He is often presented as the "
unloved
", and for good reason.
Before the death of his mother Elizabeth on September 8, Charles, then Prince of Wales, stagnated in 12th place in the royal family's popularity polls.
The British largely preferred his son William and his wife Kate, 40, who came in 3rd and 2nd position respectively, just behind the queen.
After the monarch's death, hashtags flourished on social media such as “
#NotMyKing
” (#PasMonRoi).
According to a poll published in May by YouGov, only 29% of 18-24 year olds felt Charles would do a good job as king.
Since then, the death of the queen seems to have changed the game.
In a recent poll, the heir to the throne suddenly gained 17 points among young people.
On the day of his public proclamation as king, solemn, unifying, accessible and visibly moved by the death of his "
dear mother
", Charles III was widely acclaimed by the public.
A new YouGov poll shows a sudden jump in popularity to 70%.
Only 10 points behind his son William.
A good omen for the new sovereign?
At 73, the one who has been preparing for the throne since his earliest childhood, already knows that he will not be able to match the length of his mother's reign.
Will he be able to reach his aura?
Already, the proportion of Britons wishing to keep the monarchy has increased by five points for ten days, to reach 67%, according to YouGov.
An angry character
Of a reserved nature, "
Plum Pudding
" or "
Charlie Boy
", depending on the nicknames granted, is little known to the general public.
His engagement with Lady Diana puts him in the center of the spotlight, but very quickly, the princess eclipses him.
It is said that the prince, often relegated to the background, would have been seized with jealousy at the success of his wife.
In his show Secrets d'histoire, Stéphane Bern reports that Charles refused to let her accompany him on a trip.
“
No, I don't want to!
They will only care about you!
“, he would have replied to Diana, according to comments reported by his former bodyguard.
Read alsoCharles III: what Elizabeth II leaves as a legacy
And then there's his secret affair with Camilla.
When the press discloses wiretaps dating from 1989, where Prince Charles and his first love make salacious remarks, the image of the royal family is tarnished in the eyes of the British.
In 2005, the announcement of the remarriage of Charles with Camilla is badly received.
70% of Britons disapprove of the idea, according to a spontaneous Sky News poll.
Moreover, several biographers have painted an unattractive portrait of the eldest of the Windsor house.
Bee Wilson, a journalist with
The Guardian
, calls him "
debauched
", " hot-
tempered
", "
autocratic and selfish
".
Sally Bedell Smith, author of
Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life (2017)
, evokes a man "
naive and full of resentment
", "
a wacky snob (...) intolerant of opinions contrary to his own
".
As for his ex-butler Paul Burrell, he describes a “
pampered prince
”, assisted, even with pajamas and ironed shoelaces every morning.
Activist and avant-garde
Over the years, however, the heir manages to regain the trust of his people, in particular through his commitments.
President or benefactor of more than 420 associations, Charles has notably worked with the Prince's Trust to help two million young people in difficulty.
Its ecological commitment, in particular, speaks to young people.
"
He may be old fashioned in some respects, but his record is remarkable
," royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told AFP, who assures that Charles is becoming "
tremendously respected for his work with associations
."
"
He's an activist
," said Michel Faure, author in 2021 of a biography in French of King Charles III.
“
He has ideas, wants to make them known, and persuade his subjects that they are amazing
”.
As of August 2021, Charles is 54% in favor according to a YouGov poll.
Still far behind the Queen (80%), Prince William (78%) his daughter-in-law Kate Middleton (75%) or her sister Princess Anne (65%).
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall since their marriage, peaks at 43%.
In the immense wave of collective emotion since the death of the 96-year-old queen, the proximity and simplicity of the new sovereign have visibly touched the British.
Now, 63% think he will make a good king, and only 15% believe the opposite.
In May, they were at 32% against 32%, with 35% undecided.