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In 2014, the stage play ''King Charles III'', written by playwright Mike Bartlett in [[Iambic pentameter|blank verse]], addressed this issue of "royal conscience". 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. When the government counters by saying it will create a new law which will remove the necessity for royal assent, Charles responds by [[Dissolution of the Parliament of the United Kingdom|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 [[absolute monarch]], governing according to his personal conscience rather than accepting the democratic will of the people. For Charles I, this led to the [[English Civil War]], and ultimately he was executed - for [[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". 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. When the government counters by saying it will create a new law which will remove the necessity for royal assent, Charles responds by [[Dissolution of the Parliament of the United Kingdom|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 [[absolute monarch]], governing according to his personal conscience rather than accepting the democratic will of the people. For Charles I, this led to the [[English Civil War]], and ultimately he was executed - for [[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. 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 his 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 film by 90-minute TV film by [[BBC Two]] in the UK and [[PBS]] in the USA.

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