|
the DON JONES INDEX… |
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GAINS POSTED in GREEN LOSSES POSTED in RED
5/22/23… 15,026.13
5/8/23… 15,011.70 |
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6/27/13… 15,000.00 |
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(THE DOW JONES
INDEX: 5/22/23... 33,300,62; 5/8/23... 34,674.38; 6/27/13…
15,000.00) |
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LESSON for May 15, 2023 – “WHITHER...
EMPIRE?”
Here’s a funny Coronation story for the Yanks...
“You don't get to see new U.K. monarchs coronated
all that often, this is after all the first coronation in 70 years, and Twitter
brought out its full potential during the event. Maybe we'll get another one of
these in several years. Hopefully, Twitter is still around by then.” – The Onion
The
world and Twitterverse (on Friday, renamed X-Corp by Elon Musk) gaped and gawked and
judge far, far in advance of the Coronation, especially after the death of Queen
Elizabeth II
eight months previously, with doubts and expectations heightening with the
passing of days and months.
What the New York Times called “regal alchemy” three days before the
affair was conjured up... for the first time since 1953... at Westminster Abbey and, later Buckingham Palace. (May 2, Attachment One) as “a moment in history intimately entwined with its
onscreen projection around Britain and across the globe.”
When Elizabeth was crowned, “Britain was marked by
extreme deference,” Vernon Bogdanor, a constitutional
expert at King’s College, London, said in a recent interview. “The monarchy was
thought to be magical and untouchable.”
Today, Bogdanor said, monarchies are judged by
what, if anything, they contribute to society, “and if it doesn’t, people won’t
have it.” The so-called Green Monarch, King Charles II, he added, seems “well
aware of that.”
“The public eye is grown more unforgiving, its gaze,
like its judgments, more relentless,” Catherine Mayer wrote in “Charles: The
Heart of a King,” a biography updated last year after its initial publication
in 2015. “Even so, if the Windsors wish to see the
biggest dangers to the survival of the monarchy, they need only look in the
mirror,” now reflecting the disgrace of Prince Andrew and de-royalization of Prince Harry – not to mention the
controversy round King and Queen themselves after his divorce from Princess
Diana and her tragic death.
Cumulatively, concluded the Times’ London reporter
Alan Cowell, “the airing of grievances, like Prince Andrew’s litany of
self-exculpation before it, bolstered the sense of a dysfunctional and
anachronistic institution held in place by a fickle mix of public tolerance,
inherited privilege and fabled wealth. In the run-up to the coronation, one
question eagerly pursued by British newspapers was whether Harry would attend
the most important public event in his father’s life on May 6.
The answer: he
would, but without Meghan and their two children.
The controversy also underscored Britain’s complex
views toward the monarchy, according to Time, also before the Coronation (May 2nd,
Attachment Two). Since the death of Queen Elizabeth II last year, the
institution continues to enjoy broad support, but, a recent survey by
the British pollster YouGov shows that support has declined from
62% to 58%. Another survey from the National Center for Social Research
found that while 55% of the British public consider the monarchy to be
important, those who say that its retention is “very important” stood at just
29%, the lowest proportion on record. “That suggests a degree of indifference
from a considerable number of Brits when it comes to sticking with the royal
family,” pointed out Time’s Yasmeen Serhan,
particularly as regards some members of said royal family sticking it to, not sticking with, their family.
Among 18- to 24-year-olds, the pollsters also found,
“just 32% believe that the monarchy should continue, according to YouGov,
compared to 38% who believe it should be abolished altogether.”
The queen was this wonderful blank canvas,” says
longtime royals expert Richard Fitzwilliams, on which
Britons could project their own views and perceptions onto. In Charles, Britons
have a more complex portrait—one that is widely seen as flawed, controversial,
and even out of touch.
“Usually as people get older, they become more
conservative,” Fitzwilliams added, noting that
support for the monarchy appears to correlate with age. But
“it doesn’t guarantee it will happen in the future.”
A more positive view of the new old King Charles was
expessed by the noted and notorious society
writer/editor/publisher Tina Brown, bestowing her blessings on the royals in
Time (May 3rd, Attachment Three) promising that “King Charles III Will Be
Worth the Wait.”
“On May 6, 2023, the 74-year-old man who spent more
than five decades in the waiting room of his destiny—longer than any Prince of
Wales in history—finally walks through its door,” Tina Timed-in. King Charles
III by the Grace of God, of the (still) United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland and of His Other Realms and Territory, Head of the
Commonwealth, and Defender of the Faith, gushed the former editor of several
print and online beasts, “will have placed on his head by the Most Rev. Justin
Welby (Archbishop of Canterbury) the nearly 5-lb. solid gold St. Edward’s Crown
at Westminster Abbey. Crowned alongside him will be the 75-year-old woman who
has herself shown years of shrewd, strategic patience: Queen Camilla. Even the baleful stare of Prince Harry, who
blurted late that he would attend the ceremony—but without Meghan—cannot throw
shade on the former mistress’s vindication.
No mistaking where high society stands on the
Regency/Republican issue!
Noting that the coming
Coronation would be “slimmed down” but not “off the rack”, Brown reported upon some of the measures that the palace has taken to
reduce expenses and make the ceremonies appear to be more inclusive, if not
democratic.
To whittle the guest list to 2,000 from the “8,000
hanging from the rafters at his mother’s coronation, the cavalcade of ermined
dukes has been mostly booted in favor of National Health Service and charity
workers and other inclusive representatives of an effortfully modern Britain.
The few MPs who made the cut don’t get a plus-one (a bitter pill). Princes of
the Blood and other grandees are not required to take the knee and swear a
Shakespearean oath of fealty. And unlike Queen Elizabeth’s bladder-busting
three-hour ceremony, this
21st century coronation will likely run the 1½ hours of a Premier League soccer
match.”
If the remaining rituals sound all the more Monty Pythonesque, “so what?’ scoffed Brown.
“The potent
flummery of the monarchy still holds the British people in its thrall. It
is meant to be a never-ending story, and the months since Charles’ ascension
have been a seamless rebrand of the House of Windsor as an institution built to
survive.” A recent BBC/YouGov poll found
that 58% of Brits support the monarchy,” she added, turning what the New York
Times viewed as nugatory into a virtue and passing over the issue of aging and
tradition... not to mention immigration and post-colonial anger.
Tina’s evidence for the paradigm shift in Britain’s
estimation of King Charles... in fact, that of the world... is his concern
(some used to say “carping”) on the environment. “For decades, he was mocked for his
-jeremiads about climate change and the despoilment of the English countryside.
Now, as the world self-immolates and glaciers melt, even his most merciless
critics acknowledge his prescience. His people know exactly who he is: Charles
the Green, a woke grandpa with a complexion pinker by the minute, who drives an
Aston Martin fueled by a bioethanol blend of cheese and English white wine
by-products, and who assuaged his grief in the Queen’s last hours by foraging
for mushrooms in the Balmoral woods.”
And, in the eighteen years since he married Camilla,
the now-Queen... once reviled as an “old bag,” “old trout,” “prune,” and
“hatchet face” in the ’90s by the tabloids for usurping the adored Princess
Diana is now on her way—at least in the now uniformly glowing press
coverage—“to becoming a British national treasure, the Maggie Smith of the
monarchy.”
Just the portraiture that a medieval good (not grimm)fairy tale might paint of a jolly old royal couple,
beloved by subjects, courted by allies, respected by enemies.
It’s easy to forget that after decades of “dullsville”
Commonwealth tours and ceaseless face time with an encyclopedia of potentates,
Charles is now “one of the best-wired diplomats in the world,” Brown nosed on,
citing his first state visit as King-designate to Germany in March “where he
tapped his Hanoverian roots to speak in fluent German.”
Might he even be capable of reversing the
all-powerful Brexit... now that detractors like Boris Johnson and Donald Trump
have passed... for the present... from the scene? As Brown concluded of Queen Camilla, she
(and, presumably, he) understand the “quintessential tenet of monarchy—how to
play the long game.”
A detailed Wikipedia survey of
the Coronation... past, present and future... noted that, during his mother’s
reign, planning meetings for Charles's coronation, codenamed "Operation
Golden Orb", were held at least once a year, attended by representatives
of the government, the Church of England, and Charles's staff. (Attachment Four)
In addition to the selection of honorees and cup
(and rod, staff, clothing and other ritual objects) bearers, Golden Orb oversaw
military dress rehearsals, closed Westminster Abbey on April 25th
for preparations and enhanced security precautions.
Charles selected old clothes “first used by George IV, George
V, George VI, and (even, probably to the rage and horror of American MAGAnauts) Elizabeth II!
Camilla re-used “...vestments, including Elizabeth II's robe of
state, but also wore a new robe of estate featuring her cypher,
bees, a beetle, and various plants and flowers,” as well as a new coronation
gown with pictures of flowers and dogs.
Among
other historic oils and artifacts, “St. Edward's Crown, which was used to crown
the King, was removed from the Tower of London in December 2022 for
resizing.” It would slide around the royal
scalp, creating a post-coroning hullaballoo in the tablods. Queen
Mary's Crown, which was used to crown Camilla, was also removed from display to
be reset – (the Crown of Queen Elizabeth was not used, “to avoid a
potential diplomatic dispute with India; as it contains the Koh-i-Noor diamond, which is claimed by the
former colony.)
The holy
anointing oil used in the service was consecrated at the Church of
the Holy Sepulchre on 6 March 2023
by Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem,
under the supervision of Hosam Naoum, the Anglican archbishop of Jerusalem. It was
based on the same formula as the oil used in the coronation of Elizabeth
II, but without animal products such as civet... Charles being a semi-vegan (except as regards his motorcar fuel).
Wiki
also noted that UK Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, paying homage to Samuel Pepys
(but not Colly Cibber) and a mixture of old and new musical works as listed in
Attachment Four. So here’s what he had
to say...
An Unexpected Guest
featuring Samuel Pepys
She’s treated herself to new shoes, a window seat
on the fast train, a hotel for a night.
She’s been to the capital twice before,
once to see Tutankhamun when she was nine
and once when it rained. Crossing The Mall
she’s just a person like everyone else
but her hand keeps checking the invitation,
her thumb strumming the gilded edge of the card,
her finger tracing the thread of embossed leaves.
In sight of the great porch she can’t believe
the police just step aside, that doors shaped
for God and giants should open to let her in.
*
She’s taken her place with ambulance drivers
and nurses and carers and charity workers,
a man who alchemised hand sanitiser
from gin, a woman who walked for sponsored miles,
the boy in the tent. The heads of heads of state
float down the aisle, she knows the names
of seven or eight. But the music’s the thing:
a choir transmuting psalms into sonorous light,
the cavernous sleepwalking dreams
of the organ making the air vibrate,
chords coming up through the soles of her feet.
Somewhere further along and deeper in
there are golden and sacred things going on:
glimpses of crimson, flashes of jewels
like flames, high priests in their best bling,
the solemn wording of incantations and spells,
till the part where promise and prayer become fused:
the moment is struck, a pact is sworn.
*
And got to the abby . . .
raised in the middle . . .
Bishops in cloth-of-gold Copes . . .
nobility all in their parliament-robes . . .
The Crowne being put on his head
a great shout begun. And he came forth . . .
taking the oath . . . And Bishops . . . kneeled
. . . and proclaimed . . . if any could show
any reason why Ch. . . . should not be the King . . .
that now he should come and speak . . .
The ground covered with blue cloth . . .
And the King came in with his Crowne . . .
and mond . . . and his sceptre
in hand . . .
*
She’ll watch it again on the ten o’clock news
from the armchair throne in her living room:
did the cameras notice her coral pink hat
or her best coat pinned with the hero’s medal she got
for being herself? The invitation is propped
on the mantelpiece by the carriage clock.
She adorned the day with ordinariness;
she is blessed to have brought the extraordinary home.
And now she’ll remember the house sparrow
she thought she’d seen in the abbey roof
arcing from eave to eave, beyond and above.
For
good or for ill, coronations... like the world... have been shaped and shifted
less by poetry than by technology; specifically television and, now, the
Internet.
“King Charles has resolved to follow his mother’s
example by banning cameras from what is considered the most sacred part of the
coronation service, in which he is anointed with what is called the oil
of chrism.” (NYT,
Attachment One, Above)
Some members of the British hierarchy wished to keep
cameras out of the inner sanctum of Westminster Abbey, where the queen was
crowned. “The world would have been a happier place if television had never
been discovered,” the Most Rev. Geoffrey F. Fisher, then the archbishop of
Canterbury, who presided over the queen’s coronation, was quoted as saying.
Instead, media outlets in Britain, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand
and the United States broadcast the coronation live. (Wiki) At home, “the coronation was viewed by an
average television audience of 18.8 million and a peak television audience
of 20.4 million in the UK, making it the most-watched broadcast of the
year so far.[185][186] The
BBC showed the coronation on BBC One, BBC Two with British Sign Language interpretation and the BBC News Channel, and its peak audience of
15.5 million was the largest of any broadcaster.[185] ITV had
an audience of 3.6 million people, with ITV3 carrying British Sign Language interpretation from 10:45am to 1pm,
and a further 800,000 watched on Sky News and Sky Showcase.[185]
Outside the UK, the ceremony would be watched by over 3 million people in
Australia, nearly 9 million people in France, over 4.8 million people in
Germany (a market share of 42.6 percent), and 12 million people in the US.[187][188][189] [190]
The
Yankee Dollar doughboys at NASDAQ had their own take on the festivities as
Coronation Day dawned on Wall Street... (Attachment Five)... and heavy on the
Pound-age it was.
“Set
against the backdrop of a cost of living crisis,” postulated Michael Holden of
the American fiscal firm, “some public scepticism and
in a modern era when questions are being posed about the future of the
institution, its role and finances, Saturday's event will be on a smaller scale
than the previous one 70 years ago.”
