A New Era: Everything That’s Going To Happen Now That the Queen’s Impressive Reign Is Over

On September 8, 2022, the world was rocked by some devastating news. At 96 years old, Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully with her family by her side, and her reign came to an end. And while royalists across the globe knew that she had reached a grand old age and lived an impressive life, her death still came as a shock. After all, she had been a constant in an ever-changing world.

Image: TODAY

Upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II, her eldest son Prince Charles succeeded the throne, becoming King Charles III. Now the Elizabethan era is over, however, people have questions. What will happen to the other royals now? What changes will King Charles make? And who takes over the Queen’s unusual possessions and duties? Well, this is everything that will happen now that the Queen’s impressive reign is over.

The Queen’s Beloved Corgis Will Go to a New Home

Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral was watched by four billion people across the globe, but it was also watched by two adorable corgis. Seeing the Queen’s beloved dogs Sandy and Muick waiting for her coffin to arrive at Windsor Castle left many viewers with a lump in their throats, as they knew how much the corgis meant to Her Majesty. In fact, she owned 30 corgis over the course of her 70-year reign, and spent every morning with them, with an Earl Grey tea and a biscuit in bed.

Images: E! Online (left) and People (right)

So, who will look after her corgis now that she has passed? Well, it has now been confirmed that Sandy and Muick will go back into the possession of the people who bought them in the first place. That’s because these two adorable dogs were gifted to the Queen by princesses Eugenie and Beatrice back in 2021. It’s now down to Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson, Eugenie, and Beatrice to take over the reigns… or the leads.

The Distribution of Jewelry Might Bypass Meghan Markle

When it comes to the late Queen’s belongings, they have to be divided. That’s because some were her own personal belongings, while others belonged to the state. This was the case with her jewelry, as many of her more expensive pieces belong to the crown and will therefore be passed onto King Charles. However, Queen Elizabeth II also had a huge personal jewelry collection, and that now needs to be distributed.

Image: Showbiz Cheat Sheet

It’s likely that this jewelry will be divided amongst the royal women, but Meghan might not get a look-see. Royal expert Katie Nicholl has stated that “There is a hierarchy in all of this. The Queen Consort, really, gets first choice of the queen’s jewelry. And after that is Princess of Wales, of course, Kate Middleton.”: She also noted that Meghan was “much further down the pecking order.”

All Eyes Will Be on the New King-in-Waiting, Prince William

Prince Harry has always been deemed the “royal rebel,” and that’s because he could be. As the youngest son of King Charles, he had the freedom and the flexibility that Prince William did not. Now that their father is the king, William will have even more prying eyes boring into his back. That’s because he’s officially the king-in-waiting.

Image: Vogue

As King Charles assumed the throne at 73 years old, it’s clear that William won’t have to wait as long as his father to succeed him. Because of this, “there will be a lot of public interest in William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and how William will be preparing to eventually assume the throne.” It’s believed that he will take on even more duties, and soon be formally named the Prince of Wales.

Kate Middleton Will Take Over From Princess Diana

Despite the fact that she doesn’t have royal blood running through her veins, Kate Middleton is one of the most senior members of the Royal Family. As the wife of Prince William, she’s always had to be on her best behavior as one day she’ll become Queen Consort. Until then, though, she’s actually taken over from the late Princess Diana.

Images: The New York Post

Upon the succession of King Charles III, Kate’s husband immediately became the Prince of Wales. That also makes Kate the Princess of Wales – the first one since Princess Diana held the title. This title change has now even made its way to Instagram, with William and Kate now going by “The Prince and Princess of Wales” on their social media handles.

King Charles Can Finally Ditch His Passport

The person who sits on the throne also becomes the reigning monarch of countless Commonwealth nations. This means that the king or queen is required to embark on trips across the globe on a regular basis. And when she was younger, Queen Elizabeth II often spent months of her life away from the UK on royal tours and trips. But one thing you might not know is that she didn’t need a passport.

Images: CN Traveler (left) and Business Insider (right)

This means that King Charles no longer needs a passport himself. That’s because the British passport is actually issued in the name of the ruling monarch. When Queen Elizabeth II was on the throne, it was issued in the name of Her Majesty – making it unnecessary for her to have a passport in the name of herself. Now, they will be issued in the name of His Majesty.

Princess Beatrice Has Been Given a Surprising New Role

Although they are the granddaughters of the former Queen, Princess Beatrice and her sister Princess Eugenie have rarely taken on key royal roles. They were born fifth and sixth in line to the throne, but with each new addition from Princes William and Harry they have been pushed further down the pecking order. Because of this, Beatrice found herself a normal 9-5 job within a tech company – but now she’s been given a surprising new role.

