Parting of Queen Elizabeth: What do we know about the new King?

Ishtiaq Ahmed

London: This has been a momentous week for Britain. On Tuesday, Liz Truss was installed as the new Prime Minister. Come Thursday, with the death of Her Majesty, The Queen Elizabeth II, her eldest son Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales, became King Charles III.

Her Majesty, The Queen, throughout her reign was at the centre of national life as the constitutional head of State, head of the Armed Forces, head of the Commonwealth and the Supreme governor of the Church of England. These roles will now be passed on to the new king.

Therefore, within a space of few days, Britain now has a new head of government and a new head of state. Harold Wilson, the former Prime Minister is attributed to have said, “a week is a long time in politics”. Certainly, we have witnessed this.

Charles Philip Arthur George was born on 14^th November 1948. He is the eldest son of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He was anointed as the Prince of Wales in 1958. At 73, King Charles III, as he has now become, is the oldest person ever to inherit the throne.

For most people around the world, the former Charles, the Prince of wales, and now the King Charles III, amongst other things, is perhaps best known for his marriage to Lady Diana Spencer who was so tragically killed in a car crash in 2005. However, the couple had divorced in1996.

From the marriage with Lady Diana, the king has two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. In 2005, King Charles III married Camilla Parker Bowles, his long-time partner.

King Charles was educated at Cheam and Gordonstoun and went on to achieve a bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Cambridge. After his education, he went on to serve in the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.

As Prince of Wales, he deputised for Her Majesty on many occasions both at home and abroad. He founded the youth charity the Prince’s Trust in 1976 and is patron to over 400 other charities and organisations.

He advocated for the conservation of historic buildings and the importance of architecture in society. His other passion has been the environment and climate change. All in all, he comes to the role of the king with extensive curriculum vitae.

In his first address to the nation, the king has promised nation ‘love’ and ‘Loyalty’.

Nonetheless, King Charles III has stepped into the shoes of a monarch who so impeccably served her nation and realms for 70 years, becoming the longest serving monarch in the history of Great Britain. Her legacy is one of continuity, stability, unity, hope, and dedication to her role right to the end, even administering the royal assent for Liz Truss to become the new prime Minister 2 days before she passed away.

The new Prime Minister, Liz Truss said in the House of Commons, the queen was the ‘rock’ on which the modern democracy of the nation was built.

News of Elizabeth II’s demise was received with much sadness and unprecedented grief not only in the UK  but by millions around the globe. One only has to see mountains of flowers left outside her residences and the warm and generous message from world leaders across the spectrum to gauge the love, affection and esteem in which she was held.. She indeed was a global phenomenon much loved, much respect and much admired around the world.

The British Muslims have equally joined in the sorrow of the nation moved by the death of their beloved Queen and the head of state.  A statement by Muslim Council of Britain reads “The Muslim Council of Britain expresses its sorrow at news of the passing of her Majesty the Queen. Our condolences, thoughts and prayers are with the King and Royal Family at this difficult time.”

MINAB (Mosques& Imams National Advisory Board) stated that “ British Muslims share the nation’s grief as we mourn the passing away of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II………..As Britains longest reigning monarch, HM The Queen witnessed a remarkable transformation in the religious and ethnic composition of the UK. The Queen remained committed to building communities; she encouraged religious harmony and friendship across the many different faith communities in the UK”.

The influential Bradford Council for Mosques stated that “ It was great sadness that we learned about the passing away of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, the head of Britain and the Commonwealth.

British Muslims stand in unity with the British people in this time of deep sorrow.”

Jamiyat Tabligh-ul-Islam, a Bradford based religious organisation with 18 Mosques in Bradford and other parts of Europe stated, “Her Majesty led the country with wisdom and compassion through countless challenging times.”