Can Charles prove he's more than a CARETAKER KING?

Royal author Tom Bower looks at the biggest challenges facing the new monarch as his reign gets underway

- Tom Bower

The coronation was deemed a roaring success, but now the pomp and ceremony is over, it's time for King Charles III to show us what his reign will really be all about. As the oldest monarch ever to be crowned in the UK, he doesn't have much time to truly make his mark, so can he be a cavalier king remembered for great change and leadership, or will he be our caretaker king until William takes the helm?

He's been in the role for a matter of weeks, but Charles has more than a few serious pitfalls to navigate before he will be looked upon as a king who stands for modernisation. There's no doubt in my mind that, at the moment, he falls short of being the visionary monarch our country hankers after - though you can't help but spare a thought for him with the unenviable challenges he faces.

It's no secret that Charles doesn't have the same attraction as his mother did. She was just 25 years old when she inherited the crown, and had decades to make her mark. She gave her life to duty and put the monarchy, and her subjects, before everything. Having come to the throne at 73, Charles doesn't have time on his side.

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