China News Service, Beijing, September 10th: Lost the "cornerstone of stability", and the three major unstable factors are left to the United Kingdom

　　Author sweet

　　Just two days after the new British Prime Minister Truss took office, "London Bridge fell."

　　This sentence, which was used to convey the code of the Queen's death, also aptly described the huge shock that the death of Queen Elizabeth II brought to British society.

　　As the longest-reigning monarch in British history, Elizabeth II is, as Truss described it in her statement, "the cornerstone on which modern Britain is built" and "a symbol of the spirit of Great Britain".

　　Today, the aftermath of the "political earthquake" in the UK continues, and the royal family is adding more turmoil.

The outside world has begun to question whether Britain, which has lost the "cornerstone of stability", will fall into turmoil in the future?

On September 6, 2022, in Scotland, Britain, the new British Prime Minister Truss met with Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

Image source: Visual China

　Is the British monarchy coming to an end?

　　With the death of the Queen, the survival and abolition of the British monarchy has once again been thrust into the global spotlight.

　　British "Guardian" columnist Ardern once proposed that the British monarch actually has two powers to refuse the prime minister to dissolve parliament, reopen the election and choose the prime minister.

　　If these two powers are used, it will inevitably cause a constitutional crisis, but so far, no British king or queen has ever done this.

When Queen Elizabeth II was alive, there was never any news about politics or even personal opinions, and she played a stabilizing force when political disputes occurred.

　　At the same time, the queen of "super long standby" also gives the British a sense of stability.

Whether it was the death of Princess Diana in the early years, or the outbreak of the new crown epidemic in recent years, and Harry's departure from the royal family, her speech always brings people together.

Over the decades, Britain has replaced 15 prime ministers, but in the eyes of ordinary people, the Queen seems to be a bastion of eternal stability and neutrality.

　　With the Queen gone, how long will the monarchy that has existed in Britain for thousands of years last?

The new prime minister, Truss, attacked the British constitutional monarchy as a youth.

Some British people also think, "The monarchy as a system will die with the Queen. I don't like young royals, I think it's time for the UK to have an elected head of state."

　　The successor, Charles III, was a far cry from his mother's style, and it was difficult to provide stable support for the turbulent British political situation.

He is often outspoken and likes to express political opinions, which has aroused strong dissatisfaction in the cabinet.

The love-hate relationship between him and Diana and Camilla casts an indelible shadow on his approval rating.

　　In Britain, support for a constitutional monarchy continues to slide, and polls show that Charles is less popular than Queen Elizabeth II.

　　The US media has commented that "Queen Elizabeth II has witnessed the end of the empire. And Charles III may witness the end of the monarchy." In the future, will the ancient British royal family still provide the same sense of stability as before?

I am afraid this will be the key to the survival of the monarchy.

Data map: The British royal family released the Christmas card of Prince Charles and his wife.

Will the Commonwealth split?

　　In the foreseeable future, in addition to the scepter, Charles III took over from his mother, and a Commonwealth facing the pressure of division.

　　After the Queen's death, politicians and activists in some Commonwealth countries have taken the opportunity to call for the removal of the British monarch as the head of state of the Commonwealth, and for the United Kingdom to pay compensation for historical slavery.

　　The first "fire" burned in the Caribbean.

At the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit earlier this year, some Caribbean Commonwealth leaders had expressed unease that Queen Elizabeth II handed over the throne to Prince Charles.

　　On September 8, Hall Campbell, chairman of the Bahamas National Reparations Committee, said again, “With the changing role of the monarchy, I hope this can be an opportunity to promote discussions on reparations in the region.”

　　Australia has also restarted a long-running debate over ending the country's constitutional monarchy, with Prime Minister Albanes reportedly long-standing supporter of the country becoming a republic.

In Canada, polling agency data for 2022 shows that more than half of Canadian respondents believe the country should not maintain its current constitutional monarchy in the future, but should secede from the Commonwealth.

　　The British "backyard" is also likely to "fire" again.

Since Brexit, pressure for Scottish independence has continued to rise, with Sinn Fein becoming the largest party in Northern Ireland in May's election.

Calls for independence in regions such as Scotland and Northern Ireland may once again become the "hot potato" for the British royal family and government.

Data map: On September 18, 2014, at a polling station in Edinburgh, Scotland, referendum members conduct statistical work after voting.

At 7:00 a.m. local time on September 18th, the independence referendum that is about to decide the history of Scotland began quietly in 32 administrative regions across Scotland and ended at 5:00 a.m. Beijing time on the 19th.

Can the UK still cope with a 'winter storm'?

　　70 years ago, Queen Elizabeth II ascended to an otherwise shaky throne, trying her best to help the government maintain public identity and social stability, and is considered a "stabilizer" in Britain's turbulent times.

　　After World War II, the United Kingdom faced the dilemma of declining national strength and gradual disintegration, and experienced a severe Cold War externally.

At that time, the Queen tried to maintain the relationship between the United Kingdom and its former colonies through the Commonwealth, especially in maintaining good relations between the United Kingdom and South Africa, and the United Kingdom and India.

　　It is also, as Truss said, that the Queen is the "cornerstone" of modern Britain, "providing the country with the stability and strength we need".

　　But now the country under Truss is at a more lost and turbulent moment than it was a few decades ago: high inflation, labor conflicts and a strained health care system need to be addressed.

　　Truss campaigned that, if elected, she would take action in "week one" to help Britons with their energy bills.

She also stressed that a tax reform project will be proposed within a month to deal with the crisis.

　　But the poll showed that only 12% of Britons thought Truss would be a good leader, while 52% thought she would do a terrible job.

The British people tend to think that she will be worse than any prime minister since Margaret Thatcher, which means that she may be the worst British prime minister in 32 years.

　　The IMF’s latest forecast shows that the UK will be surpassed by its former colony India this year to become the world’s fifth largest economy.

　　Behind the economic downturn, the "Summer of Discontent" demonstrations in the UK continued to spread.

On the day Truss took office, some British government employees went on strike.

British police are predicting a surge in crime in the UK this winter, and there may even be large-scale riots.

　　When winter was approaching, Queen Elizabeth II was the "stabilizer" of the country, helping the government maintain social stability.

But as the Queen's Era comes to an end, can the Truss government handle the coming "winter storm" properly?

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