A Royal Turning Point?

When Queen Elizabeth II inherited the throne at age 25, no one could have imagined that she’d become the longest-serving monarch in England’s almost 1,100-year history. For seven decades, she was an unwavering source of stability as the world changed around her.

Her death in September, after a reign of 70 years, could mark a turning point for her country. It comes at a fraught moment for the United Kingdom, which faces its gravest economic threats in a generation: It’s besieged by inflation, soaring energy bills, and fears of a recession. Prime Minister Liz Truss had been in office just three days when the queen died.

“It all feeds into a sense of uncertainty and insecurity, which was already there because of Brexit and then Covid, and now a new, very inexperienced prime minister,” says Timothy Garton Ash, a professor of European studies at the University of Oxford. The queen, he adds, was the rock, “and then the rock is removed.”

Queen Elizabeth II inherited the throne at age 25. At the time, no one could have imagined that she’d become the longest-serving monarch in England’s almost 1,100-year history. She was an enduring source of stability for seven decades as the world changed around her.

She passed away in September, after a reign of 70 years. Her death could mark a turning point for her country. It comes at a critical moment for the United Kingdom. The nation faces its most dire economic threats in a generation. It’s up against inflation, soaring energy bills, and fears of a recession. Prime Minister Liz Truss had been in office just three days when the queen died.

“It all feeds into a sense of uncertainty and insecurity, which was already there because of Brexit and then Covid, and now a new, very inexperienced prime minister,” says Timothy Garton Ash, a professor of European studies at the University of Oxford. The queen, he adds, was the rock, “and then the rock is removed.”

The 96-year-old queen was widely loved. In the days following her death, enormous crowds lined the roads to pay their respects as her coffin went by. Well-wishers left thousands of bouquets at royal residences. The line to view the queen’s coffin as she lay in state stretched for miles.

In general, the royal family remains popular. A poll conducted in May found that 62 percent of Britons support keeping the monarchy, but only a third of 18- to 24-year-olds do.

And the new monarch, King Charles III, has “neither the kind of celebrity, the kind of charisma, or the kind of authority of years that Elizabeth had,” says David Edgerton, a British historian.

The 96-year-old queen was widely loved. In the days following her death, large crowds lined the roads to pay their respects as her coffin went by. Well-wishers left thousands of flowers at royal residences. The line to view the queen’s coffin as she lay in state stretched for miles.

In general, the royal family remains popular. A poll conducted in May found that 62 percent of Britons support keeping the monarchy. But the same poll showed that only a third of 18- to 24-year-olds do.

And the new monarch, King Charles III, has “neither the kind of celebrity, the kind of charisma, or the kind of authority of years that Elizabeth had,” says David Edgerton, a British historian.

Charles takes the helm of a royal family that has been rocked by a series of recent upheavals. In 2020, his younger son, Prince Harry, and Harry’s biracial American-actress wife, Meghan, moved to California and announced they would “step back” from royal duties, an indication that all wasn’t well within the royal family. In 2021, they gave an explosive interview to Oprah Winfrey in which they accused the royal family of racist treatment.

Given the historical ties between the U.S. and the United Kingdom, Americans have long followed the ups and downs of the monarchy with fascination, tuning in to watch weddings and shows such as The Crown. There may be a generational divide here too: Young people are less likely to have any fondness for Queen Elizabeth’s steadying role for her nation after World War II, but they’ve read a lot about Meghan’s travails and studied British colonialism.

During the height of the British Empire, the royal family reigned over more territories and people than any other monarchy in history, and in many of those places, some see the queen’s death as an opportunity to confront the past more fully and strip away the final remains of colonialism.

“You can look at the monarchy from the point of view of high tea and nice outfits and charity,” says Alice Mugo, a 34-year-old lawyer in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, a former British colony. “But there’s also the ugly side, and for you to ignore the ugly side is dishonest.”

Charles takes the helm of a royal family that has been rocked by challenges. In 2020, his younger son, Prince Harry, and Harry’s biracial American-actress wife, Meghan, moved to California. The two of them announced they would “step back” from royal duties. The move was a sign that all wasn’t well within the royal family. In 2021, they gave an explosive interview to Oprah Winfrey. In it, they accused the royal family of racist treatment.

There are deep historical ties between the U.S. and the United Kingdom. Americans have long followed the ups and downs of the monarchy with interest. U.S. viewers have tuned in to watch royal weddings and shows such as The Crown. There may be a generational divide here too: Young people are less likely to have any fondness for Queen Elizabeth’s steadying role for her nation after World War II. But they’ve read a lot about Meghan’s struggles and studied British colonialism.

During the height of the British Empire, the royal family reigned over more territories and people than any other monarchy in history. In many of those places, some see the queen’s death as a chance to confront the past more fully and strip away the final remains of colonialism.

“You can look at the monarchy from the point of view of high tea and nice outfits and charity,” says Alice Mugo, a 34-year-old lawyer in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, a former British colony. “But there’s also the ugly side, and for you to ignore the ugly side is dishonest.”

Britain’s empire is gone, but many former colonies remain part of the Commonwealth, an association of nations that still recognize the British monarch as a symbolic leader. In Commonwealth countries such as Jamaica and St. Lucia, predominantly Black populations are demanding a reckoning with the legacy of British colonialism, dating back to the days of slavery. Barbados removed the queen as its head of state in 2021, and Jamaica may soon follow. Antigua and Barbuda has announced plans to hold a referendum on becoming a republic within three years.

There’s also the question of divisions within the U.K. itself. Scotland has a significant population that favors breaking off from the kingdom, as does Northern Ireland, where tensions in the past led to decades of violence (see “The Troubles”). Respect for the queen smoothed over some of the differences, but it’s not clear whether Charles will have the same success.

Britain’s empire is gone. But many former colonies remain part of the Commonwealth. This is a group of nations that still recognize the British monarch as a symbolic leader. In Commonwealth countries such as Jamaica and St. Lucia, predominantly Black populations are demanding a reckoning with colonialism’s legacy, dating back to the days of slavery. Barbados removed the queen as its head of state in 2021. Jamaica may soon follow. Antigua and Barbuda has announced plans to hold a vote on becoming a republic within three years.

There’s also the question of divisions within the U.K. itself. Scotland has a significant population that favors breaking off from the kingdom. Northern Ireland, where tensions in the past led to decades of violence, does as well (see “The Troubles”). Respect for the queen smoothed over some of the differences. It’s not clear whether Charles will have the same success.

British taxpayers spent $120 million to support the royal family this year. That money supplements the royal family’s huge private wealth, which passes from one generation to the next without the estate taxes regular citizens would pay.

One of the ways Charles has long wanted to modernize the monarchy is to reduce the number of royals being publicly supported. He may introduce other reforms. While his mother was famous for keeping her opinions to herself, Charles is more outspoken.

“The style will be very different,” says Vernon Bogdanor, a professor of government at King’s College London. “He will be an active king, and he will probably push his prerogatives to the limits, but he won’t go beyond them.”

British taxpayers spent $120 million to support the royal family this year. That money supplements the royal family’s huge private wealth. Those assets pass from one generation to the next without the estate taxes regular citizens would pay.

Charles has long wanted to modernize the monarchy. One of the tactics he’s put forth is to reduce the number of royals being publicly supported. He may propose other reforms. While his mother was famous for keeping her opinions to herself, Charles is more outspoken.

“The style will be very different,” says Vernon Bogdanor, a professor of government at King’s College London. “He will be an active king, and he will probably push his prerogatives to the limits, but he won’t go beyond them.”