Thread: The Reign of King Charles III begins

I must say judging from the photo's I've seen he seems to be Thouroughly enjoying being King.

It certainly seems like the colonials + harriet give a .

Originally Posted by DrWilly

nope, two peas of the same pod.

And you are as well. Which isn't surprising.

Originally Posted by cyrille

It certainly seems like the colonials + harriet give a .

Isn't it time you reorganised your Jeremy Corbyn jumper collection or something?

Originally Posted by cyrille

It certainly seems like

. . . nothing as you have your head so far up your own arse - pull it out, sybill


Good to see he's taking the weight of being King so seriously . . . worth every pound he gets paid.

Originally Posted by S Landreth

King Charles is to guest star in a special episode of The Repair Shop

• King Charles to sell 12 of the Queen’s favourite top racehorses as he starts to cut down her racing operation

KING Charles is set to sell 12 of the Queen's favourite racehorses as he begins "winding down" of his mother's racing operation as part of his big Royal shake-up.

A third of the top racehorses inherited by King Charles will be sold at Newmarket's Tattersalls this month, and top of the list is Just Fine - the first horse to win for the new monarch.

Before she died, Queen Elizabeth II owned 37 horses, but now a source close to the Royal Sandringham stud in Norfolk claimed there are talks of "winding down" her breeding operation.

The source told The Daily Mail: "The Royal stud could be a museum in three years. It would be a real shame."

Love Affairs, the Queen's horse who won at Goodwood only two days before her death, is also up for sale at the auction.

However, a royal source reassured that the King still intends to maintain the connection between the horse racing industry and the Royal Family.

They said: "The desire is to continue with the traditions and connections with Royal Ascot but not on the same scale as Her Majesty because she had a passion."

While it is normal to sell several horses as part of running the collection, the Queen tended to only sell seven per year.

At present, Charles has 60 racehorses and 38 brood mares at Sandringham, with 30 new foals expected next year.

A racing source confirmed Gulf State yards is looking to buy a connection to the Queen through her horses.

It is believed King Charles will make a fortune in racing next year after inheriting the massive stable.

Over the past five years, his mother's horses on the Flat amassed a whopping £2.2million in earnings and her biggest and best moment in the spotlight came arguably when Estimate won the Ascot Gold Cup in 2013.

Victory then was worth just shy of £200,000 - but when Pyledriver won the same race this year it was worth £709,000.

No wonder bookies have got some tempting odds about King Charles to land some big pots next year - the monarch is 7-2 to celebrate a winner from the royal box at Royal Ascot in 2023.

This comes after the King announced he is set to axe the role of his late mother's close and trusted friend amid the big Royal shake-up in racing.

Racing manager John Warren oversaw the Queen's racing and horse breeding interests for more than 13 years and is still in charge of horses running in the Royal colours.

However, it is speculated he will not be involved for much longer, according to racing insiders as he is now moving in Bahraini royal circles.

He recently took on a role advising Commissioning’s owner Isa Salman and Abdulla Al Khalifa.

Warren, one of the most respected figures in the racing world, was with Her Majesty talking horses just before her death at Balmoral last month.

He said: "We sat there for hours strategising and making plans going forward.

"I think the nicest thing for me is to know that she was surrounded by her family members.

"She really loved having them right there with her and being able to talk about her horses and her love for her horses right to the very end."

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• King Charles III won't move into Buckingham Palace for FIVE YEARS due to PS370m renovation

£370m renovation means monarch will spend three days a week at Clarence House, two days at Windsor Castle and weekends at Sandringham

King Charles III will not live in Buckingham Palace for up to five years and will instead wait for the completion of the site's £370m renovation in 2027, sources claim.

As the palace continues its 10-year refurbishment, the new King and Queen Consort Camilla are expected to split their time between up to four other castles.

A source told The Sun their primary residence will continue to be Clarence House - just 400 yards away from Buckingham Palace and where they've lived for 19 years.

The couple moved into the five-bed residence in 2003, one year after the Queen Mother died.

It is understood they'll spend three nights each week at Clarence House, two nights at Windsor Castle and weekends at Sandringham in Norfolk.

The new Monarch was spending at least one night a week at Windsor Castle as the Queen's mobility problems worsened in the year before her death.

