Charles III and the coronation: a metaphorical image in news political cartoons

This article considers the unique role of representing the coronation of Charles III within the news aspect of Internet discourse, focusing on the non-verbal aspects of the text. Caricature studies, appearing in both printed and electronic periodicals, are conducted through cognitive-discursive analysis of metaphor. Three distinct periods of cartoon releases are examined: following the death of Elizabeth II, on the eve of the coronation, and during the initial weeks after the coronation. Among the 126 analyzed images, those prevailed that conveyed pragmatic meanings of immaturity, unpreparedness, and inconsistency, primarily through attributive manifestations of royal power such as shoes, headgear (crown, hat), and throne. The authors highlight the predominant ironic and somewhat condescending vector of visual metaphors, attributing this to the public attitude developed over an extended period preceding the accession to the throne.