Today’s Coronation offers a moment for families, neighbours, communities to come together and mark history. We look forward to a new era, after an incredible 70 years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign.
For many of us, the transition from one monarch to another is a symbol of our changing world – particularly after Queen Elizabeth’s long reign of 70 years.
I know that from my conversations with children as Children’s Commissioner, she was a living link to a time that they only know from history lessons. Children told me in The Big Ask that she was an aspirational figure, representing qualities that they wanted to embody as adults. As one girl told me:
“I don’t think there is anything stopping them they just need to believe in themselves and do your thing we are all Queens / Kings.”
Girl, 10, The Big Ask
King Charles III has already shown to be following in his mother’s footsteps. As Prince of Wales, he pushed for better access to the arts and cultural activities for children, encouraged them to protect the planet and in founding his charity the Prince’s Trust, he has advocated for vulnerable children all over the UK who deserve more opportunities to succeed. More than 1 million children have been supported through this work.
I hope that under his reign, children’s voices and rights will continue to be championed, just as they were under Queen Elizabeth.