Tower of London and annually visited by more than a million visitors. The crown has a purple velvet cap with an ermine band and is encrusted with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, topazes and tourmalines. It is just over 30 cm (12 inches) long and has a 2.23-kilogram (4.9-pound) solid gold frame. The history of the crown Versions of St. Edward's Crown are believed to have been used by monarchs since the 11th century. The current version was made for Charles II in 1661 as a replacement for the original, which was melted down in 1649 after the House of Commons abolished the monarchy and declared a commonwealth during the English Civil War. The original is believed to have dated back to Edward the Confessor, who reigned in 1042-1066. The crown was last worn by Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation in 1953. It will now be worn by King Charles III at his coronation on May 6. He will only wear it at the moment he is crowned.  After the coronation, Charles will wear the Imperial State Crown, created in 1937 for the coronation of King George VI. The coronation takes place a few months after the ascension of a new sovereign, after a period of mourning and preparations. Charles became the reigning monarch after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away on September 8. She reigned for 70 years. Charles also became head of state of 14 Commonwealth countries, such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand. He has reportedly requested a less lavish ceremony due to concerns about public perception.

King Charles III will be under scrutiny as the role of the monarchy is questioned in Britain and abroad after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The first day in a new job can be daunting for anyone. Where is the coffee machine? Will my boss be a nightmare? we may find ourselves asking. Spare a thought then for 73-year-old King Charles III (millions in reportedly tax-free inheritance and lifetime job security notwithstanding) as he steps into possibly the most formidable shoes on Earth: the smart, sensible, well-worn heels of the late Elizabeth II. The new king inherits the throne from a monarch credited even by detractors as a skilled public servant who understood her specific role in politics: to remain above the fray. Elizabeth enjoyed a 75% approval rating among the British public, compared with 42% for her son, a YouGov poll earlier this year showed. A lot is riding on Charles’s performance. The family has been beset by scandals of late. The king’s brother Prince Andrew settled a sexual assault lawsuit this year and has more or less withdrawn from public life. Prince Harry stepped away from his royal duties in 2021 and moved to the US with his wife, Meghan Markle, amid a public family rift. The monarch’s own reputation never really recovered from his messy divorce from Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales, who died in a car crash in 1997 but remains hugely popular. King’s lackluster personality The outpouring of public grief following the queen’s death may suggest that the monarchy is in good standing. But the academic Pauline Maclaran, author of Royal Fever: The British Monarchy in Consumer Culture, doesn’t believe it’s that simple. Support for the queen does not necessarily transfer to the monarchy as an institution, said Maclaran, a marketing professor at Royal Holloway, London University. Backing for the monarchy, though still high, plunged dramatically from 75% in 2012 to 62% a few months ago, according to pollsters YouGov. Maclaran said major risks for Charles included his lackluster popularity and his reputation for interfering in public business. People have long expressed the fear that Charles could meddle too much in politics, she said. As Prince of Wales, Charles was chastised for writing a string of letters that allegedly compromised his impartiality. Perhaps an even bigger risk, Maclaran said, is that Charles will lead the monarchy as a white, heterosexual, privileged male at a time of growing awareness of identity issues and of increased awareness of the colonial past. The next in line is also a white male and the next after that, she said, referring to Charles’s son Prince William and Prince George, William’s first child. There are also open questions about the Commonwealth and calls for reparations for colonial-era wrongs, Maclaran said. Indeed, the first place it could all start to unravel for Charles is the 14 Commonwealth countries that still have the British monarch as their head of state (out of 56). Barbados bid adieu and became a republic last year; others could follow suit. The prime minister of the West Indies nation of Antigua and Barbuda told British broadcaster ITV last week the he planned a referendum on the matter within three years. Jamaica has expressed interest in a similar move. The leaders of Australia and New Zealand also back the move in theory, though they don’t seem to be in any rush. Republicans sense their chance What about within the UK? One organization that sees the accession as a potential opportunity is Republic, an anti-monarchy campaign group. A proclamation of a new king is an affront to democracy, a moment that stands firmly against the values most of us believe in, values such as equality, accountability and the rule of law, spokesperson Graham Smith said in a statement published last week. Though careful to pay respects to the queen, Republic has been preparing for the crown to change hands for a while, noting the trend of declining public support. The queen is undeniably the most popular member of the Royal Family. So when she’s no longer on the throne ... King Charles is not going to be in a position to turn that around. He’s going to lose more support, Smith said in a conference talk back in June. Despite Smith’s optimism, the UK’s republican movement clearly faces an uphill struggle. The most fertile ground for the cause is likely Scotland. This year, a poll by the UK-based think tank British Future found that only 45% of Scottish voters back the monarchy. During Charles III’s proclamation as king, protesters booed on the streets of Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh. Nonetheless, thousands in Scotland turned out to pay their respects to Elizabeth, who was famously fond of the country. Even the ruling Scottish National Party, which wants to see Scotland become independent, has made clear it would keep the British monarch as its head of state should the country leave the UK. That position remains unchanged in the wake of Charles’s accession, said Scottish Deputy First Minister John Swinney, according to Scotland’s The Herald newspaper. Monarchy established as brand Could Charles’s performance ever be so bad that it pushes Scotland, or even the entire UK towards abolishing the monarchy? I don’t think so, branding expert Maclaran said, adding that she believes the new king is aware of the risks and will be on his best behavior. The approach of the royals will be to push the collective brand of the broader family, she said. Charles can’t do this on his own and he’s aware of that, she said. He will work closely with the more popular William and Kate and also his queen consort, Camilla, in order to have women playing strong roles. Maclaran thinks Charles has gotten off to a great start in his first appearances, addressing known public fears head on. But this is the honeymoon period. People are feeling emotional, she said. Republicans such as Graham Smith shouldn’t underestimate their opponent. The monarchy is very image-conscious and very good at adapting, Maclaran said. At the end of the day, the monarchy is a very sophisticated institution.

