This year marks the 70th anniversary of Ian Fleming’s James Bond and incredibly, for the first time ever, 007 is now On His Majesty’s Secret Service following the death of the late Queen.

A new official novel of the same name by Young Bond author Charlie Higson, has been published today and is actually mainly set this very day of May 4, 2023.

The MI6 spy’s latest mission is to stop a self-proclaimed pretender to the throne, an anti-woke culture wars eccentric called Æthelstan of Wessex, from disrupting King Charles III’s Coronation this Saturday and taking the crown for himself.

Originally On His Majesty’s Secret Service was set to be endorsed by The King’s charity the Prince’s Trust, but after they found out the plot details, the royal stamp of approval was “respectfully declined”. And here’s why.

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Æthelstan of Wessex’s Bond villain plan was to stage something of a coup alá January 6’s US Capitol riots.

Now without getting into heavy spoilers, the narrative point that the Prince’s Trust had an issue with was the regicide plot that Bond apparently had to foil this very morning of May 4, 2023.

Speaking with The Sunday Times, Higson was asked what he thinks The King would think of his novel, he replied: “He’s a bright guy and has a sense of humour and is a Bond fan. Maybe one day we can meet and talk about it.”

The official synopsis of the new Bond novel reads: “It is the 4th of May, two days before the Coronation of King Charles III and the world’s favourite spy has his work cut out for him. Bond is sent at the last minute to thwart an attempt to disrupt the Coronation by the wealthy, eccentric and self-styled Æthelstan of Wessex, who is on a deadly mission of his own to teach the United Kingdom a lesson. Can Bond dismantle his shady plans and defeat his privately hired team of mercenaries?”

Ian Fleming publications note: “This all-new 007 adventure is produced to celebrate the Coronation and all royalties from the sale of the book will go to support the work of the UK charity, the National Literacy Trust.”

On His Majesty’s Secret Service is published and set today on May 4, 2023.