I called King Charles an ally to black people. I hope he lives up to that title | Lester Holloway

Britain's first post-colonial monarch championed diversity as Prince of Wales, but he must go much further

The sea of white faces outside Buckingham Palace singing God Save the King this weekend was revealing. During her reign, the Queen enjoyed mass appeal at home across communities with roots in the former empire and commanded respect, especially among those of a certain age. The the calypso-loving Elizabeth, who defied conventions and racist attitudes in 1961 to share a dance with Ghana's pan-Africanist ruler Kwame Nkrumah, will continue to be held in affection.

However, King Charles III accedes to the throne in an altogether different time in history. He begins his reign with the record of more than 40 years' worth of charitable work through the Prince's Trust, helping young black people turn their lives around. Famous alumni such as the actor Idris Elba and theatre boss Kwame Kwei-Armah are enthusiastic advocates for the King's commitment to diversity from personal experience.

Lester Holloway is editor of the Voice

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a letter of up to 300 words to be considered for publication, email it to us at guardian.letters@theguardian.com