As a new King took the throne, there was confusion over his name.
The royal formerly known as Prince Charles was first described as "the King" by the Royal Family account, which beat all newscasts to announce the death of Queen Elizabeth II. There was continuity.
What is King? Some royal watchers thought it would be Charles.
The new monarch did not reveal his name in his initial statement. We were introduced to King Charles III for the first time by the prime minister. First time unless you count the 18th century Scotland.
The matter was in doubt because of a politician who has had strained relationships with the truth and the law. The world's media didn't agree until the BBC confirmed it. It was King Charles III.
What could it have been? Let's travel back in time. A Christmastime flurry of stories in the UK press claimed that Charles was thinking of becoming King George VII.
There was a reason for name-changing. Charles has a full name. He was able to take all of them with him to the throne. Like his great-uncle David, who ruled briefly as Edward VIII. George VI became George VI when David became David again.
Clarence House said that no decision has been made and it will be made at the time. A name change opened the door. The new King decided to change his name to Charles III in the afternoon of September 8, 2022.
King Philip, King Arthur, or King George are other possibilities. They weren't given the rose. We don't know the King's thinking, but based on the royal history drilled into him from birth, we can guess that Charles was a bad choice for the execution. It was the best of a lot of bad options.
Philip was not willing to work with others. Philip of Greece was not a prince but a prince consort. Philip II of Spain co-ruled the country with Queen "Bloody" Mary in the 16th century. Philip tried to return to the country after Mary died. Charles is going to replace Liz the Second with a King Philip. It's unthinkable.
There is a king! There is a name that can be conjured with. This is the one you would choose if you felt that the British monarchy was going down in flames. In the social media age, you would have to use the meme to make it work: meet only at round tables, appoint a court magician, pull golden Excaliburs out of stones and present them to charities.
Charles is too old and sensible to be a modern myth. Charles would have to be styled as the first official King Arthur due to the lack of proof. Big boots to fill.
Why not him? Even though Buckingham Palace was bombed, George VI stayed in London. He stuttered a bit. Colin Firth was in the film. These are too large for his grandson to fill. Maybe Charles is aware of all those other people.
George I was a mediocre German prince who spoke no English. The Scots were brutalized by George II's army and God Save the King was written about it. George III's faculties were lost. George IV is also known as George. Hugh Laurie played a brainless scion of privilege in Blackadder. At the time, he was treated fairly.
"When from the Earth the Fourth descended", wrote a Victorian poet. They did not. A decade's worth of Edward, followed by two more Georges, each bringing a World War in his wake, with another Edward, who turned out to be a Nazi sympathizer, sandwiched between them. George V has a mustache that is easily the scariest in royal history.
King George V in dress uniform and mustache. Credit: The Print Collector via Getty Images
British history is not as well known as it could be. Prince George of Cambridge and Cornwall is second in line to the throne, so there will be another George in a couple of Kings' time. The choice ended up being no choice. He has the same name as the headless King, the King of many mistresses, and the King who wasn't one.
After the end of the Elizabethan era, it's time to get our knowledge of the Charles prequels up to date.
Triptych trouble: King Charles I by Anthony Van Dyck. Credit: Universal History Archive / Shutterstock
According to Monty Python, the most interesting thing about King Charles the First is that he was only 6 feet tall at the beginning of his reign, but only 4 feet tall at the end. At the end of the Civil Wars, Charles lost his mind.
Hiscrime? The court appointed by Parliament said that they believed in the divine right of monarchs to be assholes. Charles didn't think he could rule without parliament. At a time when the country was very Protestant, he was suspected of being a Catholic.
The tyranny is the main one.
The execution of Charles I: A 19th century view. Credit: Historia / Shutterstock
The war came to an end when Charles sent his guard into parliament. If you've ever watched the Queen's Speech, where an official known as Black Rod has the door to the House of Commons ceremonially slammed in their face, you'll know that the Speaker had the door barred.
