King Charles' Abnormal Grieving Process Is Raising Concern Online

When average citizens lose a beloved parent, they generally take some time to grieve the loss. It's customary for the bereft to take at least a few days off from work to care for themselves and their loved ones, and to grieve privately with those closest to the deceased. In fact, Cleveland Clinic, one of the utmost respected authorities on health and wellness in the United States, says that some of the best ways to cope with a loss so great that it results in grief is to take time for yourself, get extra rest, choose those you spend your grieving time with carefully, and embrace and express all emotions that may come up. 

The clinic advises that setting small, reachable goals is the best way to get through the difficult day-to-day process of living immediately following the death of a loved one. Further, it suggests that taking care of your inner needs, whether they be spiritual, emotional, or physical, should be top priority. Seeking counseling, taking quiet time absolutely alone to pray or journal or mediate, or taking time to simply rest in a place that feels safe and rejuvenating might be part of that. 

But those are luxuries afforded to people who are not, at every waking moment, in the public eye, and whose late mother was not the Queen of England.  

In the case of newly-named King Charles III, the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, he isn't afforded such time off from his duties. In fact, his new title comes with far, far more obligations and expectations than his former title of "Prince," and he is required to take all of that on at the same time that he is grieving his loss.

In his first statement to his people as King, King Charles' words reflected those of a bereft son. He said, "I speak to you today with feelings of profound sorrow" (via Deadline). He went on to say, "Throughout her life, Her Majesty the Queen, my beloved my mother was an inspiration and example to me and my family." He added in his introduction to his speech that he and his family "owe her the most heartfelt debt any family could owe to their mother for her love, affection, guidance, understanding, and example."

Though he did have the opportunity to publicly profess his love for his mother and his profound grief at her passing, he will not be afforded the private grieving time that most average citizens expect after the loss of a beloved parent. He will not be able to take the advice of experts who suggest being very gentle with oneself and choosing to engage only in absolutely-necessary interactions with close and beloved friends and family. As such, people online are expressing their sadness and concern for what must be a very difficult time for the new King. 

Royal Central remarked on Twitter, "King Charles has had merely hours to privately grieve. Now his duties as monarch and Head of State begin." Another Twitter user said, "My heart goes out to the Royal family today. Charles has now got to leave his family & mother, with no time for grieving because he HAS to be King. He doesn't have a choice."

Others echoed this sentiment by tweeting thoughts like, "I do feel sorry for Prince Charles having to take on this role while grieving. I really do."

The truth of the matter is, whether you are a King or an average citizen, the loss of a parent is profound. Learning to navigate the new role as head of the family is difficult for any person, let alone when that role includes becoming the sovereign of an empire.