Nonetheless,
Nasdaq tallied up the tab, it would be a lavish occasion. When the St Edward's Crown, which
weighs about 2.2 kg (4 lb 12 ounces) and dates back
to 1661 and the reign of his namesake King Charles II, will be placed on his
head during the ceremony, it would be only the foremost among the other
historic, bejewelled items involved... such as “the
530 carat Cullinan 1 diamond, also known as the Star of Africa and
the world's largest colourless cut diamond.”
There
would be a financial windfall for the little people, too. Aside from hotel and restaurant receipts from
the great and the small coming for the Coronation... retailers hoping for a
boost from the three-days of celebrations and street parties with the public
enjoying an extra holiday on Monday. And
“Buckingham Palace said it expected it would provide an economic lift for Britain's struggling economy.”
Further,
NASDAQ reported, “Supermarket Lidl said it had sold enough bunting to line the
procession route 75 times over, and Tesco said it expected to sell enough
bunting to stretch from Land's End in southwest England to the tip of Scotland.
Sainsbury's said its sales of sparkling wines were up 128% year-on-year.”
But some
others, “generally apathetic” and struggling to pay their bills were trending
down on the occasion.
"They
just take everything from me. (The Royals) never do a day's work,"
complained Philip Nash, 68, as he swept the streets in Whitechapel, a more run
down area of east London.
Whitechapel
was not on the route as, the day before his Coronation, Charles celebrated the
closure of his Prince-ipality by going on “walkabout” (as Aussia
PM Anthony Albanese or new New Zealand PIM Chris Hipkins might say) with family including Bill (but not
Harry) and then hosted a Buckingham
Palace lunch for prime ministers of here and thereabouts and governors general
of the 14 other British realms... perhaps a last-ditch effort to save the
Commonwealth before some went their own way.
“The 42 guests including Queen Letizia of Spain,
Prince Albert of Monaco and his wife Charlene arrived in the white drawing
room,” according to Russell Myers, Royal Editor of the Mirror U.K. (Attachment Six) – then mingled in a drinks
reception in the music room before dining in the blue drawing room.
“The Princess of Wales could be heard chatting about
the forecast of rain during the Coronation procession. Future King William told
guests of his excitement that his father’s big moment was near. Prince Edward
and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, worked opposite sides of the room to Princess
Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, thanking the guests for travelling
so far.” The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and
the 87 year old Duke of Kent remarked on the “remarkable” occasion and Charles also
thanked Dr. Jill Biden, who spent the afternoon with PM Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty, visiting primary
pupils in Central London.
At an evening event, again at Buckingham Palace,
Myers continued patriotically: “First lady of Ukraine Olena
Zelenska represented her husband Volodymyr Zelensky, who
stayed at home in a country bravely defending itself against the Russian
invasion.”
P.M. Sunak also held separate meetings with visiting
world leaders discussing the “economic opportunities” of climate change with
Mr. Albanese and the UK/New Zealand free trade agreement with Mr. Hipkins, as well as the war in Ukraine, regional security
and last year’s World Cup with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar.
(But a scowling Amnesty International played rat in
the pantry by scolding the Prime Minister for not pressing the emir on
“compensating migrant workers who built the World Cup stadiums”, the emirate’s
anti-LGBTQ+ laws and “unacceptable restrictions” on free speech and women’s
rights, Brazilian leader Lula Da Silva declared that rich nations should
support poorer ones in their efforts to prevent deforestation and Conservative
MPs protested the presence of Chinese vice-president Han Zheng, for president
over “a civil liberties crackdown in Hong Kong.”)
Nonetheless, even the customarily hostile Guardian
U.K. had to admit that... for all the “silly-little-country vibes attending the
run-up to the coronation this weekend, the hope will surely be that, for happy
reasons this time, there may be a similar effect: a reminder to those who need
reminding that Britain is a glorious, ancient, and extremely dignified country
where things happen that couldn’t happen anywhere else.”
And that, declared Emma
Brockes (Thu. 4 May 2023 03.00 EDT,
Attachment Seven) in a week of “fierce competition for news space in the
US”, with Donald Trump facing rape accusations in
New York, more “explicitly racist” Tucker Carlson
texts and “another probable round of interest rate rises coming down the
pike.”
In this context, “the coronation appeared this week
in its rightful place in the US, as the and-finally item, a reminder to
Americans that for all their eccentricities, the people in the baffling fancy
dress still just about have the edge.”
The Washington Post, marveled Brockes,
produced voluminous coverage on British quiche, the New York Times covered the “breaking with 800
years of tradition,” with a pivot from traditional coronation eel to pork pie
and the rival Post breathlessly covered Harry and Meghan’s anxious waiting for a coronation invitation (he came, she
didn’t)... in sum, a dominant tone that was “...indulgent, incredulous, and
mildly and affectionately mocking; ...vastly different from the coverage that
would have greeted the run-up to the previous monarch’s coronation in 1953.”
And, then... came Coronation Day!
What about, asked the National Geographis,
all of those “orbs, robes and stones”... those scepters, controversial diamonds
and the “weird Stone of Destiny?”
(Attachment Eight, sort of)
Everything has a meaning, they hinted (but they also
have a paywall to which you must subscribe in order to discern).
Back to the ceremonies and a more typical gobbet of
GUK grumbling, as “King Charles grumbled ‘we can never be on time’ and ‘there’s
always something’ at the start of his coronation,” according to a presumably
professional lip reader from Sky News who added that the monarch-in-waiting
groused “this is boring” after Bill and Kate arrived late and Charles and
Camilla were “forced to wait” in their diamond jubilee coach. (Attachment Nine)
“William
and Kate were due to arrive at 10.45am, while Charles and Camilla’s arrival had
been set for 10.53am in the carefully organised
schedule, planned months in advance.”
This episode of coach rage was not the first time Charles had shown an
outburst of emotion, GUK reminding the world and London again about his tantrum
when, “signing a visitors’ book at Hillsborough Castle, shortly after Queen
Elizabeth died, he got upset at a pen
after it appeared to leak, telling aides: ‘I can’t bear this bloody thing’.
“Camilla,
who was given the pen, said: ‘It’s going everywhere,’ before the pair wiped
their hands.”
In the
spirit of princely and public pique, GUK had polled a few peanuts from the
British Gallery and found some “mild bemusement (or) plain disgust,” among
Englishmen (and women) at being obligated to swear allegiance to the King. (Attachment Ten)
“Incredibly distasteful during a cost of living crisis” went one
response; “A relic of a violent colonial past” said an anti-Commonwealth
Canadian; a retired Scotswoman called for a sort of “Scotxit”,
another retiree opined “‘I think he’s shot himself in foot’.”
“I would
not be able to force the words out of my mouth,” continued one Barbara Hinds of
Essex, a former teacher. “On a good day,
I could laugh hysterically at the whole thing. Talk about unelected privilege
and entitlement!”
But a
self-described “Royalist-lite” disagreed.
“I think the monarchy provides an
excuse for spectacular national events like the jubilee, royal weddings,
coronations and state funerals. There’s so much history woven into the
ceremonies – plus we get extra bank holidays and street parties.”
So that
is what King and Queen and Court and history have come down to...
entertainment.
Could
Charles and Camilla and their Royal broos be (unwontedly and probably
unconsciously) aping America’s former President Trump? (At least the King isn’t the accused
rapist... that’s his brother.)
Coronation
morning dawned drearily and predictably British with soul-chilling skies and
perpetual rain. No matter... thousands
(none of who had any hope of actually being invited into Westminster Abbey or Buckingham Palace) had waited overnight –
some standing, others sleeping in tents and makeshift shelter that the police
poked at, but largely ignored. Coverage
on American television began at five into the morning, well into the day in
London, and tired newscasters reiterated by rote the times and travails of the
Prince and the paupers and swells who would take their fifteen minutes (or
seconds) in the spotlight in hours to come.
Security
had been bolstered with beaucoups of bobbies and the
pre-emptive arrests of dissidents, and it only increased after a man with a
knife was arrested Tuesday night. (Time,
Attachment Eleven)
Police
arrested for throwing explosives, found to be shotgun cartridges, onto the
palace grounds. “The incident is not being treated as terror-related
and the man is believed to have acted in isolation,” Metropolitan police told
the press (via, this being 2023, Twitter.
The Golden Orb security crackdown involved deployment
of hundreds of officers across the procession route—from Westminster Abbey to
Buckingham Palace—as well as plainclothes officers located in the crowds and
snipers in place on rooftops. A no-fly zone was alsoimplemented
in Central London, with drones banned, and barriers erected to prevent vehicles
from driving into crowds.
The most controversial police
methods, critics charged, involved pre-emptive identification, surveillance
and, in a few cases such as that of Republican agitators, detention of “anyone who could be a possible threat” in either
prisons or mental health asylums. They
also used intelligence “to monitor disruption from environmental protests
groups and make pre-emptive arrests of troublemakers” (or, since no physical
crimes had yet been committed, trouble-thinkers).
“Senior members of the British royal family, royals
across the world, key government figures and heads of state. They’re all still
coming,” said a police spokesman, “and the policing plan has to reflect that.”
Security
secured and the latecomers accommodated, Charles and Camilla departed
Buckingham Palace at 10:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time (GMT... 5:20 AM Eastern
Standard), entered the Diamond Jubilee State Coach and journeyed to the Great West Door
of Westminster Abbey, a distance of 1.42 miles (2.29 km), occasionally
waving to their subjects lined up on the sidewalks.
The procession into the abbey
was led by leaders and representatives from non-Christian religions, including
the Baháí, Buddhist,
Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Shia and Sunni Muslim, Sikh, and Zoroastrian communities.[12][64] They
were followed by Christian leaders from different Christian
denominations, including the Church of
England. After this the flags of the Commonwealth realms were carried by representatives,
accompanied by their governors general and prime ministers. The choir followed.[12][64][63]
Charles and Camilla arrived
shortly before 11:00 and formed their own procession, preceded by retainers
carrying heraldic standards and lesser regalia as well as their pages -
including Charles’ grandson, and Camilla's grandsons.
And then came a surprise.
Up popped the Prince and
Princess of Wales and their two younger children, joining the procession as the
choir sang Hubert Parry's "I was
glad" not to be mistaken for Cream’s
“I’m So Glad”), and the King's
Scholars of Westminster
School sang "Vivat Regina Camilla" and "Vivat Rex Carolus" ('Long live Queen
Camilla' and 'Long live King Charles').
In recognition of (some critics
calling it patronizing and/or belated, below) the Empire’s religious diversity,
Jews, Catholics, even... perhaps... a friendly Russian Orthodox partiarch were allowed into the ceremonies, as were
“leaders and representatives from non-Christian religions, including the Baháí, Buddhist,
Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Shia and Sunni Muslim, Sikh, and Zoroastrian communities.[12][64]
Upon their entry into
Westminster Abbey, commentators were shackled into debate and discussion of the
royal regalia... the Crown, the Orb, the Stone of Scone beneath the throne (in
many American homes, an old biscuit under the kitchen table chair would be
snapped up by the dog – unless he can’t stomach scones either).
Expostulating on Camilla’s
necklace, fashioned in 1858, and her many, many jewels... some of which had
engendered controversy (below)... the media pronounced that the new Queen “had
been rehabilited in the minds of the British people,”
with others of the tribe attributing it to her belief in “rescue dogs and
literacy.”
Before administering the oath,
the Archbishop of Canterbury (nee Justin Wellby)
acknowledged the existence of multiple faiths and beliefs in the United
Kingdom.[63] Charles
then took the coronation
oath, in which he swore to govern
each of his countries according to their respective laws and customs, to
administer law and justice with mercy, and to uphold Protestantism in the
United Kingdom and protect the Church of England (which promise of Oath Keeping
angered British Republicans and infidels, as below.) Subsequently, he made the
statutory accession
declaration[64] ,
signed a written form of the oath, then knelt before the altar and saying a
prayer.[64]
Diversity next manifested as
Prime Minister Rishi Unak then stepped up to deliver
the epistle and Sarah
Mullally, Bishop of London read the gospel and
then it was time for the Archbishop to declare “Let us pray” (the prayer being
a translation from the Liber Regalis, which dates
from c. 1382) while a man in black came forward to hold the Good Book from
which Justin delivered his sermon.
[Lambeth
Palace] Archbishop of Canterbury Justin
Welby delivered the following Sermon for The Coronation of Their Majesties King
Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6 in Westminster Abbey.
We are here to crown a King, and we crown a King to
serve.
What is given today is
for the gain of all. For Jesus Christ announced a Kingdom in which the poor and
oppressed are freed from chains of injustice. The blind see. The bruised and
broken-hearted are healed.
That Kingdom sets the aims of all righteous government, all authority.
And the Kingdom also sets the means of all
government and authority. Jesus doesn’t grasp power or hold onto status.
The King of Kings, Jesus Christ, was anointed not to
be served, but to serve. He creates the unchangeable law that with the
privilege of power comes the duty to serve.
Service is love in action. We see active love in our
care for the most vulnerable, the way we nurture and encourage the young, in
the conservation of the natural world. We have seen those priorities in the
life of duty lived by our King.
Today we have the honour
of being in this Abbey with so many who show such love; you work with charities
and organisations, you build community, you serve the
nation in Armed Forces, in emergency services, and so many other ways. Next
door are 400 extraordinary young people in St Margaret’s, whose lives speak of
service. Around the world in the Realms and Commonwealth are so many more.
You live your lives for the sake of others.
The unity you show, the example you give, is what
binds us together and offers societies that are strong, joyful, happy and
glorious. They bear heavy weights for us.
The weight of the task given you today, Your
Majesties, is only bearable by the Spirit of God, who gives us the strength to
give our lives to others. With the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the King is
given freely what no ruler can ever attain through will, or politics, or war,
or tyranny: the Holy Spirit draws us to love in action.
This is promised by Jesus who put aside all
privilege, because, as the first reading tells us, God will give all things for
our sake, even His life.
His throne was a Cross. His crown was made of
thorns. His regalia were the wounds that pierced his body.
Each of us is called by God to serve. Whatever that
looks like in our own lives, each of us can choose God’s way today.
We can say to the King of Kings, God Himself, as
does the King here today, ‘give grace that in thy service I may find perfect
freedom’.
