The King has made a public declaration supporting local newspapers as he met reporters from this title and around the UK.
Britain would “all be the poorer” without a thriving and robust regional press, he told a media reception at Buckingham Palace attended by members of the Newsquest team that publishes this newspaper and website.
It was his last public engagement before going into hospital on Thursday, the next day, for observation after experiencing “temporary side-effects” of his continuing medical treatment for cancer, Buckingham Palace said.
The 76-year-old monarch underwent scheduled treatment that morning, which required “a short period of observation in hospital”, according to a palace statement.
Just hours before he was meeting members of the regional media - including Newsquest London reporters Mike Brooke and Charlie Thomson - and praised them for their role in protecting democracy.
“I have long believed that regional media in all its forms has a unique and vital role in society, perhaps even more so in these uncertain times,” King Charles said in his statement.
“When too much focus is given to that which divides us, that role is more important than ever — and it starts from the ground up, at local level, in your hands, a light in dark corners exposing injustice and wrongdoing.”
The reception was staged in the main ballroom, the largest of the State Rooms that was added by Queen Victoria in 1855.
The King and Queen mingled with 400 journalists from all over the UK, talking to them about their work and their role in the community.
Among them were Newsquest staff who included two award-winning London journalists, investigative reporter Charles Thomson and senior community reporter Mike Brooke, as well as regional editor Michael Adkins.
Mr Thomson said afterwards: “Meeting the King made an interesting evening, with his public statement about regional media bringing truth, exposing injustice and corruption and upholding democracy.
“He has used his platform and influence to endorse our work and acknowledge its importance amid the seemingly unstoppable spread of online ‘conspiracy’ theories and disinformation.”
Michael Adkins, editor of Basildon’s Echo daily, serving south Essex, had a short conversation with the King. He said later: “It was a brief talk. I mentioned coming across his mum at both the opening of Queen Elizabeth II Bridge in Dartford when I was a teenager and later the Battle of Britain 75th anniversary at Westminster Abbey when the whole Royal Family attended.”
The King also recognised that things don’t necessarily run smoothly with the press in a democracy.
He said: “You won’t always get it right. A free media is one that will and does make mistakes. But at its best, it is a cornerstone of our democracy.”
He spoke of commercial pressures and technology having an impact on the industry. The ‘landscape’ had changed by adapting and innovating, finding ways of sharing journalism and “engaging audiences in new and creative ways”.
His Majesty added: “It is in everyone’s interests that you should succeed. Without a thriving and financially robust media we would all be the poorer.”
The King also referred to a speech he made as Prince of Wales in 2002, marking the tercentenary of the first-ever national daily when he spoke of the press being at the forefront of “defining, describing and celebrating the more profound values of our nation”.
The reference was about The Daily Courant, which was published from Fleet Street and ran until 1735 — when Charles III’s ancestor George II was on the throne.
Before then, the world’s first regular news periodical appeared in 1665, The London Gazette, still published by Parliament today. It had the world’s first-ever scoop a year later — the Great Fire of London!
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