Seventy years have passed since Britain last held a royal coronation. But, with polls suggesting public support for the monarchy is at a historic low, Charles’s big day this weekend comes at a moment when Britain feels more generationally divided than ever.
At 74, Charles is the oldest person ever to be crowned as a new British king. Opinion polls suggest 78% of the nation’s over-65s still strongly support the monarchy. But, in the 18-24 age bracket, enthusiasm dips to just 32%.
As Jonathan Freedland argues in an essay for our cover story this week, the new king faces an uphill challenge to establish his own legacy in the shadow of his mother, Elizabeth II, “who, even the staunchest republicans had to admit, barely put a foot wrong over seven decades”. Can he really offer a compelling vision to reunite the realm, and should he even try? It may be that his best hope is simply to lay the foundations for the next generation.
For an outside perspective, Tess McClure and Leyland Cecco report from New Zealand and Canada, where some residual fondness for the monarchy remains, but an air of general indifference also sums up many of the wider challenges facing the crown.
A calm before the storm has been felt in Ukraine ahead of a widely expected counter-offensive on the frontline with Russia. Emma Graham-Harrison and Artem Mazhulin report on a critical moment looming for the country and the war.
There are two fascinating long reads on our features pages. Tobias Jones explores the financial mire engulfing Italian football giants Juventus. Then, from the US, Sara Sneath and Oliver Laughland meet the cleanup workers who are still pursuing BP for damages related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Culture has a heartfelt interview with the multi-talented entertainer and composer Tim Minchin, who tells Tom Lamont about bringing his musical Groundhog Day to London for a second time. And there’s a look behind the growing trend for remaking video games into TV and film.
Get the Guardian Weekly magazine delivered to your home address
