Revealed: How Charles proved he was a 'monarch-in-waiting' when violence engulfed the country

Daily Mail​

26-04-2025

Throughout British history it has been times of national crisis that have been the making of the royals.
During World War Two, the then-Princess Elizabeth played a significant role in the war effort working as a mechanic, revealing even as a teenager she had the sense of public service which defined her reign.
Likewise, her son King Charles revealed he was a true monarch-in-waiting during a time when politicians of the day were failing to step up to chaos engulfing the country.
It's August 2011, as Britain basks in the summer heat simmering tensions over unemployment and spending cuts - following the 2008 financial crisis - are about to reach boiling point.
The spark came when the Metropolitan Police shot and killed 29-year-old Mark Duggan in Tottenham, north London, on August 4, 2011.
His death led to an eruption of looting and rioting across England, in the worst scenes of violence since the riots of 1981.
They lasted for nearly a week and resulted in the deaths of five people and the arrest of over 3,000 thugs.
In her bestselling book The Palace Papers, Tina Brown has revealed that it was the then-Prince of Wales who stepped up after the mayhem had ended and visited concerned locals, even after the media circus had moved on.
Brown writes that when the unrest began the Royal Family were in Balmoral, while the country's politicians were 'offline in their villas'.
'By the time the ruling class had returned from their sunny vacations, the youthful fury had dissipated like a tropical storm,' she said.
It was Prince Charles who was spurred into action after he left Balmoral to use programmes from his charity to help those affected.
For example, the Prince's Trust pledged to work with young people in Croydon to stop them getting involved with gangs.
And after politicians had travelled to the affected areas for a photo-op it was Charles who returned afterwards to the hardest hit areas.
David Lammy, the MP for Tottenham said the King visited his constituency five times.
'Prince Charles also phoned. He came, he has been back five times and he doesn't just come back to look at it, he's brought all his charities.
'He hasn't done it with a fanfare, he hasn't put out press releases, he's just done it because he cares,' Lammy said.
Charles and Camilla's car was attacked by protesters in December 2010
Charles was also very much in touch with the unrest of the period, having experienced it firsthand when his car was attacked by student protesters in December 2010 while he and Camilla were on their way to the Palladium.
The car was kicked, rocked and hit with paint bombs by up to 20 demonstrators angry at the hike in tuition fees.
The incident left the couple visibly shaken but unharmed. The potential risk to their safety raised worrying echoes of the 1974 kidnap attempt on Princess Anne.
Charles's response to the 2011 crisis, according to Brown, showed that he was 'more than just a faddish dilettante'.
She said: 'He [Charles] tried to show Britain that he was a worthy - and humane - monarch-in-waiting.'
His response to civil unrest during his reign so far has once again demonstrated his compassion and eagerness to meet and understand communities.
Indeed, in the days after the riots in August 2024, the King was reportedly frustrated at his inability to get involved in soothing the national unrest.
Following the riots, which saw Muslims and migrants targeted after misinformation was spread online about the identity of a man who murdered three young girls in Southport, the King called for mutual respect and understanding.
King Charles signs a book of condolence during his visit to Southport Town Hall during his visit to the area after the dust had settled and the riots were out of the headlines
Charles also thanked police and emergency services for their response to the disturbances and he welcomed the way that community groups had countered 'the aggression and criminality from a few', Buckingham Palace said in a statement at the time.
While the riots engineered by far-right thugs were engulfing cities and towns across the UK, Charles also asked aides to keep him updated on the chaos.
After the dust had settled and the riots were out of the headlines, in scenes reminiscent of his trips to Tottenham, the King held a private audience at Clarence House with the families of those killed in the horror knife attack in Southport.
The King suspended his traditional Balmoral break to meet with the families of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar.
Before the meeting, Charles also visited Southport where he signed a book of condolence.
During his visit, Charles spoke of his heartfelt appreciation of the way in which the local community rallied around its own as he met with emergency services personnel, faith leaders and some of those who opened their doors in acts of kindness.
Indeed, in his response to the riots both before and after his reign, Charles proved that he was well suited to steer the country through a national crisis.