On 6th May Charles III will be officially proclaimed King in England. He takes over from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died on 8th September last. A ceremony that will be adapted, more in line with the current era with a reduced guest list.

Regarding his name, the new king had the choice: keep Charles or change. But known for 74 years by his real name, he decided to keep it. He thus became Charles III, because before him, two other Charles had reigned in England.

A decapitated king

The reign of Charles I (1600-1649), who succeeded James 1st in 1625, was marked by several wars and conflicts, especially against Spain. This monarch was not the most appreciated.

As Point de Vue explains, his creed was "kings are accountable for their actions only to God!" A supporter of French absolutism, he dissolved Parliament and began a personal reign. After a conflict with parliamentary forces, he was captured in 1647 and convicted of high treason. He was beheaded on 30 January 1649 in London.


Ancestors of Diana Spencer

The reign of Charles II was less chaotic. Charles I's son held the throne from 1660 to 1685. Returning during the restoration of the monarchy, he was nicknamed the "merry monarch" or "joyful monarch", says Elle. If he reopens the theaters and allows women to play female roles on stage, his reign has not been easy. An epidemic of plague hit the country in 1665 before the great fire of London in 1666.

Charles II, who died in 1685, left no legitimate heir (his brother James II succeeded him) but he would be the father of a dozen children, conceived with mistresses. Two of them are ancestors of Lady Diana Spencer, mother of the future King of England, Prince William.

  • England
  • World
  • King Charles III
  • History
  • Monarchy
  • Royalty
  • London