Image:

Upon the succession of King Charles III, Princess Beatrice was promoted to Counsellor of State. This is a senior position within the Royal Family that is normally limited to the first four in the line of succession, but certain rules have been lifted to give Beatrice this role. As part of this new responsibility, Beatrice must be expected to represent the King for official duties at a moment’s notice.

The National Anthem Has Seen a Small but Very Important Change

Most nation states around the world have their own national anthem. The United States has the “Star-Spangled Banner,’ those in Canada sing “O Canada,” and “Advance Australia Fair” can be heard Down Under. For the past 70 years, those in the United Kingdom have sung “God Save the Queen” in honor of Queen Elizabeth II. Now that Charles is king, however, that song will have to change.

Image: Cosmopolitan

This small but very important change sees the word “queen” substituted for “king” to represent the new monarch, and this is something that came into immediate effect as soon as Queen Elizabeth II passed away. In fact, the royal family’s official website states that the “words are a matter of tradition… substituting ‘Queen’ for ‘King’ where appropriate.”

Charles May Ban Archie and Lilibet From Being Prince and Princess

As the grandchildren of the king, Prince Harry and Meghan’s children should technically become prince and princess. Unfortunately, the royal rift between Harry and the rest of his family – and the fact that Harry decided to step back from his own role as a prince – means that they might not get that privilege after all. At the time of writing, Charles is waiting on a very important turn of events to make his decision.

Image: People

King Charles is reportedly waiting to see how controversial Prince Harry and Meghan’s latest business ventures prove to be. A source close to the king told Vanity Fair that “It depends a lot on what happens in the coming months, particularly with Harry’s book and their TV show.” Harry’s book was supposed to be published in December 2022, but he has since delayed the release out of respect for his late grandmother.

King Charles Will Debut His Brand New Cypher

There are certain things that come part and parcel of being a monarch, and having a royal cypher is one of them. This is essentially a fancy monogram that represents the sovereign, and normally features the initials of the monarch with a crown above it. The late Queen Elizabeth II’s cypher was “EIIR”, for Elizabeth II Regina – representing her first name and the Latin word for “queen.”

Images: Daily Mail

King Charles appeared to showcase his own brand new cypher on a tie pin during his proclamation shortly after his mother’s death, which featured the letters CR intertwined with a crown on top. It’s not known whether he will also go by CIIIR, but we’ll be able to see for ourselves when the King’s guards’ uniforms, post boxes around the UK, and government signage are adorned with this new cypher.

Famous Castles and Palaces Might Be Turned Into Museums

It’s no secret that King Charles has plans to shake things up. He wants to make changes within the monarchy and with how the Royal Family presents itself and its assets, and apparently, that might start with their real estate portfolio. He reportedly has big plans when it comes to Buckingham Palace and Balmoral Castle, as he hopes to turn both of these residences into museums.

Images: The Independent (top) and Bloomberg (bottom)

At the moment, the 52-room Buckingham Palace is kept largely at the royal family’s disposal. They have free reign of the palace and have oodles of space, but King Charles allegedly has plans to turn the palace into a single apartment for his own use. A royal source stated that the new-look residence “will be a much more modest flat-above-the-sip situation akin to that of the prime minister at Downing Street.” The rest will be turned into a museum for the public to peruse.

Prince Harry and Meghan’s Titles Will Not Change After All

Prince Harry and Meghan have certainly caused a stir over the years. From rebelling against the royal family to actually renouncing their duties and stepping back as official members, they have reportedly caused major rifts between the family. However, many hoped that things would change when Harry’s father became king.

Image: The Sun

It has now been confirmed, though, that Harry and Meghan will not be stepping back into the royal spotlight. Their tiles won’t even change, despite the fact that Harry has moved up the line of succession. It seems as though the rift between Harry and his father hasn’t been fixed, and the prince even told Oprah in 2021 that “there’s a lot of hurt that’s happened” in their family.

The Queen’s Beloved Horses Will Be Passed Down the Family

While Queen Elizabeth II took her role as Head of State extremely seriously, her favorite way to unwind was to surround herself with nature. She preferred the quiet seclusion of Balmoral, her dogs, or her stables to the hectic scenes at Buckingham Palace, and she was particularly fond of her horses. In fact, she owned more than 100 horses – including many racehorses that won her a huge chunk of money.

Images: Tatler (left) and People (right)

When the Queen’s beloved horse Emma appeared at her funeral, many wondered what would happen to the animals as she was no longer there to look after them. And while it hasn’t been confirmed yet, it’s likely that these horses will be passed onto fellow horse-lovers in the family. This will probably be her daughter, Princess Anne, and Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall. Both were Olympic equestrians in their youth, and both are devoted horse lovers.

