King Charles III is facing harsh criticism online after a viral video showed him shooing staff to clear his desk for him while he signed his accession proclamation on Saturday, September 10. Charles succeeded his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, after she died September 8 at the age of 96, ending her 70-year reign as Britain's longest reigning monarch.
The video garnered negative attention, particularly as many suggested that it did not bode well for what the British public can expect from Charles now that he's officially ascended to the throne.
The video shows Charles gesturing to a staff member to remove an inkwell before he sat down.
\u201c"The servant must clear my desk for me. I can't be expected to move things."\u201d— Laura Kuenssberg Translator (@Laura Kuenssberg Translator) 1662811455
He then smiled at the aide as he signed the proclamation.
\u201cWhile signing an oath at the Accession Council, King Charles III ran out of room and gestured for an aide to help make some space on the desk. https://t.co/zRfXNO1crQ\u201d— ABC News (@ABC News) 1662811308
Twitter users were less than impressed, remarking that his behavior was indicative of the attitude Charles will bring as he enters a new stage in his years of royal service, one he has been groomed for his entire life.
\u201cA little glimpse into the attitude of this ultra privileged mega billionaire who sits on stolen wealth treats those who serve him. If you want to find out someone's real character, watch how they treat those in service\u201d— Faint Signals from Vega \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8 (@Faint Signals from Vega \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8) 1662976659
\u201cPeasants\u2026 move this bloody thing! I am now your King! #NotMyKing\u201d— SneakyNikz\ud83e\udd21 (@SneakyNikz\ud83e\udd21) 1662893143
\u201cDAY 1\u2026.. let\u2019s see how this man child behaves come day 200!\u201d— SEBASTIAN K REDDY (@SEBASTIAN K REDDY) 1662981039
\u201cWhat a bad tempered, and grumpy old man. If he's like this when the world's cameras are on him, what's he like in private? Even when her husband passed, The Queen didn't show this sort of behavior #NotMyKing\u201d— Skye Sutherland \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc73\udb40\udc63\udb40\udc74\udb40\udc7f (@Skye Sutherland \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc73\udb40\udc63\udb40\udc74\udb40\udc7f) 1662906094
\u201cYeah he\u2019s letting this new gig get to his head\u201d— yenati. (@yenati.) 1662909749
\u201cGoodness he comes across rather poorly in this video. Not a great start, unfortunately.\u201d— Deepak Nambisan (@Deepak Nambisan) 1662935293
\u201cMy guillotine senses are tingling !\u201d— John Craft (@John Craft) 1662966691
\u201cHorrible little entitled man.\ud83d\udc4e\u201d— Tony Cowden \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc73\udb40\udc63\udb40\udc74\udb40\udc7f (@Tony Cowden \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc73\udb40\udc63\udb40\udc74\udb40\udc7f) 1662893514
The Queen's funeral procession is currently making its way through the United Kingdom per intrinsically detailed instructions outlined in Operation London Bridge, which includes the announcement of her death, the period of official mourning, and the details of her state funeral, which is slated for September 19.
In his first address to Parliament at Westminster Hall, Charles pledged to follow the late Queen's "selfless duty" and called Parliament the "living and breathing instrument of our democracy."
The newly-minted King said that when very young, his mother "pledged herself to serve her country and her people and to maintain the precious principles of constitutional government which lie at the heart of our nation" and said he had "resolved faithfully to follow."
Charles's address followed official condolences from members of both Houses of Parliament, which took place in the same hall where the Queen's body is scheduled to lie in state and expected to be visited by some 750,000 mourners.
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