CHARLES PRESIDES OVER OPENING OF PARLIAMENT
Prince Charles, Britain’s longest-waiting king-in-waiting, got a moment in the spotlight Tuesday, filling in for his mother at the ceremonial State Opening of Parliament.
As he presided for the first time over the House of Lords, it was possible to glimpse what he might be like as king — someday.
But as Charles, 73, read out the Queen’s Speech on his mother’s behalf, it was also clear that day is not yet here.
Wearing full royal regalia, Charles arrived by Rolls-Royce and passed through the Sovereign’s Entrance. But he did not sit on the elaborately carved and gilded Sovereign’s Throne.
Instead, he used the Consort’s Throne, which is similar but an inch shorter.
With Charles delivering the speech — actually written by the government, outlining its priorities for the year — the phrase “my government” had to be changed to “Her Majesty’s government,” to be repeated over and over again.
The presence of Charles and his eldest son, Prince William, in the House of Lords was a striking visual symbol of an ongoing transition of power. The queen, 96, has scaled back her activities and gradually delegated more duties to Charles and other senior royals.