King Charles III was crowned this month. It was what you’d expect: pomp, ceremony and carriages. In the small world of diving, magazines and social media were quick to highlight that His Majesty is the first scuba diving monarch. The King has made well documented dives onto the wreck of the Mary Rose and in the Canadian artic. This is a fun fact but does it have any real significance to the sport of diving or the marine world?
The Royal Family has had a long association with scuba diving. The King’s father, Prince Philip was the first President of the British Sub Aqua Club and drew attention to a number of key diving conferences such as the Second World Congress of Underwater Activities in 1962. The King took over the role in 1974 and eventually handed it over to Prince William in 2014. Like father like son…
This in-water activity is admirable and does help to promote and raise the profile of diving but what impact does it really have? Not a great deal if I’m honest. The real area the King, and the wider Royal Family, have is the power to influence and promote charities.
The King was actively involved in the project to raise the Mary Rose, becoming President of the Trust in 1979 and led fundraising activity:
“Prince Charles agreed to become our President, making clear that he would like his involvement to be more than nominal; and indeed it was! He gave a great deal of his time to it, addressing many fundraising functions and coming down each summer to dive on the Mary Rose again and see how much was progressing.”
Alexander McKee, discoverer of the Mary Rose.
The King is patron or president to over 400 charities covering all sectors, causes and interests. However, he’s always has a particular passion for conservation. His views were often seen as amusing, odd and slightly radical. He was in fact ahead of his time, making striking speeches as early as 1970. “There is a growing menace of oil pollution at sea, which almost destroys beaches and certainly destroys tens of thousands of seabirds.”
The King lent his support to the foundation of Marine Conservation Society, a charity founded by divers for the protection of our oceans. The charity has gone from strength-to-strength since it’s creation with key campaigns like the Good Fish Guide and Beachwatch.
It’s surprising to say, about a monarch that heads a centuries old institution, that the times caught up with him. We now live in a world of Greta Thunberg, electric cars and bamboo toothbrushes (unfortunately they’re not great). Things are very different in terms of the profile that environmental matters have. That’s not to say there is still a lot to do.
So whatever you think about the monarchy, this ability and desire to influence, promote and champion environmental (and marine) causes make him a valuable ally to the ocean lover.
