Charles II & William V

King Charles II (above, this portrait hanging at the National Portrait Gallery) reigned from 1660 to 1685 (or from 1649 if you reckon from his father’s death and ignore the English Republic). Being a sexually active man, he fathered several children, but none by his wife, which is why his brother inherited the throne after him. Although he had an attractive personality and a sardonic sense of humour, he combined those two qualities which are seldom helpful in British monarchs: sexual immorality and an attraction to Roman Catholicism, in which communion he finally died. Although Restoration Britain was historically interesting and Charles was known as 'the Merry Monarch', it was a time of cruel persecution for the puritans. The gaols were crammed full of Quakers, Baptists, Presbyterians and Congregationalists, as well as the usual assortment of crooks and vagrants. Charles' governments and certainly his Parliaments were deeply hostile to Oliver Cromwell's legacy, and associated any non-Anglican religious devotion with sedition and treason. 

Curiously, the late Diana, Princess of Wales, was descended from two of Charles Stuart’s illegitimate children, the first Dukes of Richmond and Grafton. This means that the current Prince of Wales, William (below), will be the first descendant of Charles II to sit upon the throne, and will have all three King Charles' blood flowing through his veins. This very autumn, His Royal Highness has already spoken of updating the monarchy when he becomes king, which seems a little oxymoronic; the vocal minority of people in this land who wish to update the institution wish to achieve this be scrapping it. Nevertheless, the reign of Charles III will not be long, and William V will likely wear the crown longer and leave a more lasting impact. I hope to God that his reign will not resemble his 9 x great-grandfather’s, with the Christian people of Britain harassed and persecuted, fined and imprisoned. Many evangelical Christians feel that such times are coming, and it is likely to correspond with the reign of the Merry Monarch’s heir.

Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? Ecclesiastes 8:4