A recent YouGov study found that only 16% of 18-24 year olds in the UK think King Charles III is in touch with the British public.
Live streams of the King’s coronation are set to be aired around the country this weekend, including in Sheffield’s Peace Gardens and the Glass Works in Barnsley. With street parties and road closures planned, there is no shortage of public support for the new King.
However, for many young people in particular, the event is a display of a very outdated concept.
Laurie Williams (they/them), a history and politics student at the University of Sheffield, is one such person. They believe the monarchy no longer represents the interests and ideals of the public, and doesn’t serve any real purpose in today’s society.
“I think any member of the royal family is not in touch with the British public because that in itself is their appeal, isn’t it? They’re put on a pedestal, they possess all the wealth and glamour that people aspire to, so even someone who supports them could say that they’re out of touch because they haven’t led the lives that anyone else has.”
The study showed that the highest percentage of people who believed the new monarch is in touch with the British public came from people aged 65 and above, and even that figure was only 51%. The same group also had the highest proportion of people who thought the royal family was good value for money, at 71%, compared to 36% of 18-24 year olds.
No official budget for the coronation has been made public, but experts are suggesting the figure will likely be between £50 and £100 million, and unlike for royal weddings, money for the coronation will come from taxpayers.
Mx Williams described the expenses as insulting.
“The state of this country, the poverty, and that’s where taxpayers’ money is being directed towards? It’s baffling to me how anyone can support that, because at this point it’s just flaunting.
“People always argue that the monarchy actually does a lot, like represents the country and brings in tourism, but you can have that without paying an extortionate amount of money for no reason.”
Aside from the expenses and day-to-day lives of the members of our royal family, Mx Williams highlighted a more deep-rooted issue with the institution.
“The fundamental problem I have with the concept of monarchy is that it’s rooted in Christianity, that you’re deemed superior because of your birth right. So theoretically I completely stand against it. It’s a romantic fantastical concept, and why would you have that involved with the government?”