Charles III - Text

Charles III - Britain's new King
Very few people alive in Britain today remember the time when Britain last had a king.
Elizabeth II was Queen of England for 70 years, from 1952 to 2022, so only the very
oldest people remember the last king, her father George VI.
Queen Elizabeth has marked life and times in Britain for the past seven decades, and
since her death, Britain has entered a new period of history.
The Second Elizabethan age is over. For millions of people in Britain, and in other
countries too, the death of the Queen has been like losing a grandmother, since the
Queen was part of national life, part of the national family, and a very popular figure.
Opinion polls in 2020 showed that over 80% of people in Britain appreciated the
Queen.
There has been a moment of national trauma following her death; the Queen was not
just "a royal", she was the Queen, a person whose image people see every day, and will
continue to see for some time, on coins, on banknotes, on stamps, in magazines, in
public places. While Charles is not unpopular, he is less appreciated than his mother the
Queen, and less popular than his son Prince William.
Charles was born in 1948, and has spent his life in the shadow of the Queen. He has the
image of a gentleman farmer, and is still actively involved in the agricultural life of
his estates. Like his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, who was president of the WWF,
Charles is very concerned about the environment and the natural world, and his farms
are known for their organic produce. Indeed, Charles's farms became organic in 1985,
long before the organic boom of recent years, and "Duchy Organic", set up by Charles,
is one of the biggest brands of organic foods in the UK, sold in the Waitrose
supermarkets.
William has now become the new Prince of Wales - the historic title of the heir to the
throne Charles has also spent a lot of time trying to help underprivileged youth in
Britain's inner cities. His "Prince's Trust" is a charity that has helped thousands of kids
from poor parts of Britain's cities to get good training and good jobs. He has also been
active on the world stage, and in 2020 he encouraged world leaders at the Davos summit
"to reset capitalism", in order to prevent the worst effects of climate change. As a
prince, he could say and do what he wanted; as Head of State, he will have to be more
neutral. That may be difficult for him.
How long will Charles be king? Not as long as his mother, that is sure. He came to the
throne at the age of 73, an age when most people are thinking more about retirement
than taking up a big and important job. If he lives as long as his mother, he will remain
king for over 20 years, longer than most heads of state.
If he is a good king, then one day he will probably be succeeded by his elder son
William. Few people want Britain to become a republic.
A poll in 2012 showed that 80% of people in Britain wanted the monarchy to continue,
with only 13% wanting a republic. Perhaps this is understandable; in Britain, as in many
other countries, politicians are not particularly popular these days! God save the King!
VOCABULARY
poll: a study of what people think -
decade: period of (about) ten years –
trauma: shocked sadness –
a royal*: a member of the Royal Family -
elder, eldest: older, oldest * -
legendary: mythical, invented -
heir: successor, person who comes next -
estate: domain, large farm –
concerned: worried, anxious -
produce: things that are made or produced –
set up: established, created –
brands: commercial names –
underprivileged: people who do not have much money or much opportunity -
prevent: stop –
eventually: in the end, one day –
remain: continue to be - carry out: do, perform.
Complete the spaces using the verbs in the brackets:
Charles (also spend) __________________________a lot of time (try)

____________________to help underprivileged youth in Britain's inner cities. His
"Prince's Trust" is a charity that (help) ________________________ thousands of kids
from poor parts of Britain's cities (get) __________________ good training and good
jobs.
He (also be) _________________ active on the world stage, and in 2020 he
(encourage) _______________________ world leaders at the Davos summit (reset)
"_______________ capitalism", in order (prevent) _________________ the worst
effects of climate change. As a prince, he (say) __________________and do what he
(want) ________________________ ; as Head of State, he (be) _______________
more neutral.
That (be) ___________________difficult for him. How long (Charles be)
_________________ king? Not as long as his mother, that is sure. He (come)
____________________to the throne at the age of 73, an age when most people
(think) __________________________ more about retirement than (take)
__________________ up a big and important job.
If he (live) ___________________ as long as his mother, he (remain)
_____________________king for over 20 years, longer than most heads of state..

Charles III - Text

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Charles III - Text

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Charles III - Text

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Charles III - Britain's new King

Complete the spaces using the verbs in the brackets:

Charles (also spend) __________________________a lot of time (try)

You might also like