Queen Elizabeth II's rule was bookended by war and pandemic; her son Charles' reign will be defined by the climate crisis
Comment: Queen Elizabeth II reigned from 1952. From the aftermath of World War II through to Covid, there is not a leader in world history who can claim to have overseen such a long era of unparalleled social upheaval. She appointed 14 British Prime Ministers – the last one being Liz Truss, earlier this week.
During her time as queen, the British Empire shrank dramatically, but at her death she was still head of state of 17 Commonwealth countries, from Canada and Jamaica to New Zealand, the Cook Islands and Niue.
It's nearly 20 years since the ageing monarch last visited her most distant, southernmost realm. But in the depths of New Zealand's first lockdown, she called the Prime Minister. "Her affection for New Zealand, her interest in what's happening here and her memory of places and events that are special to us never ceases to amaze me," Jacinda Ardern said afterwards.
If war and pandemic book-ended Elizabeth's reign, there is one defining crisis that will without doubt shape the thinking of her son, Prince Charles, as he ascends the throne today.
Outside 10 Downing St, Truss called on Britons to rally around their new king to help him bear "the awesome responsibility" that he now carries. “Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built,” she said. “With the passing of the second Elizabethan age, we usher in a new era in the magnificent history of our great country.”
Awesome, indeed, but Charles would be first to acknowledge the responsibility is a collective one. As Prince of Wales, Charles was quick to identify threats to the global environment as existential; he became a relatively outspoken champion of, first, conservation, then mediating humankind's adverse impact on the environment, and finally the defining fight against climate change.
The role will be daunting. His late mother was overwhelmingly popular and respected. "Regardless of what anyone thinks of the role of monarchies, there is undeniably here someone who gave everything on behalf of her people," says Ardern, speaking to media this morning.
But as Reuters reports today, the Queen leaves a royal family that has seen reputations tarnished and relationships strained. King Charles III confronts those challenges at the age of 73, the oldest monarch to take the throne in a lineage that dates back 1,000 years, with his second wife Camilla by his side.
Two months ago, NZ's Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet briefed Newsroom on preparations for the succession. The person first in line to the Throne immediately and automatically becomes Sovereign in accordance with the laws of succession, and therefore Head of State of New Zealand. At present, this means His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will become King of New Zealand.
Charles and Camilla last visited New Zealand in November 2019, just two months before the pandemic hit and closed the world's international borders. Many of their engagements in Auckland, Northland, Christchurch and Kaikōura were focused on environmental work, especially reducing plastic waste.
In Auckland, Charles visited Critical Design, a social enterprise turning recyclable materials like plastic pipes, fishing nets, car bumpers and wood into new products such as small tables, kayaks, and even stools.
He was invited to create something for himself, placing shredded plastic into moulds. "You're quite good at it," a staff member said. "Are you looking for a job?"
It was a tongue-in-cheek jibe, but it was also on-point. For 70 years, Charles has been looking for a job.
In ascending the throne in an era that places greater weight on diversity, equality and participation, he will be not so much a ruler as a community champion. It may sound trite, but Charles' new job is as the climate king.
