And so begins the reign of our new monarch, King Charles III. This comes at a time of economic and political anxiety – worries about the cost of living, constitutional pressures within the devolved nations of the UK, a war in Europe, and a new Prime Minister in post.
Although history normally progresses over time, there are momentous moments of change which encapsulate the change, and this seems like one of those times.
The reign of Queen Elizabeth II has seen massive economic, technological and social change. When she began her reign, the privations of the war were continuing, with rationing remaining until 1954 and our expectations for household luxuries or holidays were very modest. Although there are people facing real poverty and hardship today, our general standard of living is so much higher than that post-war generation.