Society

Without Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth, there would be no Commonwealth today at all. Long after the organisation had lost its charm for both British progressives, who increasingly saw it as an imperial hangover, and conservatives, dismissive of what they viewed as a grouping of ex-colonials asking for money and making awkward demands, the Queen carried on championing it, sometimes against her own British prime ministers. But it is impossible if not reckless to speak of a unified Commonwealth reaction to her death. The association’s motley members range from countries where the Queen was head of state, to former British colonies which have adopted other forms of government,

King Charles III gave us plenty to reflect on with his first speech last night. He spoke movingly about his mother, but also gave us an indication about how he sees his role and that of the monarchy – which will matter greatly as he starts to put his own mark on the royal family, its role and its limits in British public life. Six points jumped out at me. 1. He is against abdication Is this an option? In the last few years of her life, people wondered if the Queen’s failing health would lead to her abdication. Similarly, those concerned about Charles’s political meddling over the years have

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