King Charles criticized for ‘cowardly absence’ amid nationwide riots

King Charles has no immediate plans to visit the scenes of the ongoing riots or make any official comments on the unrest.

Royal sources indicate that he is receiving daily briefings on the situation.

However, no royal intervention is anticipated at this time, with the government handling the response to the protests.

This approach aligns with the tradition of keeping the monarchy out of political matters, following the example set by the late Queen Elizabeth, who also refrained from making public statements during the 2011 riots.

The anti-monarchy group Republic has criticized King Charles for his lack of a public response to the riots, calling it a “cowardly absence.”

Graham Smith, the leader of the group, said, “we’re told the monarch is supposed to be a figurehead who unites the nation, yet when the nation is in crisis he’s nowhere to be seen.”

Historian and author Sir Anthony Seldon disagreed, stating, “Now is not the right time for the King to become involved.

“He is head of state, and it’s appropriate that while the crisis is going on, the head of government, the prime minister, handles the crisis management and says what is needed to be said.”

“The time for the King to speak, if at all, is when everything has calmed down again. The issues that have led the riots are not going to go away quickly.”

Sir Anthony told the BBC, “We need to hear his considered thoughts then about societal harmony.”

Historian Kate Williams, on Times Radio, said the King should speak out now to promote community cohesion.

“This would be a moment for the King to talk about multiculturalism, the Commonwealth, people coming together, and I think that if I were advising him I would suggest making that statement sooner rather than later,” she said.

King Charles, who has been receiving cancer treatment this year, has been in Scotland, where he is expected to spend much of the summer.

However, he has refrained from commenting on the unrest that has ensued.