Britain’s King Charles III has marked the first anniversary of his coronation, a milestone that comes after a difficult year that has seen him face health challenges and ongoing tensions with his estranged son, Prince Harry.
According to the AFP, the king, who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, resumed public duties last week and visited fellow cancer patients at a London hospital.
Despite his health issues, King Charles has shown a strong sense of duty and commitment to his royal responsibilities.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who crowned King Charles last year, praised his dedication to his role, saying, “The past year has presented the king with some great personal challenges.
But I have been struck by his continued sense of duty, having recently returned to royal engagements following treatment.”
The anniversary of King Charles’ coronation was marked with gun salutes in central London and other locations across the UK, but no official events were planned due to the king’s recent health issues.
According to a recent poll, King Charles’ personal popularity rating has risen slightly to 56%, while his son and heir, Prince William, and his wife Catherine, the Princess of Wales, remain the most popular members of the royal family, with a rating of 69% each.
The royal family has faced a challenging year, with both King Charles and Catherine, 42, announcing their cancer diagnoses in recent months.
The double blow has left the family with a shortage of frontline royals, with Queen Camilla, 76, stepping in to take on many of her husband’s engagements.
Despite the challenges, King Charles and his family continue to carry out their royal duties, with Prince William and Catherine expected to take on more prominent roles in the coming months.
In related news, Prince Harry, who relocated to North America in 2020, is set to return to the UK this week to attend a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games for disabled military veterans.
The visit is likely to include a reunion with his father, King Charles.
Meanwhile, a small demonstration organized by the anti-monarchy group Republic attracted around 100 people in Trafalgar Square on Sunday, with protesters calling for the abolition of the monarchy.
