Thoughts and Observations

Yes, this is another article about King Charles, but it is also about me, so as it sounds like a somewhat presumptuous title, let me explain. King Charles was born on the 14th of November 1948, and I was born 24 days later. His birth was front-page news; in contrast, mine was an embarrassment to all concerned and while I could not be swept under the carpet, news of my birth was.

 

I have never met King Charles and I am pretty sure he has never even heard of me. I am not part of the “Good and the Great” but more part of the “Good (I hope) and the Mediocre (probably)”. Despite this, I feel that we have grown up together because our ages are so similar. We have experienced the challenges and depravations of post-war Britain; the emergence of rock and roll in the 50s; the embracing of youth culture in the 60s; political and union upheaval in the 70s; the Thatcherism of the 80s; the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the 90s; New Labour of the 00s; Brexit of the 10s; and the pandemic of the 20s.

 

I realise fully that our experiences may not match exactly, but I thank my parents every day for not sending me to Gordonstoun. Reading reports of life as a student, I would have cried a lot and died early: although most from that community, including Charles, felt it was a positive experience.

 

One significant difference between King Charles and myself is that I have never drunk Cherry Brandy as he did at 14. It may be a class thing, but at that age, my Dad used to pass me the odd pint of mild as I stood outside the Blind Beggar Pub. A pub once owned by Bobby Moore, the only person of note that came from my Secondary School.

 

Another factor in common is that while he was the first British heir apparent to earn a University degree, I was the first in my family’s history to earn a degree, but at the other place. One significant difference, however, is that I never suffered the press and public humiliation he faced about his “talking to plants” and his love of conservation and organic farming. He has been vindicated and how prescient his views and beliefs have become. It says much for the man that I have never heard him say, “I told you so”. Instead, he has led by example at Highgrove, which has a most glorious stumpery that his father found hideous but is well worth a visit; The Prince’s Foundation at Dumfries House; his farms and many other examples.  

 

Like King Charles lll, his mother has been part of my life. I was born, lived, and raised in London and for the people and families where I lived, Queen Elizabeth ll was a figure of stability and continuity. She was the one constant that could be relied upon not to change while the world around seemed to go from one crisis to the next. When she sadly died, the response by so many people to show respect and love for her and her memory must have made many a politician feel like a fraud and envious of the regard in which she was and is still held.

 

Rather like our different opinions of Gordonstoun, if at the age of 74, I had to suddenly start to work incredibly hard as King Charles lll and Camilla have done, I would have failed. He has not, and neither has she. I shall be watching the coronation and toasting God save the King. I wish him and her a long and happy reign.