The Bug presents the second in a series of reports on events on the watershed year experienced by the royal family in 2022.

As the year draws to a close I can assure readers that our beloved King Charles III is both relieved but also concerned about having finally inherited the crown from his dear departed mother.

Indeed 2023 will see several initiatives by the King that clearly indicate his thoughts about having assumed his new role so late in life.

His Majesty, at age 73, has settled on a plan to allay concerns about his age among his subjects by appearing with his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, on the popular BBC TV show Strictly Come Dancing – the British version of Dancing With The Stars.

As a highly placed source within the royal household told me, the royal couple began rehearsing for their appearance whenever they had a few spare moments in the days following Her Majesty’s passing. (main picture)

“His Majesty is certain that his appearance will settle any doubts about his strength and vitality and his ability to carry the heavy workload that comes with being the Sovereign,” my source told me.

The King’s coronation will be held on 6 May, and His Majesty is very concerned about being seen to be too extravagant at a time the cost of living is a big issue for most Britons.

As I reported just a few months ago, the coronation will be a “slimmed down” version of previous such events with His Majesty himself insisting that it be “short, sharp, cheap, green, and COVID-safe”.

I can report that His Majesty has already staged several rehearsals of the very basic ceremony in which he will drive himself and the Queen Consort in his personal electric Jaguar to a fast food outlet just around the corner from Buckingham Palace where the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, will hand them their crowns through a drive-in service window. (below)

After that, I can report, the royal couple will head back to the palace with the whole ceremony taking about 15 minutes or less, depending on traffic on the day since His Majesty has insisted that no expensive and disruptive road closures should be imposed.

I also reported information from my impeccable sources within the royal household suggesting that the King had directed Buckingham Palace staff to begin making arrangements for celebrating his Silver Jubilee in late February 2023.

As one palace insider explained: “His Majesty acknowledges that he is never going to be on the throne for as long as his mother.”

To compensate, His Majesty intends to mark 25 weeks on the throne in February, followed by a Golden Jubilee in mid-August next year.