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Britain's King Charles leaves Westminster Abbey following his coronation ceremony in London.
Charles III crowned at a turning point for the British monarchy
The UK on Saturday crowned King Charles III at Westminster Abbey. The coronation, which featured multiple faiths to reflect the country's religious diversity, was attended by some 2,000 guests amid a display of pomp and pageantry that only the British monarchy can muster. It culminated with the sovereign sitting on a 700-year-old oak throne amid the sound of trumpets and cheers of "God save the king!"
Throughout the UK, royalists celebrated in the streets and at house parties. To finish the three-day weekend, Brits were asked to give back to their communities on Monday by volunteering as part of the Big Help Out.
Despite the celebrations and worldwide coverage, questions are still rife over the future of the monarchy. While over 60% of Brits are in favor of the institution, that support is only shared by 36% of the youth. And for all the cheers on Saturday, there were others who turned out to protest. In London, 52 people were arrested for allegedly disrupting public order as they took part in anti-coronation protests.
It'll be hard for Charles III, Britain's oldest crowned king at age 74, to become as popular as his mom, the late Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for 70 years. More broadly, the existential challenge for the British monarchy — which unlike others has little political power — will be whether it can overcome its links to a bygone era to be embraced by future generations.
The Graphic Truth: God Save Canada
Monarchist or republican? The age-old tension has fueled fresh royal polls and debates around the globe in recent months – in anticipation of Saturday’s crowning of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey. Commonwealth countries, in particular, have been assessing their allegiance to the British monarch since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II last year. Jamaica wants a referendum on the matter by 2025, several countries are debating whether to include Charles on their currency, and New Zealand’s prime minister has said his country will probably lean republican one day. We look here at how Canada views its ties to the crown.
GZERO North is a weekly newsletter that gives you an insider’s guide to the very latest political, economic, and cultural news shaping US-Canadian relations. Subscribe today.
UK's Liz Truss & Charles III face tough challenges ahead
In early September, in just 48 hours the UK got a new prime minister (Liz Truss) and a new king (Charles III, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II).
Both take over at a turbulent time in British politics, but Truss in particular faces a list of domestic obstacles with no easy fix. Her top priorities are the economy and the energy crisis aggravated by Russia's war in Ukraine, Ian Bremmer explains on GZERO World.
And then, of course, there's Brexit, which never seems to go away. Truss is bracing for a fight with Brussels over the Northern Ireland protocol.
Meanwhile, Charles III will also have to grapple with the future of the Commonwealth and the looming threat of another Scottish independence vote.
This clip is part of the GZERO World episode on upheaval in the UK. Watch here.