Pomp and pageantry reigned at his Coronation one year ago. But, after a whirlwind 12 months, it’s understandable King Charles would prefer much less fanfare this time around.
The King will celebrate the first anniversary of his Coronation today in low-key style with close friends at 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 His Majesty wishes to mark the day ‘in his mother’s mould’ with very little fuss, as his accession is so intrinsically bound with the sad loss of Queen Elizabeth.
But it is still unknown whether he will meet with his youngest son, Prince Harry, when he flies into London this week.
The King will celebrate the first anniversary of his Coronation today in low-key style with close friends at Windsor
King Charles leaving 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 acknowledge the anniversary on social media, while there will be military salutes in London.
The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will fire a 41-gun royal salute with 71 horses, pulling six First World War-era 13-pounder field guns.
Over at the Tower of London, the Honourable 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 little in the way of family ‘celebrations’, particularly from the King himself, who will more than likely simply enjoy a private dinner.
Charles will return to London tomorrow, having been given doctors’ permission to undertake more public engagements again while he continues cancer treatment. It was claimed at the weekend that Prince William is concerned that his father is taking on too much.
But it is still unknown whether he will meet with his youngest son, Prince Harry , when he flies into London this week
Buckingham Palace will acknowledge the anniversary on social media, while there will be military salutes in London
Prince Harry is likely to fly into the capital tomorrow ahead of a service at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the tenth anniversary of his Invictus Games on Wednesday afternoon. However, the Mail understands that reports he plans to use the trip to meet with his father again are a little premature, with nothing in the diary yet.
Buckingham Palace has repeatedly declined to comment, determined not to inflame public discourse around the issue. But it is known that the King has a hugely busy week ahead of him.
Yesterday he was out and about in Gloucestershire where he attended church.
He has official meetings on Wednesday morning followed by his expected appearance at the first Buckingham Palace garden party of the season.
Straight afterwards he will meet with the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, and hold his weekly Privy Council meeting.
The Mail also understands that the King has a yet-to-be announced public engagement on Thursday after which he will retire, most likely to Windsor, to continue his recovery.
It is possible that a meeting could still be scheduled, particularly if Harry personally asks to meet his father. But, as it stands, it is difficult to see the pair meeting at all – and, if they are able, any meeting will be brief.
The pair 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 around the issue. But it is known that the King has a hugely 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 ‘reunify’ the family.
However Prince William has no plans to meet with his estranged brother and will be at Windsor undertaking an investiture before heading off to the West Country for more official duties. He has been particularly upset by Harry’s behaviour after facing criticism in his memoir, Spare.
Queen Camilla was not present when he met the King last time and it is unlikely she will be around this week either.
It comes as a Mail on Sunday poll showed King Charles receiving a major vote of confidence with the majority of Britons believing he is doing a good job.
A landmark poll to mark the first anniversary of his Coronation shows a strong increase in support for the monarch in the last 12 months.
Some 60 per cent of those polled believe the UK should keep the monarchy, with just 28 per cent preferring a republic.