Prince George’s Training Will Amp Up

Now that Prince William is second in line to the throne, that means his eldest son George is the third in line. And while he’s only nine years old, it’s highly likely that he will one day become king himself. Of course, being a king requires intense training – and now George has moved up the pecking order it’s believed that his king training will amp up dramatically.

Image: Glamour

George is already used to making public appearances, charity work, and public speaking, but it seems as though his parents will now have an even bigger task on their hands. They will have to try and find the balance between letting their son have a relatively normal childhood and teaching him everything he needs to know about being king. It’s not known what this will entail, though.

Charles Will Probably Be a More Outspoken Monarch

Long gone are the days when the Royal Family can order criminals to be hung, drawn, and quartered. Today’s monarchy no longer has a role in the country’s politics, and it’s the role of the sovereign to keep their political beliefs to themselves. And while Queen Elizabeth II managed to fulfill this duty with ease, royal sources believe that King Charles will find it difficult to keep his opinions to himself.

Images: The Times (top) and Birmingham Live (bottom)

As prince, Charles was extremely outspoken, but in 2018 he did acknowledge that he would have to change his ways. He told the BBC that: “The idea, somehow, that I’m going to go on in exactly the same way if I have to succeed, is complete nonsense.” However, some believe that he has already started off on the wrong foot, as seen when the king expressed frustration at a leaky fountain pen during a signing ceremony in Northern Ireland.

Camilla Parker-Bowles Will Officially Become Queen Consort

The love story of King Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles has certainly been a scandalous one. From their early romance to their rumored affair and their later marriage, their relationship hasn’t always gone down well with royal fans – especially as Princess Diana was often stuck in the middle. Nevertheless, the couple has now been happily married since 2005, meaning Camilla now has a new role.

Image: The Independent

Although questions were raised as to whether Camilla would be allowed to become Queen Consort due to their rumored past infidelities and the fact that she wasn’t born into the monarchy, the late Queen made sure that Camilla was given this promotion. In fact, Queen Elizabeth II released a statement on the eve of her Platinum Jubilee stating that Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.”

New Currency and Stamps Will Have To Be Printed

Anyone who has been to Great Britain will be family with the late Queen Elizabeth’s face. It’s printed on the currency and it can be found on stamps, and the monarch has been on these staples in British life since she succeeded her father on the throne. But now the Queen has sadly passed away, new currency and stamps will need to be printed, and they shall need to instead bear the face of the new king.

Image: The Brittania Coin Company

While the official design for coins, bank notes, and stamps has yet to be released, we do know that his image will follow royal tradition. This tradition states that monarchs should be represented in the opposite direction to their predecessor. This means that King Charles’ face will face left, rather than the right. This will also be a gradual process, with the late Queen’s currency and stamps being phased out over the course of a few years.

Prince William Has Inherited Some New Royal Titles and Roles

Unless he chooses to abdicate the throne, Prince William will eventually become king himself. And while there’s no doubt about the fact that he will continue to undergo training for when he eventually takes the throne, his role as prince has also amped up. He’s inherited some new royal titles and roles, making him now the Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.

Image: Harper’s Bazaar

However, his most important new role is as the Duchy of Cornwall. This role was previously held by King Charles, meaning that Prince William is now in charge of managing the royal family’s land holdings in England. In 2021 alone, the duchy received a surplus of £23 million, which goes back into the royal family to fund the official offices of acting royals.

All Eyes Will Be on the “Fab Four” for a Potential Reconciliation

Nothing brings a family together quite like a death, as devastating as it may be. Because of this, many royal fans across the world are hoping that the passing of Queen Elizabeth II will see Prince Harry, his brother, and their wives come together again. They were previously dubbed the “Fab Four,” but rifts in the family tore them apart and left them estranged.

Image: Vox

Now that Harry’s brother is set to become king in the near future, many are wondering whether they will address their rift and come back together for the sake of the monarchy. However, fans aren’t holding their breaths. In their scandalous tell-all interview with Oprah, Harry told the talk show host that he was not talking to his brother and that they were on “different paths.”

King Charles Will Now Be the Recipient of the Sovereign Grant

Being a member of the royal family means that you are born into a full-time job, whether you like it or not. Of course, royals in the past have decided to quit their jobs and opt for a more normal life, but those who have stayed have been able to reap the benefits of a peculiar royal salary. The monarch, for example, is the recipient of the Sovereign Grant.