In that prayer there is promise beyond measure, joy
beyond dreams, hope that endures. By that prayer, for every King, every ruler,
and, yes, for all of us, we are opened to the transforming love of God.
The royal pair
then followed the Archbishop back behind the altar and into a secret chamber
behind a Screen of Silence where Charles was anointed with holy oil by the
Archbishop of Canterbury, using the ampulla and a medieval spoon, the latter
the oldest part of the coronation regalia. The anointing emphasised
the spiritual role of the sovereign... a private part of the service; as in
1953 it was not televised.
GOWNED, CROWNED and
DRIVEN ROUND
Prior to coronation, Charles was
presented with several items from the coronation regalia... the spurs, Armills, Sword of State, and
Sword of Offering were given to the King, who touched them with his hand,
before they were removed again.[64] During
this, Psalm 71 was chanted in Greek by an Orthodox choir, requested by Charles
as a tribute to his father, Prince Philip, who was born a prince of Greece.[64]
The King
was then invested with the stole royal, robe royal, and
the sovereign's orb, and presented with
the sovereign's ring, which he touched
but did not wear as the orchestra played music that sounded as if it had leaped
off the screen of a superhero movie. He
was then invested with the glove, and
two sovereign's sceptres... one with a cross, the other with a dove.
The King was then crowned by
the Archbishop of Canterbury, with the Archbishop and then the congregation
chanting, "God save the King!" At the moment of crowning
the church bells of the abbey rang, 21-gun salutes were
fired at 13 locations around the United Kingdom and on deployed Royal Navy
ships, and 62-gun salutes and a six-gun salvo were fired from the Tower of
London and Horse Guards Parade.[79]
Charles then
received a Christian blessings read by the Anglican Archbishop of York, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain,
the Moderator of the Free Churches, the
Secretary General of the ecumenical Christian organisation Churches
Together in England, the Roman Catholic Cardinal
Archbishop of Westminster, and the Anglican
Archbishop of Canterbury.[64]
Taking his
seat upon the throne (originally made for George VI in 1937), the Archbishop of
Canterbury and William, Prince of Wales, offered him their fealty.[74][64] The
Archbishop then invited the people of the United Kingdom and the other
Commonwealth realms to recite a Pledge of Allegiance to the King (which would
elicit a few grumblings from persons outside the Abbey) and then it was
Camilla’s turn. She was anointed, presented
with the Queen Consort's Ring and then the Archbishop placed Queen Mary's
Crown upon her head. Presented with
the Queen Consort's Sceptre with Cross and
the Queen Consort's Rod with Dove (which, unlike other Queen
Consorts, she chose not to carry), she then took her place next to Charles on
the throne (originally made for Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in
1937).
Thereafter, the Archbishop
distributed Holy Communion before the cathedral’s enormous portrait of the Last
Supper and a visible and invisible audience of (as one newscaster reported
ominously, if perhaps unintentionally) “the Angels, the Dark Angels, and all of
the Angels of Heaven”; Charles and Camilla then escaping any Dark Angels or
prying photographers for a spell so as to change their clothes.
CBS had showed
silent footage of the coronation ceremonies but ABC’s team of commentators
chattered away: one predicting that Charles would be a King “who would engage”
on Britain’s contemporary problems, climate change above all.
Another declared
that “Everything had gone as planned,” but did take note of the way in which
the King’s crown wobbled upon placement, before settling into place – a
development that some of conspiratorial or occult inclinations would follow in
the tabloids.
THE BALCONY
MOMENT 6:00 PM GMT (1 PM Est)
After more music and more conversation from conversators, King and Queen returned, having changed their
clothes and crowns (Charles donning the Royal Purple Robes of Royalty) and
carrying some of the regalia displayed during the ceremony entered the Golden
Coach (which a waggish pundit drawing conparisons to the pumpkin-hued, rat-hauled conveyance of Cinderalla) and, in what PBS called a “fairy-tale ending to the ancient pageantry” enjoyed
(or rather, given the uncomfortable seating in the old carriage) the short ride back to Buckingham Palace with
Camilla at his side and strains and shouts of “God Save the King” resonating as
the couple waved to the plebes.
“Following closely behind was Prince William, his
eldest son and heir, along with his family, including 9-year-old Prince George
who is second in line to the throne..
But, PBS... as others... observed, the king’s
youngest son was nowhere to be seen. “On his father’s biggest day,
Prince Harry arrived at Westminster Abbey alone and he left alone,” they
reported (Attachment Twelve); the “disgruntled” Duke of Sussex having been
banished to a seat two rows behind his brother.
The siblings were not seen speaking or even
acknowledging each other during the ceremony, according to PBS.
During the two-hour spectacle, keen attention had
been focused on Harry by the media and royal watchers. He did appear to join
the congregation in one of many refrains of “God save the king” during the
pomp- and music-filled ceremony.
Some British tabloids even consulted professional
lip-readers to interpret what Harry was saying; the Daily Mirror revealing that
he had uttered bombshells like “hello,” “morning” and “nice to see you” when he
entered the church.
“After the carriages departed from the church, Harry
was seen waiting for a car,” PBS reported; he was later seen at Heathrow
Airport hurriedly escaping the U.K. – perhaps because his son, Archie, turned 4
on Saturday and, by flying West in space and back in time, he might be able to
make it for his birthday.
Amids pealing bells and 4,000 soldiers marched in
formation (but, England being a democracy, without goose-stepping) the golden pumpking... er, royal carriage... deposited the royals back
at Buckingham Palace.
“A short while later, King Charles III
and Queen Camilla stepped out onto the balcony of Buckingham Palace
to wave to the crowd gathered below. They were joined by William, his wife,
Kate, three children and other senior royals.”
After the legendary and obligatory “balcony
appearance”, King and Queen reviewed the troops – some of whom removed their
black fur hats and hurled them into space while shouting “hip, hip,
Hooray!” Some bagpipers began playing
and, at this, some of the media took to the streets to interview the
citizenry.
One called the Coronation a “Game of Thrones”
moment, leading to speculations as to whether Harry might raise up an army and
take to the field against Bill.
Another, less martial, compared the setting to
Disneyland... big pumpkin coach and all, but no Ron DeSantis.
“Today was about the Monarchy and the Church,” said
a believer worried that both institutions were “losing relevance” among the
youth.
Some former colonials cheered King and Queen,
expressing hope and promoting “looking forward, not back”, unlike some
Commonwealth members looking forward either to Republicanism or complete
disassociation.
“Young people
have to be convinced that the monarchy still matters,” a broadcaster reminded
the millions watching... at the scene, on big-screens set up here and there in
London, on other tellies in the U.K. amidst a
corporate dispute between the BBC and independent broadcasters (see below) and
on broadcast, streaming and cable televisions, personal devices and social
media outlets all over the world.
ALL NIGHT
LONG...
Princes
(except for Andrew and Harry) and paupers, poets (street or laureate), some
pipers, some pirates, some party animals and pack rats, some prelates, some
pawns and the King... and the Queen... passed the waning afternoon passing
picknickers and photographers as the drizzle fizzled out and a ghost of a sun
appeared.
A day
after the gilded coronation ceremony watched
by millions, thousands of picnics and street parties were held across the U.K.
in Charles’ honor. The community get-togethers, part of a British tradition
known as the Big Lunch, provided a down-to-earth counterpart to the gilded
spectacle of the king’s crowning Saturday; the events were intended to bring
neighbors together to celebrate the crowning.
Surveying
the scenes in Regent’s Park, AP interviewed Valent Cheung and his girlfriend
who showed up to cheer the new king with the neighbors who’d embraced them when
they moved from Hong Kong. They dolled up their loyal and “royal” fluffy white
dog, Tino, with a tiny purple crown for the occasion.
“This is
a new era for U.K,” Cheung said. “We didn’t have these things in Hong Kong.
Now, we are embracing the culture. We want to enjoy it, we want to celebrate
it.” (AP News, Attachment Thirteen)
Charles
and Camilla didn’t drop in on any of the picnics, leaving that duty to other
members of the royal family... William and Kate, surprising people picnicking
outside the castle before the concert. Dressed far more casually than the day
before, they shook hands and Kate embraced a crying girl in a hug.
Prime
Minister Rishi Sunak hosted U.S. first lady Jill Biden and her granddaughter
Finnegan Biden at a Big Lunch party held in front of his office. Other guests
included Ukrainian refugees and community activists.
The
king’s nieces, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, the daughters of Prince
Andrew, joined a lunch in Windsor that featured sausage rolls and salmon along
with coronation chicken — a dish cooked up for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation
70 years ago — and the coronation quiche, which was picked to suit Charles’
taste and has been the buzz of social media, “often,” AP exonerated, “for the
wrong reasons.” Andrew had skipped the
balcony moment too,
King Charles III and Queen Camilla “let others take
the center stage Sunday as they took in a star-studded concert featuring Katy
Perry, Lionel Richie (roundly panned by the
Daily Mirror) and others at Windsor Castle.”
“The newly crowned monarch and his wife appeared to
enjoy the show as Richie performed “All Night Long,” at one point getting up on
their feet and swaying to the music. Other members of the royal family,
including 8-year-old Princess Charlotte and Prince George, 9, waved Union flags
along with a crowd of some 20,000 gathered on the castle’s east terrace.
“Charlotte and her mother, Kate, the Princess of
Wales, sang along as Perry, dressed in a gold foil ball gown, performed her pop
hit “Roar.”
“Top Gun” star Tom Cruise appeared in a recorded
video message, saying: “Pilot to pilot. Your Majesty, you can be my wingman any
time.” The mixed program also saw performances by the Royal Ballet, Nicole
Scherzinger from the Pussycat Dolls, opera singer Andrea Bocelli and British
band Take That.
Even Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog made an
appearance, joking with host Hugh Bonneville.
For the un- and unprivileged not invited to Windsor
Castle, Coronation Weekend also featured other celebrations... even a Royal
Rock Out” inexplicably designated as Official; this including a performance at
the “legendary” 100 Club by former Sex Pistol Glen Matlock (The Mirror, by Tom
Bryant “Head of Showbiz”, 19:15, 5 May 2023 UPDATED
21:07, 5 May 2023. Attachment Fourteen).
The star said he’s putting on the show for people
“fed up with the Coronation” and will play anti-Royal song God Save the Queen,
but change the lyrics to include the new King.
He said: “When the show was set up I didn’t even realise it was going to be the Coronation. The people in my
rock and roll circle are not up to date with the Royal Diary.
“I’ve been in America for two months and it has sort
of crept up on us. I am no royalist but am not vehemently anti-royalist.
Hopefully people will be fed up with proceedings in the afternoon and will want
to get out of the house after watching it.
“It will get me out of the house from watching it
too.”
Asked about his thoughts about the King, he laughed:
“I think about the King as much as he thinks about me. He hasn’t had much of a
chance yet but he’s been groomed quite well…but you have to ask the question as
to whether we need a monarch at all. But at least Johnson isn’t in power.”
“We’ll have to change the words a bit but it will be
a missed opportunity if I don’t,“ he says. “I wrote the music for that song and
John (Lydon) wrote the lyrics. My interpretation was that song wasn’t exactly
bigging the Royals up given it equated them with a fascist regime.”
After the show, Matlock resumes touring the U.K. with Blondie. Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten), who had raised
some perhaps painted and piercedeyebrows with his
endorsement of Donald Trump in 2020 blew the entire Coronation off, fascist
regime and all, after his wife, Nora Forste (80) died
after battling Alzheimer’s. (Attachment
Fourteen – A)
Matlock
may have mellowed out into ambivalence over the Charles and Camilla show, but
there are plenty of Englishmen and women, overrepresented among the young and
the growing number of immigrants, who might agree that King and Queen are “not
human beings”, and the Associated Press (above) reported that criticism
continued Sunday over the further arrests of more than 50 protesters, including
members of a republican group shouting ‘Not my king’ and
environmentalists aiming to end the use of fossil fuels.
The
Metropolitan Police said officers detained 64 people Saturday, with four
suspects charged with offenses including a religiously aggravated public order
offense and drug possession.
Graham
Smith, leader of Republic, a group advocating for abolishing the monarchy, said
he was arrested as he planned a peaceful protest and spent 16 hours in police
custody.
“These
arrests are a direct attack on our democracy and the fundamental rights of
every person in the country,” Smith said. “Each and every police officer
involved on the ground should hang their heads in shame.” (He is reportedly
consulting “solicitors”...Englandly-English for
attorneys, as opposed to prostitutes or telemarketers... about suing somebody
for his trauma.
The
Metropolitan Police acknowledged concerns over the arrests, but defended the
force’s actions.
“The
coronation is a once-in-a-generation event and that is a key consideration in
our assessment,” Commander Karen Findlay said.
Prior to the coronation crackdown and lockdowns, Smith, had said in a recent statement: “The BBC routinely misrepresents
the monarchy and public opinion. They suggest the nation is celebrating major
events when that simply isn’t the case.” (NY Times and Attachment One, above)
When it was reported over the weekend that the British public would be
“called upon” to swear an oath of allegiance to King Charles III during
his May 6 coronation, a fierce backlash ensued. British lawmakers, royal
observers, and commentators alike dubbed the idea “half-cocked,” “odd,” and “tone-deaf.” (The British government later
clarified that it was an invitation to participate rather than an
expectation.) What had been proposed as a way to give ordinary people a more
formal role in the coronation only appeared to further highlight for some just
how seemingly strange and anachronistic the whole spectacle is. (Time,
Attachment Two, Above)
And when the polls came out, Smith,
while conceding that the Republicans (not a U.K. political party... yet...
rather a gathering of people who want King and crown – and the attendant
expenses – terminated) concedes it’s a small fraction of the millions who will
watch the event, and that a majority of Britons still prefer the monarchy, he
believes that this support is tepid. “We are not a country of royalists,” he
says. “We are a country that is largely indifferent, but is coming around to
looking more critically at this issue and as we see that happen more, I think
we’ll see polling continue to drop.”