'Refurbishment is very far behind schedule but the Monarch should be living at Buckingham Palace,' the source said.

'It's the heart of the monarchy in London, otherwise it risks becoming just a tourist attraction.

'We effectively have a king without a palace to live in.'

The couple also have their idyllic countryside private residence, Highgrove House, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire.

King Charles acquired the grounds in 1980 and has devoted much of his spare time and energy into making the grounds and garden around the house immaculate.

Buckingham Palace is about halfway through its biggest refurbishment since before the Second World War, which includes new wiring, plumbing and heating.

Wallpaper in some of the rooms, including the Yellow Drawing Room in the East Wing, will 'conserved and preserved' by experts before being rehung.

The bill for the refurbishment will be met by taxpayers via the Sovereign Grant - the annual fee paid by the Government to the monarch - with a third of the cash set aside for maintaining Royal palaces.

The project involves ten miles of water pipes, 6,500 plug sockets, 500 pieces of sanitary ware (toilet, basins and the like) and 20 miles of skirting board being replaced after experts warned there was 'serious risk' of fire and water damage to the palace and the priceless works of art it contains due to palace's perilous state of repair.

It is estimated that the benefits of the upgrade, including longer summer opening hours, more private tours and savings due to the improvements, could be around £3.4 million each year.

The work needed reflects the age of the building, which was first used as a royal palace by Queen Victoria and had not been decorated since 1952, the year the Queen ascended the throne.

While the King will not call Buckingham Palace home for the duration of the renovation, it's understood he will continue to use available spaces for work and meetings.

Originally Posted by S Landreth

King Charles to sell 12 of the Queen’s favourite top racehorses as he starts to cut down her racing operation

Originally Posted by S Landreth

King Charles III won't move into Buckingham Palace for FIVE YEARS due to PS370m renovation

A man of the people who knows what the average Joe is going through. Good on 'im.

Originally Posted by panama hat

A man of the people who knows what the average Joe is going through. Good on 'im.

Admit I am far from expert on the workings of how royal assets are acquired or spent so perhaps you could enlighten me on how Charles selling some horses and not moving into Buckingham helps the average Joe.

Originally Posted by Norton

Admit I am far from expert on the workings of how royal assets are acquired or spent so perhaps you could enlighten me on how Charles selling some horses and not moving into Buckingham helps the average Joe.

It doesn't. That was the point. After all, if the palace isn't renovated to the tune of PS370.000.000 then it isn't worth living in.

^^I can only think he was being sarcastic.

However he spouts so much similar drivel in all seriousness that it can be hard to tell.

Originally Posted by cyrille

I can only think he was being sarcastic

Well done.

Originally Posted by cyrille

However he spouts so much similar drivel in all seriousness that it can be hard to tell.

I guess few are immune from this type of posting on a forum, eh cyrille.

• King Charles meets refugees settled in Aberdeen

The King has met families from Afghanistan, Ukraine and Syria who have settled in Aberdeen.

They included the Vesal family from Afghanistan who were given a home last year by a woman moved by their plight.

Burhan Vesal had been an interpreter for British forces. He and wife Narcis and son Sepehr were given a home by local woman Helga Macfarlane.

King Charles was told of the programme to re-settle refugees in Aberdeen during a reception in the Town House.

Aberdeen has resettled about 1,000 Ukrainian refugees, with capacity for more.

About 170 Afghan refugees are currently staying in two hotels.

And about 30 Syrian families have also been resettled in the Granite City since 2014.

The King heard personal stories from families about their evacuation, their arrival in Aberdeen and some of the challenges they have faced.

Mr Vesal said of his family's arrival from Afghanistan: "I had heard great things about Aberdeen, its people and the community. We feel blessed to have found good support here.

"My son has made many friends in school and my family is very happy here."

Inna Skvortsova was also there.

The 34-year-old former tour operator fled Kyiv after the Russian invasion and now works in a welcome hub which offers emergency accommodation.

"I would like to dedicate myself to help because I can contribute myself," she said.

'Compassion and generosity'

"Maybe my skills from my previous job and experience can be useful. I want to do something good."

She described meeting the King as an honour.

Lord-Lieutenant Dr David Cameron, who accompanied the King during his visit, said: "We were greatly honoured to share with King Charles III how we as a city have responded to devastating world events.

