How King Charles III’s Past And Present Could Help Predict His Future

It’s not unusual to scrutinize a new leader’s past to gain important and valuable clues about their future activities and policies in their new role.

King Charles III is no exception.

But much of what the new king said and done over the years when he was heir to the throne may not be the best guides to his future actions and words. Indeed, many of his previous activities are no longer advisable or even possible—a reality Charles acknowledged in his first public speech on Sept. 9.

“My life will of course change as I take up my new responsibilities,” the king said “It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply. But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others.”

A better indication of how Charles may act as king may be what he’s done since the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and his decades of exeperience as Prince of Wales.

Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson observed recently that “…in his first week as king, he [showed] a willingness to plunge into crowds sans his mother’s signature gloves and shake hands that must terrify his security detail. Once unpopular among the British public—mostly because of disapproval of the way he treated his first wife, Princess Diana, ‘the people’s princess’—it seems Charles might attempt to become ‘the people’s king.’”

A lot is riding on what King Charles III does and how and why he does it.

“The biggest test facing the new King is whether he can emulate his mother’s image of stability and preserve the institution that she spent so much of her life trying to protect,” Time pointed out.

Rising To The Occasion?

One predictor of Charles’s future conduct may be how he puts his past experience to work in his new role and confronts the challenges ahead.

“King Charles has risen to the occasion as a leader. He’s taken his collective experiences, both good and bad, and various public perceptions, criticisms, and scandals through the years, and owned them in an unapologetic, non-defensive manner,” Jess Ponce III, a body language expert and communication coach, said via email.

‘His Own Unique Leadership Presence’

Charles “is at times understated and at other times illuminating. He’s developed his own unique leadership presence. His predecessor, the beloved Queen Elizabeth II, was deeply admired and respected, yet also was no stranger to scandal or judgement herself. Likewise, it appears—and he’s already proven it through the decades—that the new King of England will also build trust and esteem.

“This is notable most recently in his public appearances. He is consistent in his approach, being both regal and personable. He is aspirational in how he presents himself, especially in formal situations. At the same time, he is affable and cordial,”Ponce noted,

‘The Potential To Be A Very Likeable Leader’

“While I would not label him as ‘down-to-earth,’ he has the potential to be a very likeable leader. He is someone you want to root for. This was not always the case. Knowing he’s not always been favored, King Charles has continued his path, proving that leadership is more than just being liked all the time. Being a leader is being persistent, being of service, and taking heat when needed,” he advised.

Keeping Things In Perspective

The ability to keep things in perspective can be importnt for any leader. But so is is keeping frustrations and irritations in their proper context.

King Charles has been seen airing his frustration during a ceremony for the second time in four days while in Northern Ireland,” The Guardian reported on Sept. 13. “The new monarch was shown signing a visitor’s book in front of cameras at Hillsborough Castle, near Belfast. He reacted after the pen he was using leaked on him.

“The Times’ history correspondent Jack Blackburn tweeted: “I think it’s possible to read too much into a bit of grouchiness from someone who has been travelling non-stop since his mother died last Thursday.”

“Former political editor of the Jewish Chronicle, Marcus Dysch said: “Watching the news [on Sept. 12], I thought aside from the grief, King Charles must be absolutely exhausted. He is in his 70s and flying round the country almost non-stop. Clear it is getting to him. Hope in due course he gets the time he needs to deal with this traumatic period,” according to The Guardian’s article.

Expectations

While monarchs are not as dependent on public opinion as elected officials, a new poll shows that Charles is off to an encouraging start.

The Ipsos poll in the UK found that a majority of Britons expect him to do a good job as king. Around 6 in 10 (61%) expect this to be the case, up from 49% since June. Only 13% expect him to do a bad job, a 7% drop from three months ago.

Ipsos interviewed of 1,073 adults aged 18-75 in Great Britain; the online survey was conducted September 16-18, 2022., and weighted to reflect the composition of the population. Although the margin of error was not disclosed, Ipsos noted that “All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.”

“As the country emerges from its mourning period, though, it will be important to track whether this is sustained, especially as the challenge of demonstrating relevance to younger generations remains,” Kelly Beaver, chief executive of Ipsos in the UK and Ireland, said on the company’s website.