Lionel Gougelot (in London) / Photo credit: YUI MOK / POOL / AFP 07:14, 08 May 2023

While the party is almost over in the United Kingdom, the British still enjoy a public holiday the day after the coronation of their king (and queen). A great moment of national unity around the monarchy? Not so sure... Polls show that the English are increasingly skeptical about the merits of royalty, especially since the death of Elizabeth II.

To celebrate their coronation, King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla are celebrating. On the program: a concert by Katy Perry and Lionel Richie in front of Windsor Castle, but also a day of solidarity and volunteer actions. But these celebrations do not necessarily enchant everyone since the death of Elizabeth II. Some are skeptical of the merits of royalty. And the new royal couple does not seem very placed to reverse the trend.

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"They have to move with the times"

Yet the will is there. On the streets of London, for example, passers-by were able to hear their new king and queen in a recorded message for tube passengers. Alongside the pomp of the coronation, Buckingham wanted to promote the image of a modern royal couple close to the people. But Sarah, a subway user, was not really convinced. "I'm not sure that the monarchy is modern as such, but at least they are doing their best to show up with more modern ideas," she told Europe 1.

Rather skeptical after Elizabeth's death, Cristina was finally seduced by the royal couple. "They are a team and the country is going to be behind them. So now we have to move forward. We applaud, they are our monarchs," she said. But in this crisis-ridden country, Sam and Rachel would like the king to express his progressive ideas more clearly. "I think Charles is a good person. He has many positive things to say and his silence is regrettable. He has influence and he should speak out about his beliefs," Sam said.

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"They have to move with the times. At the same time, there is William and Kate who can push them to look to the future. But I believe that the monarchy has an interest in changing if it wants to survive," Rachel concludes. 14 million Britons watched the coronation on television on Saturday. This is half as much as for the funeral of Elizabeth II.