The coronation was just the first step – now the King’s real work must begin

Following the pageantry of the coronation, we can now look forward to the more relaxed celebrations of tens of thousands of lunches and street parties around the country (and beyond), as well as a concert at Windsor Castle.

It is another sign of the power the royal family has to unite people – a notion that was reinforced by the news that the coronation was the most widely watched television broadcast of the year by some way, with 20 million people tuning in across various channels. However, those viewing figures also invited comparison with the number who watched the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II – a larger 29 million.

This is emblematic of the task King Charles III now faces: how to move the monarchy into a new era. It is a question that has hung in the air since the King laid his mother to rest last September, and it is now that the work begins in earnest. It is not the fault of Charles that he follows in the footsteps of a monarch who successfully steered the institution through decades of a changing world while attracting deep admiration in the process, but he cannot shrink from the responsibility of modernisation.

Charles can carry forward his mother’s sense of duty and purpose, but the royal family’s connection with the public needs to be reforged without the strong presence of the late Queen. Coming as it does in the midst of a biting cost of living crisis and obvious dissatisfaction with elements of British politics, this is not a simple task.

Divisions can be quick to surface. The arrest of dozens of protesters ahead of the coronation ceremony, and the subsequent disquiet over the actions of the police – an institution that itself is subject to intense focus – reflect where we currently are.

Events such as those held to mark the coronation over the bank holiday weekend can be used as a launchpad. Communities coming together in such a way will always be positive. In that sense, the coronation is a good start, including the laudable efforts made at inclusivity and diversity. Charles has to keep pushing in that direction.

The suggestion of “slimming down” the monarchy is a sensible one. Princess Anne, Charles’s younger sister and one of the hardest-working royals, has suggested she does not believe this to be “a good idea”, but Charles appears to be aware that change is required.

The King has never been afraid to try to address some of the big issues this country is facing, with his efforts to help young people gain the skills and confidence to push on in life, and his protective stance over the natural world. It is now up to Charles to imbue his nascent reign with the same spirit, helped by his empathetic traits – and to do so decisively. Change is never easy; however, it can be a force for good when enacted with clarity and care.

The feelings of the public towards Charles have ebbed and flowed over the years, but at present they are on an upswing. It is up to the King to take that – and the boost the coronation will have given his popularity – and use it to craft a modern monarchy that the younger royals can one day take forward themselves.