The Guardian U.K. (despire a few aforementioned
spoonfuls of fluffernutter) held to its predictably
leftist, anti-Royalist and pro-Republican sentiments in a trio of
article-cum-opinionates published on Coronation Day, and after.
Martin Kettle (Attachment Fifteen, Friday, 1:00 EDT, 6:00 GMT) declared, as the Royals were
wrapping up their “balcony moment” that, while the coronation had offered “a chance to reform and modernise the monarchy,” such chance been squandered – the
ceremony remaining “rooted
in outdated religious and feudal ideals.”
Showering
contemt upon the “generous” souls who “might call
this weekend’s ritual a historical pretence that
pleases many and does no particular harm,” Mister Kettle insisted that they
call the ritual what it is: “a lie at the heart of the British state.
“The lie is that Britain is a practising
Christian nation, and that it is defined and held together by the established
Protestant religion, of which the monarch is the embodiment. That claim,” he
stated, “may have been accurate in the 18th century. It is simply untrue in the
Britain of 2023.”
His Evidence for the Prosecution is “the
42-page authorised liturgy for
the coronation rite that was published last week by the Church of England,” and
which... despite the inclusion of Jewish, Muslim and other faith leaders in walk-on-roles...
smashes the faces of the infidels into an “Anglican wall” which is the swearing
of the coronation oath.
The
oath’s contents were laid down in statute in 1688. “There
is no ambiguity about what the oath says. Charles must declare himself a
faithful Protestant, commit himself to maintain the Protestant succession and
swear to uphold the Church of England’s position as the established religion of
England.
“This made life-and-death sense in 1688. Today it is
absurd.”
The anointing of the King with special, sacred oil
also has deep historical roots, but then,” Kettle calls it, “so does witch
burning.” Relics, prayers and liturgies
likewise devolve what is supposedly a Constitutional monarchy to its “least
modern and its most obdurately feudal.”
The upshot, he concludes, “is that this coronation
does not mark the start of a new era. It is merely the continuation of the old
one.”
Another GUKster, Brooke
Newman, adjudicated the ceremony to have been “a delayed reckoning” with issues
like slavery reparations and (perhaps to the King’s horror and confusion) the
climate crisis.
Having
declared that the commonwealth was “a force for good in the world” in his
Commonwealth Day message to the world of 13 March, 2023, Newman... three
days into the KC3 reign, asked: “How can
74-year-old King Charles, the oldest monarch to be crowned in British history,
fulfil the ambitious, forward-looking promises of his Commonwealth Day message
in the time he has left?” (May 8th,
Attachment Sixteen)
Shades
of President Joe!
There
may be some, especially some of the younger people in the U.K., who want to
keep the monarchy and Commonwealth, but might be harboring repressed sentiments
that Charles should enjoy a few years of royal fun and then either pass into
the beyond or (like Pope Benedict or, in local English history still rememberd by a few ancient Britons, King Edward) abdicate
his throne and slip off into history, letting William take the reins and reign.
(Harry
might complicate matters but, after all, the British have not had a
brother-on-brother royal fight since the Dark Ages.)
By
comparison, the Commonwealth... “which arose from the dying flames of the
British empire and has long been closely associated with Queen Elizabeth, who
served as its head and most passionate champion for all of her 70-year
reign...” has enabled the island to retain at least a shadow of its prestige
following “the end of Britain’s global dominance and a contraction of British
power and grandeur.”
“I have
travelled widely throughout the Commonwealth as its head,” QE2 said at her silver jubilee in
1977, “(a)nd during those years I have seen, from a
unique position of advantage, the last great phase of the transformation of the
empire into Commonwealth and the transformation of the Crown from an emblem of
dominion into a symbol of free and voluntary association. In all history this
has no precedent.”
But, contends Newman, the future of England and Commonwealth will, like
that of America, be destroyed by the “brutal history and residue” of British imperialism’s violent, extractive
and exploitative colonial practices, reaching up to strangle the future in a
Great Purge that will see the obliteration of white, Western nations,
economies, culture and citizenry.
“Despite arguments that developing economies must move on, unlock their
potential, and stop harping on historic wrongs, the fate of Britain’s former
colonial possessions remain inextricably bound up with the past.”
Now, as
to the costs of the Coronation, it might prove interesting to know that the
most critical (barely) media coverage of the pounds and shillings came from
what might be called right wing or, at least, corporate oriented media... Fox,
the Wall Street Journal or Nasdaq (all above, all of which launched estimations
of fifty to one hundred million pounds (or, maybe, dollars).
Like
many sticky subjects, accurate estimates of costs and whether the funds needed
to cover them were taken from food banks for the starving (as GUK, above,
contends) or whether the GOP in the USA will crash the economy and gut Social
Security unless the Democrats cut said SS payments.
Here’s What We Know About the Vast Cost of King Charles III’s Coronation
Wiki’s examination of
documentation by the Department
for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
found that it was "unable to give costs, or a breakdown of funding"
until after the coronation, but unofficial estimates of £50 to £100 million
have been reported,[56] while
other reports suggest a figure of up to £250 million.[57] (Wiki, Attachment Four, above)
If the media were
vaguer than vage about the numbers given to them
regarding the costs of the Coronation, there was no reticence about reportage
upon their favorite topic of import... themselves.
Money and the media
married when Fox, reporting largely on the row between the BBC and several
independent news reporting outlets protesting the decision of the former to
restrict access to the ceremony to Britons and cut off those who did not pay
its enormous fees to see the crowning.
"Given the historic significance of the
occasion, all efforts should have been made by the BBC to ensure that the
footage - which is created using licence fee payer
money - is distributed as widely as possible to allow UK citizens to witness
this event, and the BBC has not fulfilled this obligation," the joint
statement continued. "The decision to charge UK media companies an
excessive commercial fee (with no visibility of true costs) seems perverse when
the BBC is allowing foreign publishers and broadcasters (like Fox) the same
footage for free.” (Attachment Eighteen)
“Elizabeth’s coronation was the first coronation to be transmitted live
and in full at a time when televisual broadcasting was still a novelty, and it
initiated a long era of increasingly close coordination between Buckingham
Palace and the BBC, Britain’s public broadcaster. (New York Times, Attachment One as Above)
Anti-royalists have complained bitterly that, as the ubiquitous Graham
Smith said in a recent statement: “The BBC routinely misrepresents
the monarchy and public opinion. They suggest the nation is celebrating major
events when that simply isn’t the case.”
In 1953, the queen’s coronation unfolded in a nation in thrall to a
newfangled miracle called television, the Times reported. “British baby boomers, many of them small
children at the time, like to recall that television in those days meant a
small black-and-white screen in a large wooden cabinet broadcasting a single
channel. Makeshift antennae were thrown
up on hilltops to link the various parts of the British Isles to the central
broadcast unit in London. In the presatellite,
predigital era, British Royal Air Force bombers flew raw film of the coronation across the
Atlantic for broadcast on American networks.
AP also
reported on the reactions of urbi and orbi, and on the media ratings engendered by
television. Hundreds of thousands of spectators had lined the route in the rain to
see it in person. Nearly 19 million more watched on television in the U.K.,
according to ratings released by Barb, a research organization... “about 40%
fewer viewers than had watched the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September.” (Above and Attachmen Thirteen)
CNN’s Monday roundup of ratings and results also reported that, while
Barb’s analytics showed that “...more
than 20 million people in the United Kingdom tuned in to watch King Charles III’s coronation on
Saturday... (the) ceremony attracted far fewer British viewers than his
mother’s funeral last year.
“The BBC took the biggest share by far, with
viewership across its BBC One and Two channels peaking at around 15 million,”
according to numbers released by the UK public broadcaster.
But the overall peak viewing figure was 9 million
fewer than the number recorded for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, according to
UK media reports, while the BBC audience was down about 5 million from the 20 million
that tuned into BBC One for that service last September.
“Charles III’s coronation also underperformed
compared with the wedding of his eldest son in 2011,” the American cable
corporation contended. “The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton
attracted a peak viewership of 20 million on the BBC, at the end of the
ceremony in Westminster Abbey, according to the broadcaster.”
As regards the
old-fashioned printed word, both the left wing Guardian and right wing Daily
Mail republished excerpts from their competitors on Sunday – even reproducing
the front pages of Coronation coverage.
The DM focused on
American coverage... not only printed, but streaming and tweeting where all,
they declared: “joined
together to mark the star of a new era for the British monarchy as King Charles
ascended to the throne,” and the only Republican of note was Donald Trump
(below).
They allotted uncommon coverage to America’s
somewhat eclipsed “Drudge Report”, which shared all of the British front pages
which marked the historic event.
Regarding television (Attachment Twenty), CNN, ABC,
Fox News, CBS and NBC all canceled their usual coverage to follow the
procession the entire way through, with royal commentators covering the
build-up to the occasion,
“CBS,
CNBC, Spectrum News, and MSNBC also all carried their own special guests
throughout the morning to mark the event – with Piers Morgan leading the
coverage for Fox News.” They reported on viewers complaing
about coverage by ABC, moaning that it was a 'shambles', with many having to
switch channels to watch the coverage and devoted their most space to the liberal
CNN’s liberal Anderson Cooper’s blunder in “failing to recognize Prince George.
The major city dailies (doubtless to the despondency
of the King) devoted many, many dead trees to the Coronation... described by
the LA Times as being a show of 'pomp and pageantry'.
The Washington Post “led the coverage from inside of
Westminster Abbey for the procession” and described the Gold State Coach as a
'bumpy ride'.
The New York Times also had a live stream of the
event, after toning down criticism of the coronation after receiving a huge
backlash when they slammed the costs of the late Queen Elizabeth's funeral but
also covered the anti-monarchist protests “which made a small blip on the big
day,” according to the right-wing Mail.
Others
pointed out that Prince Harry struck a lonely figure after traveling from
California for the occasion, with the New York Post calling him the 'lone
prince'
The Wall Street Journal pointed out that despite the
star-studded guest list the event 'celebrated a millennium of history and
reflects a more modern, diverse Britain.'
Perhaps tongue in
cheek, the Guardian nonetheless termed what domestic and foreign newspapers
revealed to their readers as being “happy and glorious,” according to the
headline in the Sunday Express.
On its front page, the Observer had
“King Charles III … His crowning moment” with a rather glum-looking monarch
staring off into the void. (Attachment
Twenty One – May 6, 23:54 EDT) Cautious
coverage did not cover what King and Queen did undercover over the weekend,
even whan and how the royals stumbled into bed, so
perhaps the photo had been taken moments before, and the King seemed tired
because it was nearly five in the morning.
The Sunday Mail published a “Historic souvenir
edition” with Charles and Camilla together on page one, headlined: “The look
that says ‘Darling, it was a triumph’”.
The Sunday Times also did a souvenir wrap – the front page
inside saying “At last, their crowning glory”.
The Telegraph ran an indoor shot of the king and queen in
their crowns and regalia.
The Sunday Sun called the moment “Crowning glory”.
The Sunday Mirror’s simple notice – “King Charles III, May 6
2023” contrasted with the “fun-loving” Daily Star which dubbed
his majesty “King Chas III”.
The
sarcastic Scots at their Sunday Mail
opinionated: “King of the world”. We say “Eh?”
The
French, at least, took notic of coronation
protests... Le Journal du Dimanche headlining: “In the UK, not
everyone is a royalist”.
And in
Australia, where Commonwealth membership has become a sticky wicket, the
Melbourne Herald Sun and Sydney Sunday Telegraph had “more or less the same
front page” photo of “Charles again, waving.”
Sticking to more sticky wickets in the Lands Down Under, the Guardian
reported on Monday that “a
decision to scrap plans to light the sails of the Sydney
Opera House in honour of the coronation
of King Charles was defended by the premier of the state of New South Wales,
Chris Minns.
Citing a
cost of between $80,000 and $100,000, Minns, whose party defeated the conservative Coalition government in a state election in March, argued
the financial burden on taxpayers would have been significant and said the
sails were being lit too often.
“Of
course I respect the new king but I’m mindful of where and when we spend
taxpayers’ money,” he said, adding: “I’d like to keep it for Australia and
Australians, and for moments of sacrifice and heroism for the country – or when
there’s an important international event in Sydney.” (Attachment Twenty Two)
The
Australian Monarchist League condemned the decision not to light the sails for
the king, blaming Mr Minn’s
[sic] “republican sympathies” not cost.
“Had the
premier contacted the Australian Monarchist League, our members would readily
have contributed towards the funding for this purpose on this important
occasion,” their statement said.
“As a
place that belongs to all Australians, the opera house takes seriously its
responsibility to protect the cultural heritage significance of the World
Heritage-listed building while meeting community and artistic expectations,” an
Opera House spokesman replied.
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese was also
noted in coverage by the Independent U.K. centering on the presence of First
lady Olena Zelensky and prime minister Denys Shmyhal
Ukraine, but also including some snapshots of world leaders paying homage to
King Charles such as Albanese’s post back home on Friday night showing
“preparations in full swing in London this evening at Buckingham Palace”.
The Ukrainians released an upbeat video to
congratulate Britain’s King Charles III and Queen
Camilla featuring the obliquely Republican anthem “London Calling” by The
Clash, but also showing “British weaponry deployed to the Ukrainian frontline
and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky meeting King Charles and
British prime minister Rishi Sunak, Labour leader
Keir Starmer and former prime minister Boris
Johnson.” (Perhaps the only issue bipartisanly supported among Monarchists and Republicans
that evening... Attachment Twenty Three)
The Independent’s post-Coronal walkabout also
included a congratulatory message from China’s president Xi Jinping advocating
expanded cooperation and cultural exchanges with the UK and suggesting that the
two countries should "jointly promote peace and cooperation".
President Joe also reportedly tweeted
congratulations, adding that “I am proud the first lady is representing the
United States for this historic occasion,” and European Commission
president Ursula von der Leyen, congratulated King and Queen on their
“heart-warming” occasion.
“Chinese vice president Han Zheng, Canada’s Justin
Trudeau, French president Emmanuel Macron and many others were also in
attendance,” the Independent reported.