Image: Forbes

Instead of receiving a salary like most workers around the globe, King Charles III will receive a large sum of money from the government to pay for his travel, security, household staff, and the maintenance of the royal palace. In 2021, Queen Elizabeth II’s sovereign grant amounted to a whopping £85.9 million, which is around $96 million.

The Queen’s Swans and Dolphins Will Be Passed Down

King Charles III inherited a huge responsibility from his mother in the form of the throne, but this isn’t all that he has to deal with. Since the 12th century, the swans and dolphins in the waters of the United Kingdom have been the property of the reigning monarch, which means that King Charles is now the owner of around 32,000 swans and even more dolphins.

Images: Town & Country (left) and The New York Times (right)

This move was made over 800 years ago to preserve the number of swans and dolphins in the UK, and the tradition has been held ever since. Of course, King Charles probably won’t have an active role in keeping these animals safe, but he will have to continue paying for the officially-appointed Swan Marker. Currently, that role is held by David Barber (pictured right) who has worked as the royal swan marker for almost 30 years.

The Will of the Late Queen Will Be Sealed for 90 Years

A will is a legal document that outlines the distribution of your assets after your death, and just like ordinary people, members of the royal family make sure to have an up-to-date will at all times. But unlike normal people, Queen Elizabeth II’s will cannot be made public – even if probate is requested. That’s because royal tradition states that a monarch’s will be sealed and locked for at least 90 years.

Image: Good Morning America

The tradition of sealing royal wills dates back to 1910 when Prince Francis of Teck passed away, and it’s now noted that there are over 30 locked and sealed royal wills kept in a safe in an undisclosed location in London, under the care of a judge. And while Queen Elizabeth’s family will be made aware of her wishes, the distribution of her personal assets will not be revealed for almost a century.

King Charles III Will Be Given an Extra Birthday

King Charles III was actually born on November 14, 1948, but now that he’s taken over the throne, he will actually be able to celebrate his birthday on another day. For the past 250 years, the royal custom has dictated that the monarch should also celebrate a summer birthday as well as a winter birthday. This was put in place by King George II, who didn’t want his November birthday to dampen his desire to celebrate in the sunshine.

Images: Vanity Fair (left) and Vogue (right)

King Charles’ summer birthday will obviously be a ceremonial birthday rather than an official one. But as this second royal birthday is normally on the second Saturday of June, it’s believed that this second set of celebrations will take place on June 10. This has yet to be confirmed, but we have a feeling that Charles will enjoy blowing out his candles twice in one year.

The King’s Coronation Won’t Be Full of Pomp and Circumstance

Although we already know that King Charles is now the current reigning monarch, he hasn’t been sworn in as king just yet. His coronation will make the whole thing official, and this event has been dubbed “Operation Golden Orb.” It’s reported that this coronation will take place sometime in 2023, but it’s also been suggested that Charles will do things differently from his late mother.

Image: Tatler

Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation was an impressive affair, with over 8,000 guests from over 129 nations in attendance. However, in light of the current cost of living crisis in the UK, Charles will reportedly have a much smaller affair of just 2,000 people, and it won’t be quite as full of pomp and circumstance as the late queen’s. This decision will likely go down well with the general public, considering this event will come out of the public purse.

Harry and Meghan Have Already Been Publicly Demoted

We already knew that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s places within the Royal Family had taken a tumble even before Queen Elizabeth II passed away. And while they ultimately chose to take a step back from those at the forefront of “The Firm,” King Charles has since made it very clear where he thinks this couple stands in the pecking order.

Image: Refinery29

In the weeks following the Queen’s death, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their respective pictures were pushed to the bottom of the Royal Family’s website. This was a conscious decision by those working behind the scenes of the family, and one that King Charles most likely had to sign off on. Many see this internet demotion to signify their demotion in real life.

King Charles Will Have To Move House

Despite the fact that King Charles and the Royal Family have a huge real estate portfolio of impressive palaces and grand houses, he seems to have found solace in Clarence House. Although Charles lived in Kensington Palace with Princess Diana and then moved to York House in St. James’ Palace after their divorce, he moved to Clarence House in 2003 and has been there ever since.

Image: Home & Garden

Clarence House continued to be his primary residence when he married Camilla, and they have both built an incredible life for themselves there. However, King Charles will now have to move as the newest monarch. That’s because tradition states that a king or queen’s primary residence should be Buckingham Palace. It’s suggested that he will still keep Clarence House as a home away from home, though.

Kate and William Will Need Extra Help To Look After the Kids

Now that Prince William is first in line to the throne, he and his wife will be busier than ever. Their royal schedules will be chock full of engagements, tours, and events – and this means that they have less time for their kids. And while Kate and William have always been praised for being hands-on with Goerge, Charlotte, and Louis, it seems as though they may have to step back and ask for help.

