'The royal family needs to be seen to be more relevant to young people', says Lord Mayor of Oxford

With the death of the monarch, the country has been ushered into a new era under Charles III.

The Oxford Mail asked some of our councillors, MPs and religious leaders to mark the occasion by writing their thoughts on the new monarch. 

All of these opinion pieces can be read on our website and in the print edition of the Oxford Mail. 

Ed Nix (Image: Ed Nix)

By Councillor James Fry, Lord Mayor of Oxford 

Oxford has a special connection with royalty. King Charles I made it his seat of government during the Civil War; Charles II moved Parliament here during the Great Plague. Elizabeth I came to watch St Giles Fair from St John’s College; and the late Queen came here frequently (the Jubilee exhibit in the Town Hall has many photos of her visits to the city). She also elevated the post of Mayor to Lord Mayor.

We hope to welcome King Charles III frequently to the city he already knows well. His support for causes close to the hearts of city residents is appreciated.

As Head of the Commonwealth and as Patron of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, we hope he will use the influence that he has to push back in private against the anti-immigrant policies of the current government. He was quoted as describing in private the Rwanda migrant scheme as “appalling”. I hope he will not hesitate to make similar views known when the occasion makes it possible.

As a keen protector of biodiversity in his personal capacity, he will, we hope, oppose proposals to undermine initiatives to tackle the climate emergency, such as green levies. Sadly the list of measures to water down the COP26 commitments is long.

As someone keen to help the youth of the country via The Prince’s Trust, he will, we hope, continue this work and use his new authority to expand its reach when the government seems to consider cutting taxes more important than helping future generations get a good start in life.

These are respects in which I am sure Oxford residents would like him to build on his existing interests. There are also other respects in which he has more control in his new role. One I know would be greatly welcomed would be giving the next generation of his family a greater role than the traditional one for the monarch’s children. The royal family needs to be seen to be more relevant to young people and this can only be achieved by delegating many functions to them which might previously have been reserved for the monarch.

In current circumstances, it would be difficult for King Charles III to become a cycling royal, like some of his Continental counterparts, but it would be good if he could lead the way towards cultivating a less elitist lifestyle. It may well be essential if the constitutional monarchy is to survive.

Best of all, for Oxford what we would like to see are visible signs of support for its superb institutions, its hospitals, universities, pioneering laboratories and cultural excellence. Visit us often, please, Your Majesty, and take a keen interest in this wonderful city.

- James Fry, Lord Mayor of Oxford