Charles, the king’s speech and the (painful) price of impartiality

Exactly one year ago, Rishi Sunak – who became English Prime Minister a few days ago – announced his decision to do not participate in Cop 27the conference of world leaders onclimate emergency which was held in Cairo. On the contrary, King Charles – who had been on the throne for less than two months – announced a reception at Buckingham Palace with industry experts, to talk about the environmental crisis.

Although Sunak also participated in that event, in the end he also flew to Egyptian meeting reversing his initial position, one was already evident difference of views between the prime minister and the sovereign. First of all on environmental issues. That’s why, a few hours ago, when Carlo announced new gas and oil drilling in the North Sea, it lit up on him the bull’s eye.

The point is that he was talking, but in reality he wasn’t talking. Or rather, he was reading a text written by others. From Sunak, to be precise. It’s about the King’s speechThe King’s Speech, which opened like every year the new parliamentary session. According to tradition, the monarch reads in front of the Rooms – and symbolically before the nation – the highlights of government program.

As the pinnacle ofinstitutional buildingputs his face to it, staying as much as possible neutral and impassive. Yes, because this provides the Constitution: the Crown is part of the legislative process, but without interfering on a political level. Absolute specialty of the late Queen Elizabethwho in seventy years of honorable service has read programs of all kinds, without ever betraying an emotion.

From Winston Churchill to Tony Blairup to Boris Johnson, just to give three examples. But Carlo is different, for certain issues he always is beaten openly. And now that, after a very long wait, it has becomeor finally king, he finds himself being the ‘speaker’ of a prime minister with different ideas from his. And his role actually prevents him from take a standto disagree, much less during the King’s Speech.

It has to be there above the parties, totally. Stick to the text. And so he did. Someone in England spoke of «speech through gritted teeth”others have focused on a tic in the back which occurred in certain passages. There are even those who interpreted quick View to Lords and MPs as full of skepticism, just as words came out of his mouth about energy policy by Sunak.

To be honest, Carlo he behaved well. Supported by his wife Camillafirmly at his side, did not let it slip any type of personal judgement. What went through his head is obviously not known, but it is presumable a little suffering went through it by reading sentences that well they represent him little. He who, in fact, has always fought on the front line for the environment.

When again very few people talked about it and the issue was not current. Today she has the crown on her head, the topic is hot, but he must respect his role. Sure, you can try assert their influence in other waysgiving signals – see the climate reception at Buckingham Palace – but without ever breaking the rules inviolable constitutional principles. The painful price of impartiality.