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I’m not a monarchist, although I admit to being something of a traditionalist in some areas. I see no point in changing things without something better to put in their place. Preferably not things that have been tried elsewhere and found wanting.
I’ll put my head above the parapet and admit that recent republican protests fired by the coronation seem to me a sad kind of knee-jerk reaction. The royals are not ‘unelected leaders’, as protesters keep yelling whenever a camera points their way. It isn’t as if they have any influence on the running of the country, and they’re certainly worth more in public relations terms than any elected ‘President’ (whatever title he or she is given) who would cost as much to support without bringing in the tourists.
And royalty seems to me a hell of a workload to be born to.
As for not allowing ‘peaceful protest’ on coronation day… Do me a favour! Look on it as protective custody. They’d have been lynched by gangs of old ladies for blocking the view.
On a different note… I know the the Archbishop of Canterbury doesn’t crown a monarch every week, but I do think he should have been able to remember the bits from the Book of Common Prayer without reading them from an acolyte’s prompt card.
I remembered most of the words, and I haven’t been to a C of E service for more than fifty years (other than the odd funeral).
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Not that I want to sound negative. Any excuse for a street party sounds good to me. Shame about the weather.
Writing Wrinkles, and Random Ramblings 
I didn’t watch it I am not a monarchist and have been a Republican certainly for all that passes as my adult life. An interesting read on the subject is ‘And What Do You Do?’ by Norman Baker, it is detailed meticulously researched and referenced, it debunks every myth about the monarchy.
I would choose as a model republic Ireland, they learned what was rotten about a monarchy first-hand.
As for cost the cheapest president in modern times was Jose Mujica of Uruguay. He didn’t need palaces or fancy cars and gave 90% of his salary away, that is the sort of head of state I want.
If Charles wants to follow his example in terms of cost and stand for election for a five-year term I might change my position.
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You can’t be elected to an inherited position. Would you ask your son to stand for re-election as your son?
If Charles turns out to be a lousy figurehead (ie. interfering in politics, failing to turn up to public engagements and generally making a hash of things) public opinion will change from its current majority willing to give him a chance, and the pressure for change will, in time, effect change. That’s democracy, not throwing things in the streets.
Personally, I’d rather concentrate first on abolishing the House of Lords. They ARE an unelected political body with power to hold things up. They add nothing to our tourist trade – nor anything else, that I can see. They are an anachronism with no constitutional value.
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I agree about the House of Lords, we do need a second chamber but it should be elected. We will have to disagree about the Monarchy but in terms of tourist income France does better as a Republic than we do. Although tourist income is a pretty poor democratic argument for retaining an unelected, expensive, head of state.
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But an elected, expensive head of state would surely expect some power in running things (having made promises to get him or herself elected) and we already have people to do that.
I’m interested that you feel we need a second chamber, though. What would they do? (The House of Lords actually does very little most of the time, other than slow things down.)
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Yes I watched and enjoyed. I love the music, the horses, the colour, the human interest. I also wondered why the archbishop needed to read those words, maybe and I just thought of this, there were prompts on the page as to what came next…
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Yes we watched…..started late afternoon down here …..and we watched for maybe no other reason that on a cold wet day in Melbourne there was nothing else (apart from sport) on TV 😊
Actually I was there for the bands and the hordes or marching men (love a man in uniform) plus I was curious to see what ‘changes’ had been made and how the ceremony was presented.
Wasn’t keen on the gospel choir – inclusive yes, but was that a nod to the wife of his unhappy child???
And if I could mouth from memory many of the words coming out of the Archbishop’s mouth surely he didn’t need a prompt card. Also the King needed one as well. Tacky!
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Agreed. Although I think the gospel choir was a nod to the wider music tastes of Charles’ (our) generation and his general inclusivity. Chief ministers from all UK religious faiths were at the coronation. The chief Rabbi was apparently offered overnight accommodation at St James’ Palace so that he could walk to the service and not have to take motorised transport on a Saturday, the Sabbath.
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I thought much the same about the words, but I suppose it could just in case they stumbled or misspoke. (Is that a word)? You don’t want to be making a mistake on such a momentous occasion.
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True. But he would have been so much more authoritative had he not been glued to his promp sheet.
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Didn’t watch at all. I am descended from soldiers in the Revolutionary War. My allegiances are fixed ! LOL
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Each to their own view. But I’m willing to bet you wouldn’t have tried to disrupt the enjoyment of all those roayalists by blocking roads and drowning out the commentary, would you?
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I didn’t watch the Coronation – I like watching the highlights of these things. I have the attention span of a gnat for long programmes, but I still watched a good few hours of it. With regard to the actual service; priests ALWAYS have the service book open on the altar for Communion (as Verger I often had to set it up) even thought they repeat the words week after week. It’s not a question of cue cards, it’s so they don’t divert off into the wide blue yonder. In the coronation of the King I should think that as it is a once in a blue moon occurrence the cue cards are a necessity. It is something I have raised with Phil that the protesters were probably arrested for their own safety. I’d certainly have bashed one over the head with my brolly had I been there and they were obstructing my view.
Pageantry and tradition is something we do remarkably well in this country. People say (well, some of them do) ‘but what a waste of taxpayers’ money’. As a taxpayer, I’m very happy to contribute the cost of a cup of coffee a day (or whatever it is) to support the Firm, but a lot less happy to spend it on policing the Eco-mobs or the ‘He’s not My King’ lot. The former because I think they have made their point, the latter because, no, he’s not their King, he’s OUR King, and if you are privileged enough to live in this country then you also have the privilege to freely leave it if the current system doesn’t please you. Incidentally, I watched a programme not so long ago about Olly Cromwell. He spent a few hedonistic years in Italy….
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Thanks for putting us right about the prompt book. It did look a bit naff though, in these days of prompt screens (with little dots hopping along to show where yo’re up to) I’d have thought they could have found a better solution (albeit less traditional).
I agree about the cost. I don’t have anything to back it up (and life’s too short to research it) but I’m willing to bet a bottle of Scotch that the amount spent if divided up among the homeless and those on benefits wouldn’t go very far.
I also would rather the police spent their time investigating thefts and burglaries than policing demonstrations. There are platforms enough to air one’s views these days without having to stop the tax-paying public from going about their lawful business. Or enjoying themselves at a Coronation.
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