"It was especially moving for the King to hear first-hand from some of those who have suffered directly as a result of conflict across the globe; those who have lost their homes and more.

"Thanks to the compassion and generosity of Aberdeen's organisations and residents, we have been able to extend the steadying and loving hand of friendship in welcoming them to our city."

Before the King's departure, a choir made up of school children, university students and some of the refugee families sang The Northern Lights Of Old Aberdeen.

On his arrival earlier he also took time to shake hands with members of the public who had gathered outside. King Charles meets refugees settled in Aberdeen - BBC News

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• Charles set make history as first King to visit Australia as he plans to mark Bicentenary

The monarch could be set to visit the antipoden nation in 2024 to mark the Bicentenary of the former British colony. His Majesty could be heading for Sydney to mark the historical occasion as well as attending the 2024 Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference which is also taking place in the city.

Just when it seemed all this royal stuff couldn't be any more facile, superficial and vapid.

Next trip....following royal deaths across Europe, with the Thai girlfriend...

• King Charles backs DNA test for Princes in the Tower murder mystery

King Charles III is reportedly planning to launch a DNA investigation related to the 539-year-old “Princes in the Tower” murder mystery.

According to The Mirror, the new monarch is said to be interested in plans to test bones believed to be of Prince Edward and Prince Richard.

The two boys were imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1483 by their scheming uncle.

Speaking at Sandon Literature Festival in Staffordshire, Tracy Borman, joint curator of Historic Royal Palaces, said: “He has said he would like an investigation to go ahead, so that we can determine, once and for all, how the young royals died.”

The mystery which left historians baffled for decades was also explored largely by William Shakespeare’s play Richard III however Queen Elizabeth II never permitted testing of the remains.

King Charles III waves as he arrives in Cardiff by helicopter King Charles III waves as he arrives in Cardiff by helicopter - BBC News

I am attempting to out bore Landreth

Originally Posted by S Landreth

King Charles III is reportedly planning to launch a DNA investigation related to the 539-year-old “Princes in the Tower” murder mystery.

Originally Posted by cyrille

Just when it seemed all this royal stuff couldn't be any more facile, superficial and vapid.

......

Originally Posted by Iceman123

I am attempting to out bore Landreth

You don't need to try too hard.

• A painting by King Charles III is up for auction

As King Charles III is settling into his new role, auction house Bonhams is preparing to sale an original artwork in Edinburgh… It will be the first time a print of a painting of a reigning monarch is about to go on sale.

The artwork painted by then-Prince Charles is going on sale tomorrow, Thursday 20 October.

King Charles III started painting in the 1970s, and he has said it transports him "to another dimension."

The print, numbered 18 out of 100, is a watercolour of Balmoral, the Queen's private residence, which was painted in 2001:

What were you expecting? A monument to surrealist glory? Francis Bacon levels of unsettling rawness?

Each reprint - no matter how bland - has King Charles’s original signature and a certificate of authenticity. This print is expected to break the last auction record of the now-King, set at £1,700 (approx. €1,900).

"We were quite flabbergasted to see the level of interest in this. We’ve had interest from all over the globe and we expect to go for well over the estimate,” says Managing director of Bonhams May Matthews.

Indeed, this isn't the first of his works that Bonhams is auctioning, but since the prince became King, interest has grown exponentially.

"I have to say, I have never seen as much interest not only in his work, but in any lot prior to an auction. The interest is really unprecedented," says Hamish Wilson, senior valuer, Bonhams Edinburgh.

"The auctions are a beguiling beast, and we look forward to seeing what comes on the day," says Wilson.

The artistic value of the print, however, might not be in line with its price, according to art critic Estelle Lovatt.

"It's not awful. It's not appalling. But it's not great," she says.

"This is the first painting that's come up since Charles has become king. Second of all, it's of Balmoral, which was the last home, last resting place of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. And you're not just buying a landscape painting by somebody. You're buying a landscape print of a painting by the king."

And who can put a price on that?

Me. Worth not much.
It’s way better than anything I could do but it’s as much fine art as a hamburger - the sort of thing that bored housewives with little talent paint in art groups and then exhibit at shopping malls. Then some kind person they know will buy it as a favour and it winds up at the charity shop.
If it makes big ears happy then good luck to him but why on earth anybody would be thrilled because he painted it is a mystery. And it’s just prints being sold anyway.
Peasant wannabes getting excited about nothing. Pffft.

