7/8/2023 0 Comments King charles ii![]() His brother’s secret marriage to a commoner also added an air of scandal to the crown. Villiers came to symbolise the excess and promiscuity of the Restoration court. The young King’s heart was soon taken by the married beauty Barbara Villiers who Charles would show off publicly. Affairs of the heart: Charles II's mistresses New regalia was made (the previous crown had been melted down when Charles I was executed) and the coronation took place on 23 April 1661. He would rule closely with parliament, and returned to popular acclaim. It was decided that Charles' son should return to his rightful role, and become king. However Richard lacked the leadership qualities of his father, and he was quickly resigned. Charles II's coronationĪfter the death of Oliver Cromwell, his son Richard became Lord Protector. But he would need all his guile to manoeuvre and survive the tempestuous times in which he ruled. In the end, the national experiment with republicanism had collapsed and the dour days of Cromwell and the Commonwealth were swept away with festivities and mirth.Ĭharles II was tall, handsome, sharp of mind, impeccably attired and charming. On his thirtieth birthday, he left all that behind and triumphantly returned to London as King. His twenties were spent hopping around continental courts, begging favours and finances. Fight and flight marked these years with the execution of his beloved father shattering his world. King Charles II was however, one of the nation’s most interesting and beguiling rulers.Īs a teen, his golden childhood was ripped away from him by the Civil War. ‘There’s nothing like a jolly good disaster to get people to start doing something.He was certainly mercurial and brilliant, and quite possibly lustful and in the grip of dark and foreign powers. ‘I’m not very good at being a performing monkey.’ ‘If you want to develop character, go to Australia’ ‘A large number of us have developed a feeling that architects tend to design houses for the approval of fellow architects and critics, not for the tenants.’ But I think it just dawns on you, you know, slowly, that people are interested in one, and slowly you get the idea that you have a certain duty and responsibility.’ (Asked when he had first realised that he was heir to the throne, in a radio interview in 1969) I didn’t suddenly wake up in my pram one day and say ‘Yippee, I -’, you know. ‘I think it’s something that dawns on you with the most ghastly, inexorable sense. The cut has since been called sirloin) King Charles III ‘For its merit I will knight it, and then it will be sir-loin.’ (Commenting on a cut of beef, which was the loin. ‘This is very true: For my words are my own, and my actions are my ministers.’ ‘I always admired virtue – but I could never imitate it.’ ‘Let not poor Nelly starve’ (Charles upon his deathbed wanted his mistress protected) ‘If we are understood, more words are unnecessary if we are not likely to be understood, they are useless.’ ‘I am no less confident, that no learned lawyer will affirm that an impeachment can lie against the King, they all are going in his name: and one of their maxims is, that the King can do no wrong.’ King Charles II ‘Princes are not bound to give an account of their actions but to God alone.’ ‘Nothing is so contemptible as a despised prince.’ (Said just before his execution) ![]() ‘If I granted your demands, I should be no more than the mere phantom of a king.’ (In relation to Parliament asking to control military, civil and religious appointments) I thought I’d go through the sayings of the three Kings and here are some of the highlights: King Charles I Now Britain has its third Charles as King. He was a popular king though known for his hedonism too – he apparently had 12 children from various mistresses. This meant the son of King Charles I also called Charles became King Charles II. But Cromwell’s death soon led to the restoration of the monarchy. Oliver Cromwell then ruled the British Isles during the so-called Interregnum. The story goes that he interfered with parliament and there was miliary coup to dislodge him (the English Civil War). History buffs will know that King Charles I (reigned 1625-1649) was executed in 1649. But I also didn’t say which King Charles! ![]() I’m using quotes from King Charles, so it’s more like a general telling, rather than a personal conversation.
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