Biden’s absence from the coronation
and replacement by his wife was explained by Time as apparently owing to
precedent and protocols that “(n)o
American President has attended a coronation of a British Monarch.” Since Dwight D. Eisenhower “was invited to
the last crowning of a British sovereign—in 1953 when Queen Elizabeth formally
took the throne—but decided to skip it and send a delegation of
American luminaries instead,” President Joe elected to stay at home amidst the
debt and border crises, and to send Jill off for a little excursion. (Attachment Twenty Four)
Biden’s absence was not intended to insult Charles,
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said
last month. “It is not a snub,” Jean-Pierre covered for her boss.
But that didn’t stop Biden’s predecessor, Donald
Trump, from blasting him for not making the return trip to England for the
coronation, after Biden had recently swung through Northern Ireland and the
Republic of Ireland.
“I think it’s very disrespectful for him not to be
here,” Trump said on Wednesday in an interview with Nigel Farage, a former
British politician who was a prominent supporter of Brexit, on GB News. He
added, “And when you have somebody who’s going to be sleeping instead of coming
to the coronation as President of the United States, I think that, I think
that’s a bad thing.”
Amidst speculation that the President has “long
favored his mother’s Irish ancestry in his speeches and the anecdotes he
tells”... having “occasionally made reference to Britain’s violent
colonization of Ireland and the centuries of animosity that followed”... Time
recounted that “when he was traveling to meet Queen Elizabeth for the first
time, his mother called him to tell him not to bow to her.”
Trump, repeatedly blasting Biden on his Truth Social
media platform insisted the snub did not take place out of support for Ireland, but because he chose to insult King Charles and the
people of the U.K. (Anna Commander of
Newsweek on May 6th, Attachment Twenty Five)
"Joe Biden should have been at the Coronation
of King Charles III. Is that really so much to ask? The people of the U.K. are
greatly insulted. No wonder we are losing support all over the World. MAKE
AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"
Nile Gardiner, foreign policy analyst and former
aide to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, also called out Biden
on Twitter for his absence, tweeting, "Leaders from
across the world are attending today's Coronation of King Charles III. Even the
French President is there. Notably absent is Joe Biden, who could not be
bothered. What message does this send to America's closest ally? Biden is a
petty, arrogant, sneering disgrace."
Late on Saturday night... Sunday early morning in
the United Kingdon... CBS finally compiled a roster
of the royals, politicians and celebrities who attended (Attachment Twenty
Six).
Most of the usual suspects already
mentioned were there in whole, in part (Andrew, Harry), in zooms and tweets and
messages (Biden) or not all.
A few more attendees upon whom Don
Jones might take notice were a whole cart and cartel of royals (many of whom
“rule” democracies like Spain, Norway, the Netherlands and Romania... a few,
like Japanese Crown Prince Fumihito being of at least
some stature), previously unmentioned world leaders like Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikat
whose people are currently swapping missiles and taunts with fellow attendee
President of Israel Isaac Herzog (not PM Netanyahu).
There were also a number of “formers”... former
British Prime Ministers John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were seen
arriving together. Former prime ministers Boris Johnson, David Cameron, Teresa
May and Liz Truss were also there.
Lionel Richie was also present.
See Wiki’s list of guests as Attachment
List of guests at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla
A roundup of African guests from GUK noted that, “while
some paid tribute to the British monarch, the presence in London of (others)
proved less than welcome.”
Not that they spat on the sidewalks, nor stirred
their tea counter- instead of clockwise.
Not even that they were... you know... Meghan-ish? But darker?
That would be presuming that Charles and Camilla were racists and, of
course, that’s a heap of what President Joe would call malarkey. They had invited Lionel Richie into their
house, hadn’t they? All night long??
Maybe it was not that the King and Queen were evil spirits – more like,
to more than a few Africans, their own leaders who flew off to London to party
with the world while they languished in poverty or prisons were deemed unworthy
of the honors heaped upon them while they honored the royal pair
Take Zimbabwe, GUK proffered on Sunday (Attachment Twenty Seven) – the
former Rhodesia which had gained its liberation from the Empire only to fall
under the sway of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who won a contested election in 2018 and whose government, since, “has
been accused of widespread human rights abuses,” according to the Guardian’s
Africa Correspondent Jason Burke, who alleges that he wants to rejoin the Commonwealth
in order to collaborate with a British government... “keen on laying hands on
Zimbabwe’s raw materials and no longer (caring) about soiled human rights
record of Mnangagwa,” whom trade unionist and pro-democracy activist Obert Masaraure called a “despot”.
Or South Africa which, although
proud of Pretty Yende, the South African soprano who sang at the beginning
of the ceremony, still calls for return of the world’s largest diamond, known as the
Star of Africa, which is set in the royal sceptre held by the king on Saturday.
The Economic Freedom Fighters, a populist radical
leftwing part, said on Sunday that the attendance at the ceremony of the ruling
African National Congress, which sent its foreign minister, Naledi Pandor, “legitimised the
brutality of the British monarchy against the very people [the ANC] was elected
to serve”.
Pandor is... well... no Nelson Mandela.
“Today, 116 years later, the king of England,” the EFF
said, “… continues in the pompous steps of his predecessors flaunting the
stolen Star of Africa at his coronation. Apartheid criminal Louis Botha handed
over the Star of Africa to the ruthless British colonisers
in 1907 (and) the British monarchy had no dignified grounds to accept it, let
alone still parade it as British glory
116 years later.”
The acceptance of African singers
like Tiwa Savage, as well as dancers, performers and
sporting heroes prompted mixed reactions in
the Nigerian singer’s homeland, with some criticism – Ugandan political analyst
Asuman Bisiika said British
culture “continued to have a strong influence on young people, especially those
who follow English football .” And the
elder generations, there and in Kenya, still have a lot of goodwill for Queen
Elizabeth II, less for her son.
“More significantly, “ pointed out Time’s
Brown, Charles’ decision to open the Windsor archives to aid independent
research into the British monarchy’s ties to slavery is “nothing short of
revolutionary for an institution that has usually battened down on the past.
Some might see Charles’ actions as a brilliant stroke of pro-active public
relations at a time when demands for colonial reparations are part of a rising
tide of aggrievement, especially among the young. But in Charles’ case, his
earliest speeches show his desire for deep cultural re-examination comes from
an authentic place.”
A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace on April 6
repeated his message to Commonwealth leaders in Rwanda last year: “I cannot
describe the depths of my personal sorrow at the suffering of so many, as I
continue to deepen my own understanding of slavery’s enduring impact.” The King
is said to be accepting—even relaxed—about his inevitable removal as head of
state in some of the 14 remaining Commonwealth realms who decry (sincerely, or
theatrically) the Empire’s blood-stained
hands. (Attachment Three, above)
Could
Charles’ regime, ultimately, be saved by his strangeness? asked Ms. Serhan in a May 4th Time precursor to her
jottings two days earlier, as the shadow of King Charles loomed over
Commonwealth, Empire and Abbey
The British monarch, who will formally be crowned
king in a coronation
ceremony this weekend, is perhaps the least
non-exciting royal alive,” she declared the afternoon before his coronation
(Attachment Twenty Eight)
“Quite aside from his position as the head of the
British royal family—a role that he automatically took over following the death
of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in
September—Charles’s life has always been under the spotlight, from his
fairytale wedding to Princess Diana in 1981 to his falling out with his
youngest son, Prince Harry, in 2021.
“Many Britons could probably
name something about the king that most would find eccentric or odd: His love
of red squirrels, for example, or his passion for British hedgerows. There’s also his disdain for cube-shaped ice.” He purportedly still wears a pair of shoes that he bought in 1971 and drives a classic Aston Martin that runs
on bioethanol made from cheese and wine. “Virtually
everyone in the country, if not the world,”
serhan added, “knows how he feels about leaking pens.”
“He’s quite quirky,” Sally Bedell Smith, author
of Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life,
tells TIME. Quite unlike Queen Elizabeth, who had a reputation for keeping her
personal views on everything beyond corgis and horses private, Charles has
always been outspoken about his views and interests.”
His environmental concerns have occasioned the man
who would, and did, be King to dabble in city planning and architecture. He once described a proposed addition to
London’s National Gallery as “a monstrous
carbuncle” and designed an entire town 130 miles southwest of
London in Poundbury, “a town featuring pastel-colored houses, abundant
courtyards, and signless roads that was designed by
Charles as an experimental planning project in the 1980s.” Due to be completed
in 2025, Poundbury has been hailed as a model for new, livable urbanism. To
critics, however,”it’s seen as more of a feudal Disneyland.”
His time as Prince of Wales “was not, by any stretch
of the imagination, a life spent in waiting,” Bedell Smith says, noting his
work with more than 400 charities, many
of which were directly tied to his interests. “He was very busy; he was a man
in a hurry.”
“He has a fogeyish side, there’s
no doubt about it,” says Richard Fitzwilliams, a
longtime royal expert. “But he’s also an extremely hard worker.”
And now, what remains of the
Empire is in his hands. His ink-stained hands...
|
May 8 – May
14, 2023 |
|
|
|
Monday,
May 8, 2023 Dow: 33,618.69 |
In the wake of a week of mass killings, politicians argue
over mental health v. gun control.
Sen. Cassidy (R-La) declares that the violence is mostly due to three
factors: 1) domestic disputes, 2) gang and drug wars, and 3) mental
illness... calls for unsealing of juvenile records. Other Repubs. call for more involuntary
mental commitments. Liberals accuse
President Joe of “hardening” schools with police. Coronation over
after an All Night Long party (above), attention turns back to the border
(Title 42 ending Thursday). Mayorkas
insists “We are ready!” and promises fines and jails for illegal migrants
(most of whom have no money and many of whom would find an American jail more
safe and pleasant than the homes they are fleeing). Also the debt ceiling (Biden to meet with
McCarthy tomorrow, Yellin reiterates that economic chaos will result if no
settlement reached). University of
Texas is developing robot firefighters with AI. Bill Gates opposes Elon Musk’s opposition
to AI, but does admit that he is scared that “a bad guy could get it.” He also promotes more nuclear power plants
like his Terrapower complex in Wyoming. No settlement in
the Hollywood writers’ strike. Amidst
already completed and released movies, “Guardians of the Galaxy” sequel dethrones
“Super Mario” cartoon... giving the cast the #1 and #2 box office leaders. |
|
|
Tuesday, May 9, 2023 Dow: 33,561.81 |
It’s Debt Ceiling
summit day... Republicans double down on budget cuts, now admitting they will
slash Social Security and Medicare.
President Joe doubles down on a “clean” (i.e. cutless)
budget. Although participants talk
cheerfully after, experts say: “One more day of disagreement; one day closer
to default.” Other experts call it “an
unstoppable force meeting an immovable object.” With Title 42 closer to expiration, Gov.
Abbott (R-Tx) sends more gung-ho Guardsmen to the border, raising fears of
mass shootouts. He says that Biden’s
policies will create... not just disaster, but “catastrophic disaster!” He slso promise
to pardon a white killer of (white) BLM protester sentenced to 25 years,
calling the incident “stand your ground.”
In other legal news, the Trump/Carroll
jury finds for the plaintiff (Djonald UnInnocent guilty of a variety of crimes, but not rape)
and awards her $5M damages. Trump
reiterates it’s the greatest witch hunt in history and is cheered by reports
he now leads DeSantis 60% to 19% in 2024 primary polls... vowing to serve as
President even if convicted of any of the criminal charges against him. RIP to MTV News... Paramount finally pulls
the plug. |
|
|
Wednesday, May 10, 2023 Dow: 33,531.33 |
It’s National Walkers’ Day... migrants walk (and run)
across the border to beat the expiration of Title 42 and tougher
penalties. And debt ceiling
negotiators walk out without a settlement despite SecTreas
Yellin’s yelling that default will cost America six million jobs – just as gumment survey monkeys announce inflation is finally down
below five percent. Which, of course,
is more fuel for Fed interest rate hikes. Another guilty
verdict in big political trial... “Lyin’ King”
George Santos indicted of numerous fraudulent adventures including starting a
charity for sick dogs that he looted for himself. Out on $500K bond, he faces 20 years, but
insists he will not resign – House Speaker McCarthy admits he needs the vote
in closely held Congress but gently advises Santos not to run for
re-election. Santos refuses, citing
a... yup!... “witch hunt.” And the
Westminster Dog judges honor healthy “Buddy Holly” (a weird new breed with
long French name) as Best In Show. Not political,
just weird... cult killer Mom Lori Vallow Daybell allegedly says: “We were so tired of taking care
of demons!” (meaning the two kids she murdered).
Entertainment-starved Americans slobber over “Beetlejuice” sequel
(filming in London to bust the strike), Sylvester Stallone’s upcoming reality
show and a Dolly Parton rock and roll album with Sir Paul and Ringo as well
as Sting and Miley Cyrus |
|
|
Thursday, May 11, 2023 Dow: 33,309.31 |
Flying in
on magic broomsticks, former President Donald Trump and Rep. George Santos
(R-NY) alight, charge up their wands
and then denounce the “witch hunters” harassing them; the former President in
New Hampshire, campaigning on the premise that default is “merely
psychological” and hinting that it might be a good thing to happen, while
Santos, now indicted for collecting unemployment while holding down a bank
voodoo job paying $120,000 (among too many other charges to list),
co-sponsors an anti-fraud bill as the desperate Speaker K-Mac chews his
fingernails over what his vital vote might do next. Desperate too are the migrants on the
border on the last day of Title 42, thousands scuttling across so as to be
arrested, held in nice, dry shelters while their asylum applications are
being processed – perhaps for weeks or months. While new crimes and criminals are tossed
into the system, an old cold case... the killing of teenaged Natalie Holloway
by Dutch pervert Joran van der Sloot... draws
nearer to resolution as the suspect (hell, call him “culprit”! is extradited
from Peru where he’s been incarcerated on various rape and murder raps. Won’t affect his future, but at least
provides the phantom of “closure” to relatives. |
|
|
Friday, May 12, 2023 Dow: 33,300.62 |
It’s
National Nurses’ Day. Nurses in border
town coping with the massive migrations hope or fear that the expiration of
Title 42 at midnight will improve, not worsen, their plight. HomeSecuSec
Mayorkas insists that everything is peachy.
