Changes

In 2014, the stage play ''King Charles III'', written by playwright Mike Bartlett in [[Iambic pentameter|blank verse]], addressed this issue of "royal conscience".<ref>{{cite news |last=Billington |first=Michael |date=April 11, 2014 |title=King Charles III – a flawed premise but royally entertaining |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/apr/11/king-charles-3-flawed-premise-royally-entertaining |work=The Guardian |location=London|accessdate=August 26, 2017}}</ref> The play is set in the near future, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession to the throne by [[Prince Charles|The Prince of Wales]] as King Charles III. When asked to give royal assent to a bill which will give the government greater powers to "gag" the media — and also make it effectively impossible for the media to report on government corruption and abuse of power — Charles refuses.<ref>{{cite news |last=Curtis |first=Nick |date=3 April, 2014|title=What would happen if Prince Charles was made king? |url=http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/what-would-happen-if-prince-charles-was-made-king-9234812.html |work=London Evening Standard|location= London|accessdate=August 26, 2017}}</ref> When the government counters by saying it will create a new law which will remove the necessity for royal assent, Charles responds by dissolving Parliament — a parallel to his forebear [[Charles I]], who, in the 17th century, disagreed with Parliament about the royal prerogative and the king's right to rule as an [[Monarchy|absolute monarch]], governing according to his personal conscience rather than accepting the democratic will of the people. For Charles I, this led to the the [[Eleven Years Tyranny]] and the [[English Civil War]], and ultimately he was executed — for [[Treason|high treason]] — by beheading in 1649.

In 2014, the stage play ''King Charles III'', written by playwright Mike Bartlett in [[Iambic pentameter|blank verse]], addressed this issue of "royal conscience".<ref>{{cite news |last=Billington |first=Michael |date=April 11, 2014 |title=King Charles III – a flawed premise but royally entertaining |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/apr/11/king-charles-3-flawed-premise-royally-entertaining |work=The Guardian |location=London|accessdate=August 26, 2017}}</ref> The play is set in the near future, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession to the throne by [[Prince Charles|The Prince of Wales]] as King Charles III. When asked to give royal assent to a bill which will give the government greater powers to "gag" the media — and also make it effectively impossible for the media to report on government corruption and abuse of power — Charles refuses.<ref>{{cite news |last=Curtis |first=Nick |date=3 April, 2014|title=What would happen if Prince Charles was made king? |url=http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/what-would-happen-if-prince-charles-was-made-king-9234812.html |work=London Evening Standard|location= London|accessdate=August 26, 2017}}</ref> When the government counters by saying it will create a new law which will remove the necessity for royal assent, Charles responds by dissolving Parliament — a parallel to his forebear [[Charles I]], who, in the 17th century, disagreed with Parliament about the royal prerogative and the king's right to rule as an [[Monarchy|absolute monarch]], governing according to his personal conscience rather than accepting the democratic will of the people. For Charles I, this led to the the [[Eleven Years Tyranny]] and the [[English Civil War]], and ultimately he was executed — for [[Treason|high treason]] — by beheading in 1649.

In ''King Charles III'', the king's actions lead to widespread and violent national protests, and the British Army are required to surround [[Buckingham Palace]] to safeguard him. The public are less concerned with the new law — which would not benefit them anyway — and more concerned with the principle of a monarch attempting to impose supreme authority over both Parliament and people. For defying the people, Charles is forced to abdicate, and his son [[Prince William of Wales]] takes the throne, with his wife [[Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge]] becoming the Queen consort. The new king signs the bill.

In ''King Charles III'', the king's actions lead to widespread and violent national protests, and the British Army are required to surround [[Buckingham Palace]] to safeguard him. The public are less concerned with the new law — which would not benefit them anyway — and more concerned with the principle of a monarch attempting to impose supreme authority over both Parliament and people. For defying the people, Charles is forced to abdicate, and his son [[Prince William of Wales]] takes the throne, with William's wife [[Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge]] becoming the Queen consort. The new king signs the bill.

In 2017, the play was broadcast as a 90-minute TV film by [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC Two]] in the UK and [[PBS]] in the USA.

In 2017, the play was broadcast as a 90-minute TV film by [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC Two]] in the UK and [[PBS]] in the USA.