Images: The Sun (left) and Examiner Live (right)

At the moment, the kids are looked after by their nanny, and she and the couple have been praised for how George and Charlotte conduct themselves in such a mature manner. However, Prince Louis is proving to be more difficult, and in September 2022 Kate and William confirmed to a member of the public at a charity event that “We’re looking for a babysitter.” After all, they can’t do everything themselves.

Meghan Markle Will Likely Be Left Out of the Queen’s Will

Although the will of the late Queen Elizabeth II will be sealed to the public for almost a century, the Royal Family itself will be privy to its contents. The Queen’s personal belongings and assets will then be passed down accordingly, but it’s been suggested that the late monarch’s granddaughter-in-law Meghan Markle won’t get a look-see. That’s because royal experts believe that Meghan has been left out of the will entirely.

Image: Metro UK

In fact, a source close to the family told Radar Online suggested that this decision would either be out of “practicality” or one that was destined to send a message. They told the publication that “Others say it would be the Queen sending a message to Meghan and Harry: You reap what you sow.” However, it has been suggested that Kate Middleton may pass some of her inheritance onto Meghan’s daughter Lilibet.

The Queen’s Clothes May Have Already Been Given Away

While most people regarded Queen Elizabeth II as a strong and reliable monarch, there’s no doubt about the fact that she was also considered to be a style icon with an impressive closet. One question many fans are asking is where her clothes will go now that she’s passed away, and it seems as though they may have already been given away.

Image: The Telegraph

For years, Queen Elizabeth II enlisted the help of her personal dresser Angela Kelly, and a royal chronicler once told the Daily Mail that “When the Queen tires of a once favorite outfit, she hands it to one of her dressers, who may wear it herself or sell it – with the proviso that all labels are removed so it cannot be identified.” So, it’s unlikely that these clothes will be passed down to Camilla, Kate, or Meghan.

King Charles Will Inherit a Billion-Dollar Real Estate Portfolio

While there are certainly downsides to being born into royalty, there’s no doubt about the fact that there are some serious positives – especially in terms of money. Now that he’s king, Charles has the pleasure of inheriting a billion-dollar real estate. But one thing to note is that he does not personally inherit these properties. Instead, he inherits them as part of the Crown Estate.

It’s believed that the Crown Estate comprises around £24 billion (around $26 billion) of real estate, and includes Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, Ascot Racecourse, Regent Street, and so much more. This portfolio is actually managed by a semi-independent public board, which means that King Charles himself will only receive around 15% of the profits from these properties.

Meghan and Harry Will Continue To Pay for Their Security

One major takeaway from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey was that the couple were forced to pay for their own security when they stepped down as working members of the royal family. Previously, this was paid for by the family – but when they left, they had to pay themselves. Many wondered whether King Charles would offer to pay for this service again when he assumed the throne, but he ultimately decided against it.

Image: The Sun

Because of this, Meghan and Harry will have to continue paying around $2 to $3 million a year for around-the-clock protection – but their recent security choice has raised eyebrows. That’s because the couple recently hired a disgraced former Metropolitan police offer by the name of Pere Daobry, who was previously been convicted of strangling his wife in 2016.

A Brotherly Feud Means That Andrew Won’t Get a Royal Wage

Prince Andrew was often dubbed to be Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite child, but there’s no doubt about the fact that this relationship was called into question following his out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre, a woman who had accused him of sexual abuse. While the queen was still alive, Andrew stepped back as a working royal – but his mother still allowed him a working royal wage. This may change now, though.

Image: Cosmopolitan

According to reports, Andrew and King Charles have never been close, and have been embroiled in numerous feuds over the years. Because of this, it’s been suggested that Charles will not only take away his royal wage but that he also might kick Andrew out of his $30 million Royal Lodge in Windsor. This would leave him with just a £20,000 annual pension from the Royal Navy.

The Queen’s Council Will Have To Change Its Name

As well as having swans, ponies, and a huge real estate portfolio under her belt, the late Queen Elizabeth II also had her own set of barristers and solicitors in Her Majesty’s Council. She personally chose these people as part of her Queen’s Council (QC), and these people all had their own business cards and stationery reflecting this honor. Of course, now that’s all going to have to change.

Image: Express and Star

Upon the Queen’s death, the Queen’s Council has had to be renamed the King’s Council (KC). This means that King Charles is now in charge of these lawyers, and it’s down to him to add or remove any of these barristers or solicitors as he sees fit. This also means that all of the business cards and stationery will need to be reprinted.