King Charles hosts a number of important people at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle. A few weeks ago he welcomed the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky. However, the latest person to grace the King’s presence appears to have been a controversial decision.
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King Charles met the President of the European Commission
On Monday, February 27, King Charles had an audience with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen at Windsor Castle.
This has caused some backlash from the public as well as political parties as it seems as though the King is involving himself in the country’s political issues. On the Royal Family Instagram, one user wrote:
Why is King Charles involving himself with political issues?
While another wrote:
I thought royals were politically neutral?
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King Charles accused of ‘politicising the Monarchy’
Sammy Wilson, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) spokesman has accused the King of taking sides in the Brexit dispute, mainly concerning the Northern Ireland deal, as reported by The Telegraph.
It is reported that the DUP is livid that the King met with von der Leyen. Talking on Chopper’s Politics podcast, Wilson said:
It’s a decision that the King will come to regret in the future.
He then explained that he is unsure whether or not this was pushed by the British Government or whether it was the King’s choice.
I don’t know whether it was his choice, or whether the Government persuaded him to do it, but I think it’s a very, very dangerous position for him to have taken.
King Charles’ reign in ‘jeopardy’?
Wilson also explained that this choice could put the ‘Monarchy in jeopardy’ as it seems as though he is involving himself in matters that he shouldn’t:
And he will put the Monarchy in jeopardy because people will simply see it as partisan rather than a national institution.
The DUP spokesman said that the party hasn’t ruled out lodging a complaint to the Palace concerning the audience.
We don’t want to drag the Palace into our politics either. We have more respect for the Monarchy than that. And we don’t expect the Monarch to take sides with us because we recognise that that is dangerous.
However, despite the backlash, Steve Barker, the Northern Ireland minister, was also a guest on the podcast defended King Charles that he was ‘sincere about Northern Ireland.’
And it might well be - and I’ve no inside knowledge - that the King knows perfectly well what risk he’s taken and that His Majesty has .... possibly chosen to take that risk because Northern Ireland is so dear to him
A spokesman for 10 Downing Street also released a statement explaining that King Charles has previously met a number of world leaders and this one ‘is no different.’
Sources used:
The Telegraph: ‘King Charles 'will regret' decision to take tea with EU chief’