“We have a plan, but it’s going to tke
time. K-Mac snipes from the sidelines,
calling President Joe a “bumbler” of the economy and border. A possibly enraged President cancels his
meetings with the Speaker on the creeping, crawling, lowering debt ceiling. Nurses and doctors serving in Ukraine on
humanitarian missions reeling at the 14,000 wounded there, compared to only
ten thousand in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The world, except for Sad Vlad (and maybe China) cheers at video of
Russian soldiers running away from the front, pursued by Zelenskyy’s armies
(the President will go to Europe to confer with Pope Frank and secure more
arms from the Germans). Good gumment:
FDA regulators greenlight menopause medicine to cool off hot flashes. Bad gumment: the
authorities redlight and confiscate a sick
nine-year-old’s emotional support pig.
And in more beastly news, Inside Edition reports that many homicidal
French Bulldog thieves are turning to even more valuable parrots (despite
their propensity to squawk “Help!” or talk to police about their kidnappers). |
|
|
Saturday, May 13th, 2023 Dow: (Closed) |
It’s
official – Title 42 is dead. Migrants continue massing at the border,
but the feared “influx” does not appear to be happening yet. What is evident is that K-Mac’s allegations
of “bumbling” are true, in the the process by which
asylum seekers have to call or text for appointments is negated by the fact
that the border areas do not support cell phones or Internet. And six inches of rain with possible
tornadoes are forecast for Brownsville, TX. Legal issues rise up on Friday and
continue on into the weekend: Jordan van der Sloot
extradited from Peru, NYC subway strangler Penny face 2nd degree
manslaughter charge (as family calls for capital murder). Jury finds McDonald’s guilty of selling
Chicken McNuggets that are too hot and burn people. Heat is also up on Pacific Coast...
Portland reaches 95° and the melting Sierra snowpack is starting to cause
landslides and flooding. |
|
|
Sunday, May 14th, 2023 Dow: (Closed) |
It’s
Mothers’ Day today. Teen expresses family values by fighting
off a man trying to kidnap his sister with a slingshot. And lucky waterpeople
fight off sharks... a 13 year old girl punches out one of the beasts, a
kayaker in Hawaii drives off another. On the Sunday talkshows,
ABC’s Jonathan Karl tees off on Trump.
So does Gov. DeSantis during his still-imaginary campaign in Iowa,
mocking the ex-President for cancelling a rally because of tornado
warning. St. Ron is a Man... and if
tornadoes attack His rally, he’ll stand tall until he blows away. Debt ceiling partisans duel... someone
named T. Kent Weatherall says Biden is the saboteur after President Joe
cancels conference with K-Mac, blaming Republicans
of sabotage. Rep, Michael McCaul
(R-Tx) chimes in, saying the debt crisis is “ongoing” (which it is, has been
and always will be) and also proposes to try SecState
Anthony Blinken for something or other and then
lock him up. |
|
|
Everybody’s
waiting for the shoe to drop on the debt ceiling, but meanshile
jobs are up and wages are even creeping above the inflation rate. Royal obsessives will have to crawl back
into their chairs. |
|
|
|
CHART of CATEGORIES w/VALUE ADDED to EQUAL
BASELINE of 15,000 (REFLECTING… approximately… DOW JONES INDEX of
June 27, 2013) See
a further explanation of categories here… ECONOMIC INDICES (60%) |
|
CATEGORY |
VALUE |
BASE |
RESULTS |
SCORE |
OUR SOURCES and COMMENTS |
|
||||||||||||||
|
INCOME |
(24%) |
6/17/13 & 1/1/22 |
LAST |
CHANGE |
NEXT |
INCOME |
(24%) |
6/17/13 & 1/1/22 |
|
|||||||||||
|
Wages (hrly. Per cap) |
9% |
1350 points |
3/6/23 |
+0.42% |
5/23 |
1,428.51 |
1,434.50 |
|
||||||||||||
|
Median Inc. (yearly) |
4% |
600 |
5/8/23 |
+0.39% |
5/22/23 |
607.29 |
607.53 |
http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 35,843 |
|
|||||||||||
|
Unempl. (BLS – in mi) |
4% |
600 |
5/8/23 |
+2.94% |
6/23 |
670.92 |
670.92 |
|
||||||||||||
|
Official (DC – in mi) |
2% |
300 |
5/8/23 |
+0.07% |
5/22/23 |
274.87 |
275.06 |
http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 5,789 |
|
|||||||||||
|
Unofficl. (DC – in mi) |
2% |
300 |
5/8/23 |
+0.08% |
5/22/23 |
284.94 |
285.17 |
http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 11,216 |
|
|||||||||||
|
Workforce Particip. Number Percent |
2% |
300 |
5/8/23 |
+0.053% +0.013% |
5/22/23 |
303.13 |
303.17 |
In 161,844 Out 99,88Total: 261,532 http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 61.883 |
|
|||||||||||
|
WP % (ycharts)* |
1% |
150 |
2/27/23 |
+0.16% |
5/23 |
151.19 |
151.19 |
https://ycharts.com/indicators/labor_force_participation_rate 62.60 |
|
|||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
15% |
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Total Inflation |
7% |
1050 |
5/8/23 |
+0.1% |
5/23 |
995.88 |
995.88 |
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm +0.1
NC |
|
|||||||||||
|
Food |
2% |
300 |
5/8/23 |
nc |
5/23 |
278.78 |
278.78 |
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm +0 |
|
|||||||||||
|
Gasoline |
2% |
300 |
5/8/23 |
-4.6% |
5/23 |
254.40 |
254.40 |
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm -4.6 |
|
|||||||||||
|
Medical Costs |
2% |
300 |
5/8/23 |
-0.5% |
5/23 |
296.37 |
296.37 |
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm
-0.5 |
|
|||||||||||
|
Shelter |
2% |
300 |
5/8/23 |
+0.6% |
5/23 |
279.37 |
279.37 |
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm +0.6 |
|
|||||||||||
|
WEALTH |
6% |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Dow Jones Index |
2% |
300 |
5/8/23 |
-198% |
5/22/23 |
274.90 |
273.65 |
https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/index/ 33,300.62 |
|
|||||||||||
|
Home (Sales) (Valuation) |
1% 1% |
150 150 |
5/1/23 |
-3.06% +3.59% |
6/23 |
139.61 273.83 |
139.61 273.83 |
https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics Sales (M): 4.44
Valuations (K): 375.7 |
|
|||||||||||
|
Debt (Personal) |
2% |
300 |
5/8/23 |
+0.012% |
5/22/23 |
275.88 |
275.34 |
http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 73,890 |
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
NATIONAL |
(10%) |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Revenue (trilns.) |
2% |
300 |
5/8/23 |
+0.013% |
5/22/23 |
384.63 |
384.68 |
debtclock.org/ 4,614.5 |
|
|||||||||||
|
Expenditures (tr.) |
2% |
300 |
5/8/23 |
+0.11% |
5/22/23 |
339.90 |
339.53 |
debtclock.org/ 6,041 |
|
|||||||||||
|
National Debt tr.) |
3% |
450 |
5/8/23 |
+0.06% |
5/22/23 |
425.50 |
425.23 |
http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 31,749 (The debt ceiling was 31.4) |
|
|||||||||||
|
Aggregate Debt (tr.) |
3% |
450 |
5/8/23 |
+0.1% |
5/22/23 |
420.14 |
419.72 |
http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 96,180 |
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
GLOBAL |
(5%) |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Foreign Debt (tr.) |
2% |
300 |
5/8/23 |
+0.04% |
5/22/23 |
343.71 |
343.85 |
http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 7,287 |
|
|||||||||||
|
Exports (in billions) |
1% |
150 |
5/8/23 |
-2.45% |
5/23 |
156.02 |
156.02 |
https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/current/index.html 251.2 |
|
|||||||||||
|
Imports (bl.) |
1% |
150 |
5/8/23 |
+1.27% |
5/23 |
169.79 |
169.79 |
https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/current/index.html 321.7 |
|
|||||||||||
|
Trade Deficit (bl.) |
1% |
150 |
5/8/23 |
+3.55% |
5/23 |
281.03 |
281.03 |
https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/current/index.html 70.5 |
|
|||||||||||
|
SOCIAL
INDICES (40%) |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
ACTS of MAN |
12% |
|
|
503 |
|
|||||||||||||||
|
World Affairs |
3% |
450 |
5/8/23 |
+0.3% |
5/22/23 |
448.57 |
449.92 |
It’s
Victory Day in Russia, but the customary military parade has no new types of
weapons... Wagner group begins retreat from Bahkmut. Italian inflation hits pasta companies hard
– they blame Ukraine war, spaghetti soldiers blame the companies for
gouging. Turkish elections too close
to call. |
|
|||||||||||
|
Terrorism |
2% |
300 |
5/8/23 |
+0.1% |
5/22/23 |
288.43 |
288.72 |
Israeli airstrikes
kill 3 Islamic Jihad leaders and a bunch of civilians in Gaza, causing more
retaliatory rocket attacks. Then, a
cease fire is declared and it appears to be holding. |
|
|||||||||||
|
Politics |
3% |
450 |
5/8/23 |
+0.2% |
5/22/23 |
471.14 |
472.08 |
President
Joe opens the checkbook wider: forgiving $40M in debt to 120K happy student
debtors and sending 1.2B more weaponry aide to Ukraine. Meeting with KMac
on debt ceiling collapses – media call their war “the unstoppable force
meeting the immovable object,” while Post-42 border crisis is (initially)
less than feared. So he and Jill are
off to Japan for the G-7 summit after another try. |
|
|||||||||||
|
Economics |
3% |
450 |
5/8/23 |
+0.1% |
5/22/23 |
430.47 |
430.91 |
Airlines report
there are many jobs opening up – everything from pilots to flight attendants
(karate training preferred). Wages
finally crawl above inflation rate which falls to 4.9% (construction, service
and airline jobs best). Not the media,
tho’ – Paramount pulls the plug on MTV News. |
|
|||||||||||
|
Crime |
1% |
150 |
5/8/23 |
-0.4% |
5/22/23 |
260.21 |
259.17 |
Texas
trouble transpires as 8th victim of Brownsville ramming dies and police
cite Allen Mall shooter’s Neo-Nazi fetishes.
A State Senator from Uvalde says: “We are living in a Texas
nightmare.” (Or just in Texas! – where
a man kills his wife for having an abortion.) Widow who wrote a book on grief
for children arrested for killing hubby for insurance money – mass shootings
down from last week, just 7 shot, 2 dead in Arizona, 5 shot, 2 killed in
Augusta, GA biker war. |
|
|||||||||||
|
ACTS of GOD |
(6%) |
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
Environment/Weather |
3% |
450 |
5/8/23 |
-0.2% |
5/22/23 |
416.06 |
415.17 |
Tornadoes
in Kansas and Oklahoma rip thorugh towns, blow the
roof off a donut shop and send donuts flying everywhere. The Rio Grande gets a good soaking, but
migrants can’t compare themselves to the half million migrants fleeing
Typhoon Mocha in Bangladesh and Myanmar. |
|
|||||||||||
|
Disasters |
3% |
450 |
5/8/23 |
+0.5% |
5/22/23 |
438.57 |
440.76 |
Meteorite
crashes into house in Jersey. Nobody
hurt. But 400 killed in Congo
flooding. Skiers buried in Colorado avalanche
rescued, a horse in NYC, saved from drowning and a kidnapped EMT slated to
testify in rape case escapes the maniacs who wanted to burn her alive in
Cleveland. Norfolk Southern promises
to compensate displaced East Palestinians as another train derails. |
|
|||||||||||
|
LIFESTYLE/JUSTICE INDEX |
(15%) |
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
Science, Tech, Educ. |
4% |
600 |
5/8/23 |
+0.1% |
5/22/23 |
623.47 |
624.10 |
Elon Musk
names new CEO (ad lady Linda Yaccorino) and
promises to purge inactive Twitter accounts.
Hopefully the nasty ones. |
|
|||||||||||
|
Equality (econ/social) |
4% |
600 |
5/8/23 |
+0.1% |
5/22/23 |
610.57 |
611.18 |
Goldman Sachs
settles gender discrimination lawsuit for $215M. Mentally ill homeless man shot 50 times by
police, survives and sues. Nine
military bases change names to dis-honor Confederacy, |
|
|||||||||||
|
Health |
4% |
600 |
5/8/23 |
+0.3% |
5/22/23 |
468.28 |
469.68 |
Peloton
recalls 2M killer exercise bikes. GMC
recalls 1M assorted brand name SUVs with bad airbags. TV docs say holding
grudges hurts your heart and crazy people tend to die at a younger age than
the sane. Real docs who raised age for
starting breast cancer testing from 40 to 50 years drop it back to 30. FDA modifies ban on gay blood donations,
unanimously approves OTC birth control, enraging theocrats. Pancreatic cancer vaxs
being tested in U.S. and Germany, enraging MAGA. |
|
|||||||||||
|
Freedom and Justice |
3% |
450 |
5/8/23 |
+0.2% |
5/22/23 |
462.22 |
463.14 |
Trump
guilty: must pay Carroll $5M for rape (but he still leads DeSantis in the
Republican primary, Biden in November, 2024).
Wrongfully conficted Lamar Johnson freed
after 28 years. Lori Vallow Daybell.,
rightfully convicted of murdering the
two children she believed to be zombies.
