More than five hundred dignitaries from around the world were to travel to London for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday, September 19, including a hundred presidents and prime ministers, and at least twenty crowned heads. Among them, King Felipe VI, Emperor Naruhito of Japan, whose first trip abroad since his accession to the throne in 2019, US President Joe Biden, French Head of State Emmanuel Macron, the Brazilian Jair Bolsonaro…
It was not, officially, a question of talking about politics or geopolitics, but this event of global scope still represents a rare opportunity for British diplomacy to shine. Especially since it has been shaken up since Brexit: trust with the United Kingdom’s European partners has been eroded, following the attitude of Boris Johnson’s government, considered cavalier, even contrary to its international commitments in part of Northern Ireland.
Very few images or confidences will have filtered from the reception given by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on Sunday, the day before the funeral. Straddling tradition, the new monarch wanted an event dedicated to the memory of his mother – black attire was de rigueur for guests. The evening will still have been a test for the king, who has already met most of the invited personalities, but must take up the challenge not to disappoint, while his mother was considered the best diplomat in the country. Elizabeth II met thirteen American presidents (from Harry Truman to Joe Biden), ten French (from René Coty to Emmanuel Macron), dozens of African leaders…
Instrument of British soft power
As head of the Commonwealth, Charles III must also maintain the cohesion of an organization which brings together fifty-six countries, including fifteen kingdoms. A considerable instrument of British soft power, weakened by republican impulses, particularly in the Caribbean, after Barbados was chosen to become a republic at the end of 2021. In recent days, the king has multiplied audiences with representatives of member countries and Patricia Scotland, the secretary of the organization, was to have the honor on Monday morning – shared with Liz Truss, the British prime minister – to read passages from Scripture during mass at Westminster Abbey. “Now is not the time to talk about a referendum on the republic”, assured the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, arriving in London. The Labor leader has promised to organize a consultation on the retention of the British monarch as head of the Australian state, but only during a possible second term.
You have 40.62% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.