Pomp and pageantry reigned at his coronation a year ago. But after a whirlwind 12 months, King Charles understandably prefers much less fanfare this time around.
The King will celebrate the first anniversary of his coronation today quietly with close friends in Windsor.
Even his wife Queen Camilla is unlikely to be present as she is with her own family at her private Wiltshire home, Ray Mill House.
It is understood that Her Majesty wishes to celebrate the day “in her mother’s mould” with very little fuss as her accession is intrinsically linked to the sad loss of Queen Elizabeth.
But it is still unknown whether he will be reunited with his youngest son, Prince Harry, when he flies to London this week.
The King will celebrate the first anniversary of his coronation today quietly with close friends in Windsor.
King Charles leaves a church in Gloucestershire today
Even his wife Queen Camilla is unlikely to be present as she is with her own family at her private Wiltshire home, Ray Mill House.
Buckingham Palace will recognize the anniversary on social media, while in London there will be military salutes.
The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will fire a royal salute with 41 guns and 71 horses, pulling six First World War 13-pounder field guns.
At the Tower of London, the Honorable Artillery Company regiment will fire a 62-gun royal salute. There will be further tributes in Edinburgh, Cardiff, York and Hillsborough in Northern Ireland.
But there will be few family “celebrations”, particularly by the King himself, who will probably simply enjoy a private dinner.
Charles will return to London tomorrow, having been given permission by doctors to undertake further public engagements again as he continues his cancer treatment. It was claimed over the weekend that Prince William is worried his father is taking on too much.
But it is still unknown whether he will be reunited with his youngest son, Prince Harry, when he flies to London this week.
Buckingham Palace will recognize the anniversary on social media, while in London there will be military salutes
Prince Harry is likely to fly to the capital tomorrow ahead of a service at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the 10th anniversary of its Invictus Games on Wednesday afternoon. However, the Mail understands that reports that he plans to use the trip to reunite with his father are a little premature, as there is nothing in the diary yet.
Buckingham Palace has repeatedly declined to comment, determined not to inflame public discourse on the issue. But it is known that a very busy week awaits the King.
Yesterday he was in Gloucestershire, where he attended church.
He has official meetings on Wednesday morning followed by his long-awaited appearance at Buckingham Palace’s first garden party of the season.
He will immediately meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and hold his weekly Privy Council meeting.
The Mail also understands that the King has a public engagement yet to be announced on Thursday, after which he will retire, probably to Windsor, to continue his recovery.
A meeting may still be able to be scheduled, especially if Harry personally asks to meet with his father. But as things stand, it’s hard to see the pair reunite, and if they can, any reunion will be brief.
The couple 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 inflame public discourse on the issue. But it is already known that the King has a tremendously busy week ahead of him.
Charles, who was about to leave London for Sandringham, kept 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 reunite with his estranged brother and will be in Windsor for an investiture before heading to the West Country for more official duties. He has been particularly upset by Harry’s behavior after facing criticism in his memoir, Spare.
Queen Camilla was not present when she met the king last time and is unlikely to be present this week either.
It comes as a Mail on Sunday poll showed King Charles has received a significant vote of confidence and the majority of Britons believe he is doing a good job.
A landmark poll marking the first anniversary of his coronation shows a sharp rise in support for the monarch in the last 12 months.
About 60 percent of respondents believe the United Kingdom should maintain the monarchy, and only 28 percent prefer a republic.