Racial convictions among military: Sgt. Perry gets 25 years for
killing (white, assault rifle wielding) BLM protester; NYC vigilante Penny
indicted for strangling (black, unarmed) Michael Jackson impersonator on
subway. Massive Turbo Tax settlement
to compensate victims. |
|
|||||||||||
|
MISCELLANEOUS and TRANSIENT INDEX |
(7%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Cultural incidents |
3% |
450 |
5/8/23 |
+0.4% |
5/22/23 |
489.49 |
491.45 |
“Buddy
Holly” the unpronounceable-something dog wins Westminster best in show,
Truant the border collie wins the athletic competition. Human athletes in NBA set
semifinals... WNBA star Griner returns
to action after Rueeian prison swap. Geriatric NFL stars Aaron Rodgers and Tom
Brady will be back – Brady trying to buy a share of the Vegas Raiders while
Magic Johnson buys a slice of the Washington Commanders. NBA final four set: Boston, LA, Miami and Writers’ strike removing Hollywood sequels
(Beetlejuice Two) to London. Dolly
Parton celebrates R&R HoF election by releasing
a rockin’ album with Sir Paul and Ringo, Sting and
Miley. Swedish singer Loreen wins at
Eurovision. RIP Cy Young pitcher Vide (“True”) Blue,
NFL’s Joe Kapp, Jaclyn Zeman (40 years at “General Hospital), ex SecState Hodding Carter |
|
|||||||||||
|
Misc. incidents |
4% |
450 |
5/8/23 |
+0.1% |
5/22/23 |
478.79 |
479.27 |
Bank once
robbed by Bonnie and Clyde is turned into an AirBNB. Uber expands into airplane rides. |
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
The Don Jones Index for the week of
May 8th through May 14th, 2023 was UP 14.43 points
The Don Jones Index is sponsored by the Coalition for a New Consensus:
retired Congressman and Independent Presidential candidate Jack “Catfish”
Parnell, Chairman; Brian Doohan, Administrator. The CNC denies, emphatically, allegations
that the organization, as well as any of its officers (including former
Congressman Parnell, environmentalist/America-Firster Austin Tillerman and
cosmetics CEO Rayna Finch) and references to Parnell’s works, “Entropy and
Renaissance” and “The Coming Kill-Off” are fictitious or, at best, mere pawns
in the web-serial “Black Helicopters” – and promise swift, effective legal
action against parties promulgating this and/or other such slanders.
Comments, complaints, donations (especially SUPERPAC donations) always
welcome at feedme@generisis.com or: speak@donjonesindex.com.
ATTACHMENT ONE – From the New York Times
The British Coronation: A TV Spectacle, Now
for the Digital Age
King
Charles III’s coronation will be disseminated across numerous platforms to a
less sympathetic public than when his mother was crowned in 1953.
By Alan
Cowell, Reporting from London Published May
2, 2023 Updated May 6, 2023
The
mystique around the British royal family — so essential to the nation’s
acceptance of its hereditary and privileged first monarchy — has always drawn
its power from a blend of secrecy and symbolism that combine in impeccably
choreographed spectacle.
On
Saturday, the regal alchemy will be conjured anew at King Charles III’s
coronation at Westminster Abbey in London. The spectacle has
been years in the planning, not simply as an event in its own right, but also
as a moment in history intimately entwined with its onscreen projection around
Britain and across the globe.
The
coronation will be the first since Charles’s mother, Elizabeth II,
who died in September,
was crowned in June 1953.
Hers was the first coronation to be transmitted live and in full at a time when
televisual broadcasting was still a novelty, and it initiated a long era of
increasingly close coordination between Buckingham Palace and the BBC,
Britain’s public broadcaster.
Anti-royalists
have complained bitterly that, as Graham Smith, the head of a campaigning
organization called Republic, said in a recent statement:
“The BBC routinely misrepresents the monarchy and public opinion. They suggest
the nation is celebrating major events when that simply isn’t the case.”
While
the BBC rejects these claims of partiality, there is little doubt that as
digital technology has advanced over many years, the broadcaster’s royal
coverage has become ever more sophisticated and comprehensive. The medium, in
other words, has facilitated a kind of blanket coverage of a message that would
not have been possible in the 1950s.
In 1953,
the queen’s coronation unfolded in a nation in thrall to a newfangled miracle
called television. British baby boomers, many of them small children at the
time, like to recall that television in those days meant a small
black-and-white screen in a large wooden cabinet broadcasting a single channel.
The British establishment — including its nobles and priests, as well as the
BBC — wielded exclusive control of the monochrome footage that would mold a
generation’s memory of the event.
Makeshift
antennae were thrown up on hilltops to link the various parts of the British
Isles to the central broadcast unit in London. In the presatellite,
predigital era, British Royal Air Force bombers flew raw film of
the coronation across the Atlantic for broadcast on American networks.
Some
members of the British hierarchy wished to keep cameras out of the inner
sanctum of Westminster Abbey, where the queen was crowned. “The world would
have been a happier place if television had never been discovered,” the Most
Rev. Geoffrey F. Fisher, then the archbishop of Canterbury, who presided over
the queen’s coronation, was quoted as saying.
Even
today, King Charles has resolved to follow his mother’s example by banning
cameras from what is considered the most sacred part of the coronation service,
in which he is anointed with what is called the oil of chrism.
But much
else has changed. When Elizabeth was crowned, “Britain was marked by extreme
deference,” Vernon Bogdanor, a constitutional expert
at King’s College, London, said in a recent interview. “The monarchy was
thought to be magical and untouchable.”
Since
then, the royal House of Windsor has changed radically from “a magical monarchy
to a public service monarchy,” Bogdanor said, and “is
judged by whether it contributes to society, and if it doesn’t, people won’t
have it.” King Charles, he added, seems “well aware of that.”
For the
king, a helter-skelter technological revolution has transformed every
smartphone owner into a pocket cinematographer, hooked to a multiplex world of
apps and platforms, uploads and downloads. Where his mother’s crowning bathed
the monarchy in uncontested splendor, Charles’s challenge is to focus a much
more diffuse spotlight.
While
Elizabeth’s coronation required only around 20 cameras,
Charles’s crowning is set to be broadcast on the BBC’s hi-definition iPlayer streaming service, alongside television coverage.
In advance of the coronation, other television offerings — including a soap
opera, a sewing program and a show usually devoted to rural life — will be
broadcast with coronation-themed episodes “to mark history with an unparalleled
breadth of programs,” said Charlotte Moore, the BBC’s chief content officer.
Regional affiliates of the BBC, its many radio channels and rival commercial
television broadcasters will also have programming on regal matters.
With
her sparing television
addresses and her tight adherence to the royal script, the
queen seemed to generally balance the monarchy’s need for visibility with its
enduring aversion to scrutiny. But the rest of her family has fared very
differently onscreen.
“The public
eye is grown more unforgiving, its gaze, like its judgments, more relentless,”
Catherine Mayer wrote in “Charles: The Heart of a King,” a biography updated
last year after its initial publication in 2015. “Even so, if the Windsors wish to see the biggest dangers to the survival of
the monarchy, they need only look in the mirror.”
Since
the mid-1990s, when the estranged Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of
Wales, gave television
interviews to seek sympathy for their divergent versions of
their marital woes, culminating in divorce in 1996, efforts by members of the
royal family to advance their agendas on television have proved ambiguous at
best.
In 2019,
Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeth’s second son after Charles, gave a lengthy
television interview to try to rebut accusations related to his friendship with
the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The interview set off a public relations disaster, leading to Prince
Andrew’s withdrawal from public life.
Then, in
March 2021, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry appeared in a joint interview with
Oprah Winfrey, screened in the United States and then in Britain, after their
decision to live in California and step back from their
roles as senior royals. The interview touched on a range of
topics including mental health issues, intimations of racism in the House of
Windsor, and the couple’s sense of dislocation, betrayal and vulnerability.
But
cumulatively, the airing of grievances, like Prince Andrew’s litany of
self-exculpation before it, bolstered the sense of a dysfunctional and
anachronistic institution held in place by a fickle mix of public tolerance,
inherited privilege and fabled wealth. In the run-up to the coronation, one
question eagerly pursued by British newspapers was whether Harry would attend
the most important public event in his father’s life on May 6. The answer: he
would, but without Meghan and their two children.
For
Charles, the recent redrawing of the media landscape and the public mood offer
perils that were barely dreamed of when his mother was crowned.
“Because
the royals have ended up co-opted into the culture wars,” Mayer, the
author, said in an interview, “one word out of place — and, let’s face
it, that’s a family that specializes in words out of place — will have
gone round the world and back in a way it never would have before.”
The Coronation of King Charles III
The British monarch acceded to the throne last September, after being the
designated successor for longer than anyone in the history of the British
crown.
See
also...
· Walking
a Tightrope: King Charles III is said to want a more accessible,
forward-looking and inclusive monarchy. It’s not an easy message to
convey through golden relics and ancient
rituals.
· Awaiting
a Change: Beneath the gilded continuity of the coronation celebrations, there were
signs that Britain and its royal
family are preparing for a new era.
· Royal
Pictures: On the day of the coronation, Hugo Burnand had
just minutes to take the official portraits of the king. View the final result.
· The
New Star of the Show?: Charles’s coronation was a political ritual and a
religious ceremony, but also a TV show. Here is our TV critic’s
take.
· Rows
Apart: Prince Harry and Prince William, Charles’s two sons, did not appear to
interact during the coronation. It was a striking reminder of how
the two have drifted apart in the past few years.
· Protests: Before
the coronation, the police said that there would be little tolerance for
anti-monarchy protests. On the day, more than 50 people were
arrested, most on offenses that appeared to be connected to the
event.
ATTACHMENT TWO – From Time
Do Brits Still Want the Monarchy? What Polls
Say Ahead of Charles' Coronation
BY YASMEEN
SERHAN MAY 2, 2023 2:03 PM EDT
When it
was reported over the weekend that the British public would be “called upon” to
swear an oath of allegiance to King Charles III during his May 6
coronation, a fierce backlash ensued. British lawmakers, royal observers, and
commentators alike dubbed the idea “half-cocked,” “odd,” and “tone-deaf.” (The
British government later
clarified that it was an invitation to participate rather than an expectation.)
What had been proposed as a way to give ordinary people a more formal role in
the coronation only appeared to further highlight for some just how seemingly
strange and anachronistic the whole spectacle is.
The
controversy also underscored Britain’s complex views toward the monarchy. Since
the death of Queen Elizabeth II last year, the institution has continued to
enjoy broad support. However, a
recent survey by the British pollster YouGov shows that support has declined from
62% to 58%. Another survey from
the National Center for Social Research found that while 55% of the British
public consider the monarchy to be important, those who say that its retention
is “very important” stood at just 29%, the lowest proportion on record. That
suggests a degree of indifference from a considerable number of Brits when it
comes to sticking with the royal family.
Prince
Harry Defends His Decision to Publish a Memoir
POSTED 3
MONTHS AGO
Opponents
of the monarchy believe that time is on their side. As they see it, Queen
Elizabeth was the royal family’s star player who was widely admired by
royalists and anti-royalists alike. Though Charles’ personal approval rating
has improved recently to 62%, it
scarcely rivals that of the late queen. “There are plenty of criticisms made
about Charles, but he just isn’t the queen,” says Graham Smith, the chief
executive of the anti-monarchy group Republic and the author of the forthcoming
book, Abolish the Monarchy.
“And that’s his main problem.”
This
problem stems from a number of key differences between the two monarchs.
Whereas the queen largely kept her personal views on most matters to herself,
Charles’s positions on everything from climate change and fox
hunting to modern
architecture and alternative
medicine have long been in the public domain. It also hasn’t helped that so
much of Charles’s private life as heir apparent has been on display for so many
decades, from the revelations of infidelity during
his marriage to Princess Diana to his fraught relationship with
his youngest son, Prince Harry.
“The
queen was this wonderful blank canvas,” says longtime royals expert Richard Fitzwilliams, on which Britons could project their own
views and perceptions onto. In Charles, Britons have a more complex
portrait—one that is widely seen as flawed, controversial, and even out
of touch.
Anti-royalists such as Smith are seeking to take advantage. Republic is
planning to stage a protest with as many as 1,000
participants expected along the coronation’s
procession route. While Smith concedes it’s a small fraction of the millions
who will watch the event, and that a majority of Britons still prefer the
monarchy, he believes that this support is tepid. “We are not a country of
royalists,” he says. “We are a country that is largely indifferent, but is
coming around to looking more critically at this issue and as we see that
happen more, I think we’ll see polling continue to drop.” Indeed, the cost of
the monarchy has come under more intense scrutiny in recent years, as has the
institution’s history with colonialism and the slave trade.
While the royal family under Charles has expressed a willingness
to engage with the more sordid parts of the
monarchy’s past, it hasn’t meaningfully waded into the debate over its
modern-day relevance. In a rare interview, Charles’s sister Princess Anne told the Canadian broadcaster CBC this week that while she has not
personally engaged in conversations about the monarchy’s relevance, “It is
perfectly true that there is a moment where you need to have that discussion,”
adding that “the monarchy provides, with the constitution, a degree of
long-term stability that is actually hard to come by any other way.”
The dip
in support for the monarchy isn’t down to Charles’s ascension alone. The new
king inherited the crown at a time when support for the monarchy was as low as
it had ever been—a decline that has been accelerated in part by the downfall of
Charles’s brother Prince Andrew over sexual assault allegations stemming
from his friendship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as
by the damaging revelations made
in Prince Harry’s unsparing memoir, Spare.
Nevertheless, the future of the institution may ultimately rest on Charles’s
ability to persuade Britons—and, in particular, the country’s younger
generations—of the institution’s value. Among 18- to 24-year-olds, just 32%
believe that the monarchy should continue, according to YouGov, compared to 38%
who believe it should be abolished altogether.
Whether
younger Britons’ perceptions change over the next couple of decades could come
to define Charles’s legacy—one that, unlike his mother, he won’t have a
lifetime to shape. “Usually as people get older, they become more
conservative,” Fitzwilliams says, noting that support
for the monarchy appears to correlate
with age. But “it doesn’t guarantee it will happen in the future.”