Originally Posted by S Landreth

• King Charles backs DNA test for Princes in the Tower murder mystery

King Charles III is reportedly planning to launch a DNA investigation related to the 539-year-old “Princes in the Tower” murder mystery.

According to The Mirror, the new monarch is said to be interested in plans to test bones believed to be of Prince Edward and Prince Richard.

The two boys were imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1483 by their scheming uncle.

I'm not interested in the painting done by then prince (now King) Charles, but I'm interested in this news story.

I've heard/ read about Richard III & the semi-recent discovery of his remains in a carpark/ former monastery. I've also heard of the 2 princes in the tower, War of the Roses, etc. I like historical & medieval dramas - have watched The White Queen, The White Princess and The Spanish Princess. I know that those dramas aren't really historically accurate (artistic license), but I like the time period & costumes.

I'm glad that King Charles has permitted DNA analysis so that the public will finally know about those remains in The Tower. (as stated in the article, his mum didn't allow it)

• King Charles to plan biggest ever set of royal tours to 'extend hand of friendship'

The monarch is set to be prioritizing visits to Australia and New Zealand along with other Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean in a two year blitz of foreign travel, reports claim.

King Charles is planning the biggest ever series of tours to kick off his reign aimed at “extending a hand of friendship and support”, according to royal sources. The Prince and Princess of Wales are also expected to play a “major support role” in relation to the visits.

It is also understood that His Majesty is keen to undertake a number of solo trips both at home and abroad.

This is expected to allow the Queen Consort to undertake more engagements to help assist her personal projects.

A royal source told The Daily Mirror that His Majesty wanted to set a good impression in the "crucial" early period of his reign.

They said: "The King and his family are keen to hit the ground running in these crucial first few months and years of his reign.

“He certainly wants to carry on the long-held mantra from his late mother of being seen to be believed, and is very keen to get out and meet as many people as possible.”

Sources have also indicated that the firm could undertake as many trips as the Queen did during the whole of the 1970s when the late monarch visited 52 Commonwealth countries and 21 other countries in order to mark her Silver Jubilee.

The King also already started discussions with his advisers about visits to Australia and Canada “as soon as possible”.

He has also raised the possibility of visiting the 14 other countries where he is King.

Government officials in New South Wales revealed plans this week for a “much-anticipated” royal tour in 2024 which will coincide with the bicentenary of Australian democracy.

However, sources have indicated that the Prince and Princess of Wales had previously discussed plans for a tour to the Antipodean nation in spring 2023.

King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla's previously postponed trip to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh is being rescheduled.

There is also the possibility that the Prince and Princess of Wales may be involved in the tour.

The Foreign Office is also believed to use the diplomatic power of the monarchy to help rebuild relations with France and Germany following the rows over Brexit.

Although a trip for the King and Queen Consort to visit France has been postponed it is understood that it will be rescheduled next year.

Royal sources have revealed that the monarch is “acutely aware” of the unrest in a number of Commonwealth countries that are considering becoming republic particularly in the Caribbean.

It is also likely that the King will travel to South Africa following a visit from President Cyril Ramaphosa the first state visit of the new royal era.

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• King Charles Includes 70-Year-Old Throwback Photo of Him and Queen Elizabeth in Thank-You Cards for Senders of Condolences

In one tweet that was shared by the user @RoyalsOther, we can see that the correspondence included a photo of a young King Charles (when he was only 4 years old, to be exact) looking out a window at Balmoral castle with his mother standing behind him and smiling.

Along with the photo, the new monarch also included a message that said, “It was so very kind of you to send me such a wonderfully generous message following the death of my beloved mother. Your most thoughtful words are enormously comforting, and I cannot tell you how deeply they are appreciated at this time of immense sorrow.”

At the end, the king signed the message with his usual signature: “Charles R.” The envelope also included the new royal cypher.

The vintage photo was taken in September 1952, only seven months after the then-Princess Elizabeth acceded to the throne when her father, King George VI, died suddenly of a coronary thrombosis.

