There was splendor and pomp at his coronation a year ago. But after a whirlwind 12 months, it’s understandable that King Charles would prefer far less fanfare this time around.
The King is celebrating the first anniversary of his coronation in quiet style with close friends in Windsor today.
Even his wife, Queen Camilla, is unlikely to attend as she is with her own family at her private home in Wiltshire, Ray Mill House.
It is clear that His Majesty wishes to celebrate the day ‘in the form of his mother’ with very little fuss, because his accession is so intrinsically linked to the sad loss of Queen Elizabeth.
But it is still unknown whether he will meet his youngest son, Prince Harry, when he flies to London this week.
The King is celebrating the first anniversary of his coronation in quiet style with close friends in Windsor today
King Charles leaves a church in Gloucestershire today
Even his wife, Queen Camilla, is unlikely to attend as she is with her own family at her private home in Wiltshire, Ray Mill House.
Buckingham Palace will acknowledge the anniversary on social media, while military salutes will be given in London.
The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will fire a 41-gun royal salute with 71 horses, drawing six 13-pounder field guns from the First World War.
At the Tower of London, the Honorable Artillery Company regiment will fire a royal salute from 62 guns. Further tributes will take place in Edinburgh, Cardiff, York and Hillsborough in Northern Ireland.
But there will be few family gatherings, especially the king himself, who will most likely simply enjoy a private dinner.
Charles returns to London tomorrow after being cleared by doctors to resume more public activities while he continues cancer treatment. Over the weekend it was claimed that Prince William is worried about his father taking on too much.
But it is still unknown whether he will meet his youngest son, Prince Harry, when he flies to London this week
Buckingham Palace will acknowledge the anniversary on social media, while military salutes will be given in London
Prince Harry is likely to fly to the capital tomorrow ahead of a service at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the tenth anniversary of his Invictus Games on Wednesday afternoon. However, the Mail understands that reports that he plans to use the trip to meet up with his father again are a little premature as nothing has been scheduled yet.
Buckingham Palace has repeatedly declined to comment, determined not to fuel public debate on the issue. But it is known that the king has a very busy week ahead of him.
Yesterday he was out in Gloucestershire going to church.
He has official meetings on Wednesday morning, followed by his expected appearance at the first Buckingham Palace garden party of the season.
Immediately afterwards he will meet the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, and hold his weekly meeting of the Privy Council.
The Mail also understands that the King has a yet-to-be-announced public engagement on Thursday, after which he will retire, most likely to Windsor, to continue his recovery.
It’s possible that a meeting could still be planned, especially if Harry asks to meet his father in person. But as it stands, it’s difficult to see the pair meeting at all – and if they are able to do so, any meeting will be short-lived.
The pair last met in February when Harry flew to London after the king announced he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer.
Buckingham Palace has repeatedly declined to comment, determined not to fuel public debate on the issue. But it is known that the king has a very busy week ahead of him
Charles, who was about to leave London for Sandringham, left his helicopter waiting, but their meeting at Clarence House lasted barely half an hour.
Harry later told Good Morning America that he hoped his father’s illness could “reunite” the family.
However, Prince William has no plans to meet his estranged brother and will be in Windsor for an investiture before heading to the West Country for more official duties. He is particularly upset by Harry’s behavior after receiving criticism in his memoir, Spare.
Queen Camilla was not present when he last met the king and is unlikely to be there again this week.
It comes as a Mail on Sunday poll showed King Charles getting a big vote of confidence, with the majority of Britons believing he is doing a good job.
A poll to mark the first anniversary of his coronation shows that support for the monarch has increased sharply in the past 12 months.
About 60 percent of respondents believe Britain should retain the monarchy, while only 28 percent prefer a republic.