A commentary by a former Times 91原创 editorial writer.
One of the things that can divert us from the horror and brutality, the squalor and suffering, of the world today is the pomp and ceremony of a coronation.
A new bottom, briefly, on Saint Edward’s Chair (1300 AD) no longer affects the fortunes and misfortunes of common folk as much as once it did, of course. Heads that, for the occasion, wear Saint Edward’s Crown (1661 AD) are not as uneasy as once they were.
But those who are interested in historical tradition, or understand the religious aspect of a monarch’s pledge to uphold a monarch’s duty, can appreciate this sort of thing. For the rest of us, it can be a jolly good show.
The ceremony on Saturday will be the third for me. I don’t remember the first, understandably, but I do the second (June 2, 1953 AD) and have the mono recording still – “the only one authorized by the Earl Marshall” it says on the cover.
Richard Dimbleby does the narration with pant-wetting excitement: “A world in waiting,” then “A heart-stirring wonder” (the Golden State Coach, 1762 AD), “a pillared palace of kings” (Buckingham Palace, 1703-5 AD), “the most wonderful sight I have ever seen” (the soon-to-be crowned Queen), “and the coach moves!”
There are fanfares and the stamping of boots outside Westminster Abbey, anthems and admonitions within.
Is this all to be repeated on Saturday? The word is that the ceremony is to be streamlined, whatever that means – three Vivats instead of four?
Charles has commissioned 12 new pieces of music, apparently, which doesn’t sound much like streamlining. And clergy are not known for keeping things short.
Still, the new king’s mark is being put on events: Prince George is to be a page and mustn’t fidget.
Princess Anne, as Colonel of the Blues and Royals (not a rock group), is to be Gold Stick in Waiting, in effect Charles’ bodyguard though they didn’t always get along as kids. What does she do if there’s trouble? Ride her horse into a mob? Beat an assailant with her gold-tipped stick?
Charles is showing his environmental concern: he has directed that the oil from the Mount of Olives to anoint him shall be animal friendly: no essence of civet glands or whale guts as additives which we learn have been used before for some reason.
On the other hand the Cross of Wales (2023 AD) to head the Abbey procession will have alleged splinters of the True Cross tucked into it.
Charles will display his royal manhood: He has rejected wearing the breeches and silk stockings of earlier kings when crowned in favour of a military uniform, festooned with medals, orders, gold lanyards and blue sashes and a shiny sword.
The new king will clank, not glide.
Queen Elizabeth was lifted onto the throne by the Archbishop of Canterbury and a gang of bishops and peers. Charles isn’t likely to suffer that indignity.
And he doesn’t have to sign anything.
Television audiences with long memories will notice another mark of modernity. Women will be members of the clergy taking part. So will Ladies of the Garter and Ladies of the Thistle.
The rest will likely be as tradition requires: rows and rows of coronets and ermine, kissing of hands and God Save the King at every intermission.
91原创s know and some of us don’t mind that Charles is our king too. But he’s really not Charles III to us: he’s the first Charlie we’ve had since Canada was invented.
Uh oh. Britain’s Charles I came to a sticky end.
His disloyal subjects built a scaffold for him in Whitehall and chopped his head off and tossed it into the crowd.
His crime was to “uphold in himself an unlimited and tyrannical power to rule according to his will.”
Doesn’t sound like our Charles I at all – he’s already planning a quicky funeral ceremony when his time comes.
No bloody axe. No leaky pen.