In a telephone call from the Buckingham Palace Saturday evening, Britain’s King Charles III expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for personally attending his mother’s funeral to be held on Monday morning. The King also thanked the President and the Prime Minister as well as the people of Bangladesh for their sincere condolences and sympathies to the Royal family following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. During the call, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “Her late Majesty was like a mother figure to me and an extra-ordinary head of Commonwealth," adding that "To pay my personal tribute to her, I decided to attend her state funeral." The Prime Minister also informed the King that in Bangladesh, her government observed three days of state mourning as a mark of respect to the late Queen while special prayers were offered for her eternal peace. She also took the opportunity to personally felicitate King Charles III on his accession to the throne and wished him a long and prosperous reign. Recalling King Charles’s (then Prince Charles) visit to Bangladesh in 1997, Prime Minister told the King that Bangladesh was preparing to receive King Charles and the Queen Consort in the coming month on the occasion of 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-UK diplomatic relations. In response, King Charles III said, “The Queen Consort and I were so much looking forward to our visit to Bangladesh on the 50th anniversary, however, due to the recent turn of events, unfortunately we are having to cancel it.” The King also extended his best wishes for the people of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh-British diaspora.  The Buckingham Palace scheduled the phone call for the new King to personally speak to Bangladesh Prime Minister now on state visit to the UK to attend late Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral on Monday. Source: BSS AH

Charles III was formally proclaimed Britain's new king by the Accession Council on Saturday in a history-laden ceremony following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II. The council, televised for the first time, is a centuries-old formality to recognise the new king's sovereignty even though he automatically became monarch after the queen's passing. The 73-year-old Charles officially took his vow as the new king, saying he was "deeply aware" of the "duties and heavy responsibility of sovereignty". Several hundred privy councillors including current Prime Minister Liz Truss and all of her living predecessors, Charles's wife Camilla and his eldest son and heir William all attended. Charles said his mother, who died on Thursday in Balmoral aged 96, "gave an example of lifelong love and of selfless service" that he promised to emulate. "I know that I shall be upheld by the affection and loyalty of the peoples whose sovereign I have been called to be," he said. He added he was "profoundly encouraged by the support of my beloved wife". Held in a grand room at St James's Palace decked out in crimson and gold, the Accession Council took place in two parts, the first of which Charles was absent while they proclaimed him king. The clerk of the council announced that "Prince Charles Philip Arthur George is now, by the death of our lady sovereign of happy memory, become our King Charles III... God save the king!" The assembled councillors then repeated "God save the king". Charles' accession will be announced publicly by a trumpet fanfare and a proclamation from a balcony of the palace at 1000 GMT. Source: AFP/BSS AH