Britain’s King Charles III has marked the first anniversary of his coronation, a milestone that comes after a difficult year that has seen him face health challenges and ongoing tensions with his estranged son, Prince Harry.
To commemorate the occasion, a 41-gun salute was fired from Green Park, followed by 62 volleys from another central London location. However, no official events were planned, as the king has only recently resumed public duties following a cancer diagnosis.
The 75-year-old monarch, who has not disclosed the type of cancer he has, reportedly wanted to mark the day with minimal fuss, given the link between his accession and the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who crowned King Charles a year ago, praised the king’s sense of duty and willingness to help others, despite his personal challenges.
The anniversary comes as an Ipsos poll shows King Charles’s personal popularity rating has risen slightly to 56%, while his son and heir, Prince William, and his wife Catherine, the Princess of Wales, remain the most popular members of the royal family with 69% each.
The royal family has faced a shortage of frontline royals due to the king’s and Catherine’s ill health, with Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, and Prince Edward taking on more prominent roles. Prince Harry, who is no longer a working royal, is set to return to the UK this week for a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games.
