Edward Snowden Mocks King Charles' 'Snow-Leopard Snuggie'

Edward Snowden took aim at King Charles III's first King's Speech for complaining about "the cost of living" in an "egg-sized diamond hat."

The former National Security Agency intelligence contractor was seemingly unaware that the monarch does not write the speech to Parliament, which is instead written by the U.K. government.

However, he took aim at the pomp and ceremony around the event, including the Robes of State and Imperial State Crown worn by the king.

Snowden, who remains exiled in Russia after leaking classified documents in 2013, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "The masculine urge to complain about the cost of living from your gold chair while wearing meemaw's snow-leopard snuggie and egg-sized diamond hat."

The post went viral after being liked 27,000 times and viewed 1.6 million times, accompanied by a video from the State Opening of Parliament.

The purpose of the speech is to outline the government's legislative agenda for the coming year and it is not written by the king.

It is therefore arguably flawed to suggest Charles had an "urge to complain" when the words belonged to government ministers.

However, Snowden's remarks, and the significant online engagement with them, show how some of the traditions and ceremony most associated with the monarchy can also cause tension in modern times when they collide with politics.

Charles stood in for Queen Elizabeth II last year when she could not read the speech for health reasons and was then also criticized along similar lines.

At the time, Journalist Eric Michael Garcia wrote on X: "Prince Charles talks about 'supporting more people into work,' as if the Monarchy isn't a glorified Philly Phanatic for the UK."

And Elliot Smith, a reporter for CNBC, wrote on X: "If anyone was still under the illusion we were a normal country, we just sent an expensive hat to parliament in its own car so Prince Charles could tell our politicians they can crack on."

In the speech, the king said: "My government's priority is to make the difficult but necessary long-term decisions to change this country for the better.

"My ministers' focus is on increasing economic growth and safeguarding the health and security of the British people for generations to come.

"My government will continue to take action to bring down inflation, to ease the cost of living for families and help businesses fund new jobs and investment."

Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.

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