As Queen Elizabeth's eldest child, Charles became the first in line of succession to the throne in 1952, a position which he has held for the last 70 years, until his mother's recent passing. Now, King Charles's eldest son, Prince William, is the first in line to the throne, while Prince William's own eldest, Prince George, 9, is second.

Soon after the queen's passing, a post was made to the official royal family Instagram account, where they said, “Over 50,000 letters and cards have been sent to The King, The Queen Consort and Members of The Royal Family following the death of Queen Elizabeth. A small but dedicated Correspondence Team are carefully sorting, reading and responding to the messages as they arrive.”

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• King Charles III's first set of 100th birthday cards delivered

The first 100th birthday cards from King Charles and the Queen Consort, Camilla have been delivered to people celebrating their centennial year.

Among the hundreds of recipients receiving their first congratulatory messages were veterans of World War Two, Buckingham Palace said.

Ruth Park-Pearson, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service, was one of the first to get a card.

The Palace suspended sending the cards after the Queen's death in September.

Mrs Park-Pearson, who lives in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, turned 100 on Friday and was delighted when the "lovely" card arrived the following day.

She also reflected on the fact she had served under the Queen's father George VI and was now being congratulated by the fifth monarch of her lifetime.

"You don't think about it at the time, it's not until later you realise just sort of how old you are suddenly. You think my goodness me, I remember the old King."

The Glasgow-Born centenarian - who has six children, 13 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren - celebrated her milestone surrounded by family, including cousins who she said "haven't seen each other for years".

She also noted that even her young great-grandchildren were "happy to be with one another" on what was a "really wonderful birthday".

"So many wonderful presents and flowers, I could start a flower shop almost," Ms Park-Pearson added.

Cards were not able to be delivered during the official mourning period between 9 September and the late monarch's state funeral on 19 September, as well as for some weeks following while new cards were being designed and printed.

These messages which were not sent out are being processed as quickly as possible over the coming weeks.

The front of the cards features a picture of King Charles III and Camilla, Queen consort taken in the summer of 2018.

The monarch sending messages to mark significant birthdays and anniversaries is a tradition dating back to 1917, when those celebrating their 100th birthday or 60th wedding anniversary were sent a telegram of good wishes from King George V.

Since then it has expanded significantly in scale, with thousands of cards sent to mark people's 100th and 105th birthdays, as well as for couples celebrating their 60th, 65th and 70th wedding anniversaries - with messages also delivered to celebrate every subsequent milestone.

During Queen Elizabeth II's reign, around 1.3 million cards were sent from Buckingham Palace to mark birthdays and anniversaries across the UK, Commonwealth and British Overseas Territories.

With an ageing population, the number of recipients has grown - in 1917 King George V sent out 24 telegrams to centenarians and 273 were sent in 1952 when Elizabeth II became monarch.

By 2014, the office responsible for sending out the cards had to hire extra staff as the annual tally topped 7,500.

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In other news

• King Charles should reconsider decision not to go to COP27 in Egypt: US envoy to BBC

US Climate Envoy John Kerry said he hopes UK King Charles III reconsiders his decision regarding not going to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh city in November.

On an interview with BBC published on Friday, Kerry hailed King Charles’ efforts to support climate action, saying he has been a “terrific leader on this issue” and that it would be “terrific” in case the King is able to attend the conference.

Earlier this month, Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles, a veteran climate advocate, will not attend COP27 in Egypt based on an advice by UK’s then-Prime Minister Liz Truss.

On Thursday, Truss, the successor of Boris Johnson, resigned as prime minister only 44 days from taking post after her economic programme rocket financial markets and angered much of her Conservative Party.

As per her resignation, Truss will reportedly be the shortest-serving prime minister in the history of the UK.

Egypt will host COP27 from 6 to 18 November with promises to work on turning climate pledges into action as per the Paris Agreement.

So the big two royal priorities are birthday cards and dropping over with a hand of friendship and support. Sounds lovely. No really. Who could argue with that ?
I’ve got plenty of work to do on my place, so can’t wait for a healthy ex-marine commando to drop in keen for a 4.30 wake-up. His better half will no doubt be keen too and might even put together some typical English nosh to raise the tone in the colony a bit. For the happy couple it’ll be such a good break from all that tiresome business stuff (stocktaking probably) that usually goes on.