Prince Charles is getting a new title from the public and he has the coronavirus lockdown to apparently thank for it. The Prince of Wales has now been dubbed the "King of Instagram" because of his rising popularity in the trendy social media platform.
According to Hello, Prince Charles' posts on Instagram, via the Clarence House account, has been getting thousands of likes and shares during this coronavirus pandemic. One video has amassed nearly a million reactions when the Prince of Wales normally just averages 20,000 likes on his posts, pre-coronavirus.
Royal expert Penny Junor explained via The Times that that Prince Charles' rise on Instagram could be because people have been seeing him often on the social media site during this lockdown. Instagram has given the Prince of Wales a platform, while the public is slowly learning who he really is because of his regular posts.
Junor said that Prince Charles is learning to use Instagram masterfully and has been responsive to this extraordinary crisis in the most diverse way. Aside from posting his advocacies, Prince Charles also shared recipes and audiobook recordings on his social media page.
Often seen as an elitist because of his status as the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles' efforts to connect to the commoners have not always been well-received. He's also been accused of being an activist for his meddling in some political issues, especially about the environment.
But this coronavirus lockdown has given the world a glimpse of his vulnerability, especially after he caught the virus in late March. Acknowledging his bout with COVID-19, Prince Charles said in a recent interview that he understands and sympathizes with how everyone is enduring this challenging time.
Junor said that catching the virus has actually been a positive thing for Prince Charles. His personal experience gives him the ability to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with the public going through this terrible period.
The royal expert said that it's not just for show for Prince Charles. Unlike other politicians, he's not joining the bandwagon but he is proving that he's ready to ascend the throne with the same resolve as his dutiful mother, Queen Elizabeth.
Meanwhile, amid life in isolation, Prince Charles also admitted that he misses hugging his grandchildren. Though they communicate via video conferencing, the Prince of Wales said that it's different with face-to-face meetings because people can hug each other.
Prince Charles also said that he hasn't since his father, Prince Philip, in a long time. The Duke of Edinburgh will be 99 years old on June 10 and he will be celebrating this milestone without his family since he needs to be in isolation with Queen Elizabeth.