The military was controlled by parliament. The New Model Army was built and commanded by Oliver Cromwell. The other army that rallied to the King's banner held many strongholds but wasn't as good on the battlefield. Many people fled to America after Charles was captured and killed. I apologize to America.
You should expect Cromwell to become a tyrant when Parliament gives you the title "Lord Protector". The so-called Rump Parliament was left after he removed MPs who were too loyal to the King. Cromwell dissolved the Rump after he massacred the Scots and Irish and issued Puritanical orders. Richard became Lord Protector after his father's death, making a mockery of republicanism. Richard resigned after six months because he was not a leader.
Half of the Parliament voted to call in Charles after dissolving itself.
The last time a King Charles was crowned -- in 1660. Credit: Universal History Archive / Shutterstock
Where did he originate? It was a surprise. Charles I and his wife had a lot of children. The heir to the throne was Charles II. He was crowned King of Scotland in exile and fled to Europe after being defeated on the battlefield by Cromwell. He made nice noises to Parliament about religious tolerance after a few more invasions. The monarchy was restored by that.
Was he able to follow through? Most of the time Some people who signed dad's death warrant were hung, drawn and quartered. Cromwell's head got stuck on a pike. Charles didn't show up.
Charles secretly promised to convert to Catholicism and religious tolerance worked both ways. There was a constitutional crisis and an explosion of conspiracy theories after James turned out to be a secret convert. Parliament tried to pass an act that would have excluded Catholics from the throne. He made it to his grave without being beheaded because he was more popular than his father.
The second Carolinian was packed with drama such as the plague and Great Fire of London, but also new levels of human achievement. The Royal Society was founded by a man with a love for science. St. Paul's Cathedral is one of the beautiful buildings built by Christopher Wren. Music and the arts flourished without being held back byuritanism.
Yet! It's not for this that Charles II's illegitimate children are remembered so much. Charles showered the mistresses and their kids with wealth and titles while Catherine was forced to have one work in her bedchamber. The Catholic Catherine was repeatedly threatened by those conspiracy theorists.
This has earned Charles II the nickname of the "merry monarch" and the "playboy King" from historians. We are more likely to see things from Catherine's point of view. If Charles III wants to reflect glory from Charles II, he should be careful.
The King Charles spaniels were made famous by Charles II. He is allowed to stand too close to the girls.
Former politician Michael Portillo cosplaying as Charles II in 2008, complete with King Charles Spaniels. Credit: Nils Jorgensen / Shutterstock
James, Duke of York took over from his brother as James II and renamed it New York. When Charles II's illegitimate kids launched a rebellion, James had them executed and thousands more sent to the West Indies. I don't think it's a good idea for people to be free for a year.
When James and his Queen Mary had a son and heir three years into his reign, Protestant nobles invited power couple William and Mary, James' nephew and son in law, along with James' daughter, to take the throne. James left his army and went to France. The constitutional monarchy was created when parliament ruled that he'd abdicated. The power flowed through parliament.
The Battle of the Boyne ended James' reign.
Is that the end of the story? You are a great summer child. There was more to come. Northern Ireland still celebrates and curses the Boyne. James was exiled. James III of England tried his hand at a couple of Scottish rebellions but failed. His son was the one to make the decision.
If you're familiar with the series, you know what happened next. The old pretender James III's son, Charles Edward Stuart, traveled to Scotland to set up court on his father's behalf. Charles traveled with 6,000 men. At one of the most consequential battles of all time, the English finally caught up with him in 1746, after he turned back.
It wasn't close. In one hour, as many as 2,000 of Charles' men were dead or wounded. The government started cracking down on the clans that supported Charles. The Skye Boat Song is one of Scotland's greatest earworms, because Charles himself, the "lad born to be King," was hidden as a serving maid.
Charles was exiled to France, then Italy, and then married a German princess. The Pope and the kings of France and Spain wouldn't recognize Charles III after his father's death. Charles III would be to the remnants of the Jacobite rebellion. His great-grandfather was executed the day after he died.
We now have an actual Charles III, who would like to forget the pretend one. The new King can feel comforted by the fact that his reign has nowhere to go but up.
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