Cover news reporter Su Yu intern Zhou Xin
Buckingham Palace in London, England, lowered its flags to half-mast.
On 8 September, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom died at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, at the age of 96, and was succeeded by her eldest son Charles. Elizabeth II reigned for 70 years, witnessed the change of world politics, her life has been called "contemporary British history", and the new British Prime Minister Teres called her "the cornerstone of modern Britain".
Elizabeth II. Image source: Xinhua News Agency
Elizabeth II was born in London on 21 April 1926. In 1952, at the age of 25, she became Queen. At that time her father, King George VI, died. During her reign, she witnessed 15 British prime ministers. The first was Churchill, and the most recent was the newly appointed Terrass. In 2015, she became the longest-reigning British monarch in history, breaking the record set by Queen Victoria. British media reported that a period of national mourning had begun and that the funeral was expected to take place 10 days after the Queen's death.
Zhou Hong, a member of the Faculty of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and director of the Faculty of International Studies, said in an exclusive interview with the cover news that Elizabeth II has always been known for her peaceful image in the world and has helped the British government maintain social stability. As her era came to an end, uncertainty increased in the British political system and society.
The Flag of the British Embassy in Beijing was lowered at half-mast. Cover news reporter Feng Rui photography
What test does the constitutional monarchy face for more than three centuries?
Charles was the longest reigning heir to the throne in British history, lasting 64 years.
Charles said in a statement that "we deeply mourn the passing away of a monarch and a beloved mother".
On 10 May this year, Charles gave his first speech in place of the Queen at the opening ceremony of Parliament. At the time, Elizabeth II was unable to speak due to an "intermittent mobility disorder", the first time the Queen had been absent in nearly 60 years. According to reports, the speech is one of the most important symbolic duties of the British monarch and the core content of the opening ceremony of the parliament.
"After the death of Elizabeth II, whether the British monarchy can still 'hold on', and whether the royal family can cope with these shocks and upheavals in the future, this is the biggest uncertainty." Zhou Hong said that in the world's questioning of constitutional monarchy and the transition to a republican system, the British people still maintain reverence for the monarch because of Elizabeth II's dedication, but after Elizabeth II's departure, the constitutional monarchy that has lasted in Britain for more than three centuries is facing a certain test.
Charles and his wife Camilla. Image source: Xinhua News Agency
How did Charles, who was plagued by "scandals", gain popular support?
Charles married Diana in 1981, and the two had Prince William and Prince Harry, but their marriage later reached an impasse. In August 1996, Charles and Diana divorced. A year later, Diana died in a car accident in Paris. Diana's death became one of the biggest crises facing the British royal family. Diana is deeply loved by the British people and has a high popularity all over the world. A survey of 2,055 British citizens by the survey body Ipsos in March showed that 42 per cent of respondents believed charles should give way to Prince William.
In addition, Charles has been accused of interfering in politics many times. For example, in June this year, britain's plan to deport illegal immigrants to Rwanda caused international discussion, and Charles privately expressed his opposition to this policy, which triggered the controversy of "royal interference". Clarence Palace later said Charles remained "politically neutral."
Zhou Hong said that compared with his mother Elizabeth II, Charles's support and liking in the British folk are low. Charles has been plagued by negative press, which is directly related to his controversial personal life. Cohesion within the crown would weaken somewhat after elizabeth II's death. If the situation in the world is stable, with Charles's political experience, there is not much problem for him to inherit, and if there is social unrest, the consequences are difficult to predict.
Notice of Elizabeth II's death was placed above the gates of Buckingham Palace. Image source: Xinhua News Agency
How can a "Commonwealth" without a queen be sustained?
After the loss of the Queen, the fate of the Commonwealth has attracted much attention. After World War II, especially after becoming Queen in 1953, Elizabeth II became the head of state of the United Kingdom and the 15 commonwealth kingdoms, and became a spiritual link between all Britons. Currently, the Commonwealth consists of 56 independent sovereign states (including vassals), most of whom are former British colonies or protectorates. Today, 15 countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, are still headed by the British monarch. But in recent years, some Commonwealth countries have wanted to leave the monarchy, such as last November, when Barbados declared itself a "republic".
During this year's celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne, Australian Governor-General David Hurley said that the Australian people gave Elizabeth II a lot of "emotional support", but after the Queen's death, the situation may change. "I think there's a lot of attention to the Queen right now, but when she's gone, when she's gone, and a successor comes along, There's going to be a new discussion in Australia."
In June, Prince Charles told the leaders of commonwealth countries that it was up to the commonwealth members to decide whether Elizabeth II would be the head of state or to move towards a "republic". He said countries could make changes calmly without any hostility.
Zhou Hong said that commonwealth countries have been following their own path in recent years, and the UK does not have much influence on the essence of member states. While some countries are seeking to move away from the British monarchy and toward a republic, and are less likely to change as a result of Elizabeth II's death, the vacillations and patterns within the Commonwealth will change.
Where will the new Prime Minister Traus take Britain?
At present, the UK is mired in soaring energy prices, dismal markets, strikes and a recession in Europe. The British Chamber of Commerce predicts inflation will reach 14% this winter. With the pound plummeting, inflation soaring, deficits spiralling, central bank tightening, and the UK is facing a "Southeast Asian-style financial crisis."
While new Prime Minister Tras has promised to prioritize economic growth, the energy crisis and improved health care as a result of taking office. For example, through tax cuts and reforms to promote economic growth, ensure access to the national health system services, and will take action this week to deal with the energy bill and secure future energy supply, but it is still unknown whether it will be successful in cleaning up the economic "mess". Some analysts are skeptical that Tras's tax cuts will help the public.
A survey by a British pollster late last month showed that only 12 percent of respondents thought Terrass would be a "good prime minister," and more than half thought she would be "terrible." After the psychosocial impact of economic shocks, social problems may emerge and erupt after the departure of the Queen, beloved by the British.
Zhou Hong believes that the British government has entered an "eventful autumn" and Terrass has not made achievements in important aspects at present. In addition, diplomatically, she has spoken fiercely on many issues. If we continue to polarize, the risks will also rise. The UK has undergone tremendous social, political and economic changes over the past 70 years, but Elizabeth II has been a sign of national stability and has helped the government maintain social stability. With the end of the Queen's era, uncertainty has increased in the British political system and society.
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