PHILADELPHIA - As the heir apparent to Queen Elizabeth II and a long-serving heir. Charles the III will be coronated in a few months. However, his turbulent past has left him deeply unpopular. While he has gradually recovered from his scandals, he is still far less respected than other royal family members.
King Charles I
The controversial past of King Charles I is no longer a mystery. The Catholic king was married to a Catholic, Henrietta Maria, in 1625. He believed the heads of the church should be given deference, causing dissension among the Puritans. Charles dissolved Parliament three times, including in 1629, when he resolved to rule alone. This move ruffled many feathers. Charles cracked down on Puritans during his reign and enacted laws to suppress the religion. As a result, many Catholics fled the country to the American colonies. He was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649.
King Charles II
During this time, Charles II's legacy is also controversial. His subjects often criticized his reforms. He converted to Catholicism on his deathbed, nicknamed "The Merry Monarch" for his excesses and debauchery. He had more than a dozen illegitimate children and surrounded himself with bawdy courtesans. Ultimately, Charles died of a stroke in 1685 and was succeeded by his brother James.
King Charles III
As a young boy, Charles III (Now King of England) attended Gordonstoun School in northeast Scotland, where his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, also attended. However, Charles didn't have good memories of his school days. He later studied at Cambridge University and earned degrees in anthropology, archeology, and history. Charles is the first monarch in the British monarchy to have a university degree. However, his outspoken views on policy issues have earned him criticism from the political elite.
As Prince, Charles has also been accused of lobbying the British government by writing letters to government ministers that he knew would end up in the public domain. These letters were considered "black spider memos" because they were written in scrawled handwriting. The British government deemed the letters too political to be seen by the public. The charity commission has also investigated Charles' donations from an ex-prime minister of Qatar.
The new monarch of Great Britain has long been involved in philanthropic and environmental causes. Unlike Queen Elizabeth II, who remained strictly neutral in politics and never cast a vote, Charles has a history of wading into the political arena. Some British officials are worried about the new king's political views.
Prince Charles has also been accused of quackery and alternative medicine. However, his critics have turned against him in recent years. He has also championed environmental causes and has made fishing the Patagonian toothfish illegal. He has also pushed for alternative medicines in the UK. Despite these controversies, Prince Charles seems to be a good citizen.