ATTACHMENT
THREE – From Time
Why King Charles III Will Be Worth the Wait
BY TINA BROWN MAY 3,
2023 5:00 AM EDT
As he stood in for his ailing
96-year-old mother at the opening of Parliament in May 2022, it was hard not to
catch Prince Charles gazing mournfully at the Imperial Crown
next to him on a velvet cushion. The irresistible thought bubble his expression
suggested was “Mummy, when?”
Cue trumpets. On May 6, 2023, the
74-year-old man who spent more than five decades in the waiting room of his
destiny—longer than any Prince of Wales in history—finally walks through its
door. King Charles III by the Grace of God, of the (still) United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of His Other Realms and Territory, Head
of the Commonwealth, and Defender of the Faith, will have placed on his head by
the Most Rev. Justin Welby (Archbishop of Canterbury) the nearly 5-lb. solid
gold St. Edward’s Crown at Westminster Abbey. Crowned alongside him will be the
75-year-old woman who has herself shown years of shrewd, strategic patience: Queen
Camilla. Even the baleful stare of Prince Harry, who blurted late that he would
attend the ceremony—but without Meghan—cannot throw shade on the former
mistress’s vindication.
This will be no off-the-rack coronation. A flurry of belabored palace bulletins in the past
months about a “slimmed-down,” budget-conscious ceremony suggest an occasion as suffused
with mixed messages as the King himself. To whittle the guest list to 2,000
from the 8,000 hanging from the rafters at his mother’s coronation, the
cavalcade of ermined dukes has been mostly booted in favor of National Health
Service and charity workers and other inclusive representatives of an
effortfully modern Britain. The few MPs who made the cut don’t get a plus-one
(a bitter pill). Princes of the Blood and other grandees are not required to
take the knee and swear a Shakespearean oath of fealty. And unlike Queen
Elizabeth’s bladder-busting three-hour ceremony, this 21st century coronation will likely run the 1½
hours of a Premier League soccer match.
Don’t expect to see the King
arrive at his coronation in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach wearing a lounge suit.
Nor for too much daylight to be let into the magic of the anointing when, like
his mother 70 years before, the King will don an austere, shiftlike
garment off camera and be doused from a medieval spoon with consecrated oil.
Unlike at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation, no civet oil or ambergris from the
intestines of sperm whales will be added to the formula for the sometimes-vegan
Charles. Then he slips out of his sacred mufti into the gold, floor-length “supertunica,” before emerging in the pièce de résistance of the deep purple Robe of Estate, or Imperial
Robe.
If it all sounds irresistibly Monty Python, so what? The potent flummery of the monarchy still holds the British people in its thrall. It is meant to be a never-ending story, and the months since Charles’ ascension have been a seamless rebrand of the House of Windsor as an institution built to survive. A recent BBC/YouGov poll found that 58% of Brits support the monarchy.
It began with the new King’s
pitch-perfect address to the nation after Elizabeth’s death. Ten days later,
striding at the head of her funeral procession, bearing his field marshal’s
baton, he seemed to grow in stature with each metronomic step. For most of his
life, Charles was tortured by his father Prince Philip’s underestimation of his
gifts and the Queen’s remote mothering. But in this critical moment of
transition, it all fell away. On his face, you could see both the pain of
losing his mother and the final shedding of his childhood’s doubting burdens.
The benefit of his eternal wait is
that Charles has become King at a moment that uniquely speaks to his concerns.
For decades, he was mocked for his -jeremiads about climate change and the
despoilment of the English countryside. Now, as the world self-immolates and
glaciers melt, even his most merciless critics acknowledge his prescience. His
people know exactly who he is: Charles the Green, a woke grandpa with a
complexion pinker by the minute, who drives an Aston Martin fueled by a
bioethanol blend of cheese and English white wine by-products, and who assuaged
his grief in the Queen’s last hours by foraging for mushrooms in the Balmoral
woods. At a time of divisiveness and volatility, it’s a kingly image that
quickly is reassuring.
Charles has defied every
prediction of what would happen when a monarch as beloved as his mother dies.
There has been no national identity crisis (certainly none attributable to
him). No collapse in public appetite for a -monarchy. No immediate
repudiation—yet—by the sovereign Commonwealth realms. And no disregarding of
constitutional red lines, as some expected, to sound off about his favored
causes. Yes, then Prime Minister Liz Truss put the kibosh on his attendance at
the November COP27 U.N. Climate Change Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt,
where he had planned to make a speech. But Charles immediately asserted the
puissance of the Crown as a political convener. His Buckingham Palace reception
for world leaders on the eve of COP turned out to be the most coveted power
ticket of the week, all the more effective because it stood aloof from
white-hot policy debate. It’s easy to forget that after decades of dullsville
Commonwealth tours and ceaseless face time with an encyclopedia of potentates,
Charles is one of the best-wired diplomats in the world. His first state visit
as King, to Germany in March where he tapped his Hanoverian roots to speak in
fluent German, was hailed as a flawless post-Brexit charm-krieg.
The perception of Charles’
progressive instincts has always been undermined by his fogy self–presentation.
(He must have been the only Cambridge undergraduate to wear a suit and tie in
the Summer of Love.) Some of his first acts as King have brought refreshing
flair to the stodgy iconography of monarchy. The image of himself Charles
selected for the nation’s postage stamps to replace the crowned head of his
mother is a simple one, bareheaded and unadorned. He chose Jony
Ive, ex-Apple design whiz, to conceive a beautiful,
optimistic coronation emblem with the four entwined flowers of the U.K. that
reflects the King’s concern for the planet, and he blessed the cool innovation
of releasing digital twins of the coronation crowns using augmented
reality—brainchild of Anthony Geffen, producer of the documentary The Crown Jewels—to be available on
smartphones everywhere.
More significantly, Charles’
decision to open the Windsor archives to aid independent research into the
British monarchy’s ties to slavery is nothing short of revolutionary for an
institution that has usually battened down on the past. Some might see Charles’
actions as a brilliant stroke of pro-active public relations at a time when
demands for colonial reparations are part of a rising tide of aggrievement,
especially among the young. But in Charles’ case, his earliest speeches show
his desire for deep cultural re-examination comes from an authentic place. A
spokesperson for Buckingham Palace on April 6 repeated his message to
Commonwealth leaders in Rwanda last year: “I cannot describe the depths of my
personal sorrow at the suffering of so many, as I continue to deepen my own
understanding of slavery’s enduring impact.” The King is said to be
accepting—even relaxed—about his inevitable removal as head of state in the 14
remaining Commonwealth realms. Elizabeth II, after all, was a master at
presiding gracefully over imperial retreat. But unlike his mother, Charles
knows that the “deep sympathy” she expressed in her historic 2011 trip to
Ireland would never be enough to expiate some of colonialism’s worst sins.
The only serious migraines for
Charles so far have been caused by his own son. The Firm has skillfully
contained the blast radius of explosions from Harry the human hand grenade by
following Queen Elizabeth’s tested playbook. When faced with tumult of his
incendiary memoir Spare and
the solipsistic whine of Sussex’s Netflix documentary, the Royals ramped up public
appearances and did what they always do: say nothing, and smile, smile, smile.
With a certain amount of backstage mirth, the palace released a statement
expressing the King’s disappointment that Meghan would be staying in Montecito,
Calif., with his grandchildren. Harry nonetheless managed to grab the spotlight
yet again when he galloped back on his steed in late March to appear in a
London courtroom for the latest round in the tabloid phone–hacking cases.
Revelations about what seemed to be covered-up complicity between his own
family and the tabloids ensures that each brother is still ready to raise an
army against the other.
And what of Queen Camilla? Palace
insiders believe that her success is even more assured than the King’s. Hers is
one of the greatest image rehabs in modern history. In the 18 years since she
married Charles, her performance has been so sure-footed that the woman reviled
as an “old bag,” “old trout,” “prune,” and “hatchet face” in the ’90s by the
tabloids for usurping the adored Princess Diana is now on her way—at least in
the now uniformly glowing press coverage—to becoming a British national
treasure, the Maggie Smith of the monarchy. Camilla’s loyalty, humor, and
humanity, her stoic commitment, like her late mother-in-law’s, to “just getting
on with it” has proved she understands the quintessential tenet of monarchy—how
to play the long game.
Vivat
Rex! At a
time when every-thing seems to be bollixed up in Britain—sometimes
spectacularly— tribal and atavistic beliefs in the monarchy, both mortal and
majestic, somehow ineffably trundle on.
Brown, the former editor in chief
of Tatler, Vanity Fair, and The New Yorker, and the founder of The Daily Beast,
is the author, most recently, of The Palace Papers: Inside the House of Windsor. An updated version of this article
became the printed Time cover story for May 22/29, though this online version
was crafted a fortnight earlier.
ATTACHMENT
FOUR – From Wikipedia
Coronation of Charles III and Camilla
|
Coronation of
Charles III and Camilla |
|
|
Date |
6 May 2023 |
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Venue |
|
|
Location |
London,
United Kingdom |
|
Participants |
·
Bishops of the Church of England ·
Heralds of the College of
Arms and the Lyon Court ·
Faith representatives |
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Website |
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The coronation of Charles III and
his wife Camilla, as king and queen of the United Kingdom and the
other Commonwealth realms, took place on 6 May
2023 at Westminster Abbey. Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September
2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II.
The ceremony
was structured around an Anglican service of Holy Communion.
It included Charles taking an oath, being anointed with holy oil, and receiving the coronation regalia, emphasising his spiritual role and secular
responsibilities.[a] Representatives
of the Church of England and the British royal family declared their
allegiance to him, and the people throughout the Commonwealth realms were
invited to do so. Camilla was crowned in a shorter and simpler ceremony. After
the service, members of the royal family travelled to Buckingham
Palace in a state procession and appeared on the palace's rear
and front balconies. The service was altered from past coronations to represent multiple faiths,
cultures, and communities across the United Kingdom, and was shorter than Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953.
The
coronation elicited both celebrations and protests in the United Kingdom and
the other Commonwealth realms. Celebrations in the UK included street parties,
volunteering, special commemorative church services,
and a concert at Windsor Castle on
7 May. Surveys carried out in April 2023 suggested that the British public was
ambivalent toward the event and its funding; the events in London and Windsor
drew large crowds, but were also protested against by republican groups. Dozens
of these protestors were arrested, drawing criticism from human rights groups.
Commonwealth realms including Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Australia, and New
Zealand held celebrations, but Indigenous groups and other realms used the
event to highlight issues such as the effects of British colonialism.
Charles and
Camilla's coronation was the first of a British monarch in the 21st century and
the 40th to be held at Westminster Abbey since the coronation of William the Conqueror in
1066.[1][b]
Charles III became
king immediately upon the death of his
mother, Elizabeth II, at 15:10 BST on Thursday 8 September 2022. He
was proclaimed king by
the Accession Council of the United Kingdom on
Saturday 10 September,[3] which
was followed by proclamations in other Commonwealth realms.[4] During
Elizabeth's reign, planning meetings for Charles's coronation, codenamed
"Operation Golden Orb", were held at least once a year, attended by
representatives of the government, the Church of
England, and Charles's staff.[5][6][7]
Service and procession[edit]
The organisation of the coronation was the responsibility of
the earl marshal, Edward Fitzalan-Howard.[8] A
committee of privy counsellors arranged the event.[9][7] On
11 October 2022, the date of the coronation was announced as 6 May 2023, a
choice made to ensure sufficient time to mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II
before holding the ceremony.[10][7]
A Coronation
Claims Office was established within the Cabinet Office to
handle claims to perform a historic or ceremonial role at the coronation,
replacing the Court of Claims.[11] The
posts of lord high steward and lord high constable of England, which are
now only named for coronations, were given to General Sir Gordon Messenger and Admiral Sir Tony Radakin,
respectively.[12]
The holy anointing oil used in the service was
consecrated at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on
6 March 2023 by Patriarch Theophilos III
of Jerusalem, under the supervision of Hosam Naoum,
the Anglican archbishop of Jerusalem. It was
based on the same formula as the oil used in the coronation of Elizabeth II, but without
animal products such as civet.[13][14][15]
Military
dress rehearsals took place on 17, 18, and 19 April.[16][17] On
3 May, Charles and Camilla, William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, their
children, and Anne, Princess Royal, attended coronation
rehearsals at Westminster Abbey.[18]
Westminster
Abbey was closed to tourists and worshippers from 25 April for
preparations, and would not re-open until 8 May.[19] As
at previous coronations, many attendees had an obscured view, as the
abbey's nave was
filled to capacity.[20]
Guests[edit]
Main
article: List of guests at the coronation of Charles III and
Camilla
Countries that sent representatives
The
coronation was a state event funded by the British government, which also
decided the guest list.[21] Approximately
2,200 guests from 203 countries were invited.[22] They
included members of the British royal family, representatives from the Church
of England and other British faith communities, prominent politicians from the
United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, and foreign heads of state.[23] The
number of British political attendees was reduced significantly from 1953, when
virtually the entire Parliament of the United Kingdom attended.[24] Invitations
were extended to 850 community and charity representatives, including 450 British Empire Medal recipients and 400
young people, half of whom were nominated by the British government.[25] Safety
regulations at Westminster Abbey restricted the number of guests, as in
contrast to earlier coronations no temporary stands were erected in the
building.[26]
Vestments and crowns[edit]
In a break
with tradition, Charles's coronation vestments (ceremonial clothes) were
largely reused from previous coronations instead of being newly made.[27][28] While
it is customary for the supertunica and robe royal to
be reused, Charles also wore vestments first used by George IV, George V, George VI,
and Elizabeth II. Camilla similarly reused vestments, including Elizabeth
II's robe of state, but also wore a new robe of estate featuring
her cypher, bees, a beetle, and various plants and
flowers.[28] She
also wore a new coronation gown, created by Bruce Oldfield and
embroidered with wildflowers, the United Kingdom's floral emblems, her cypher, a
pair of dogs, and her grandchildren's names.[29][30]
St Edward's Crown, which was used to crown the
King, was removed from the Tower of London in
December 2022 for resizing.[31][21] In
February 2023 Queen Mary's Crown, which was used to crown
Camilla, was also removed from display to be reset with Cullinan III, IV
and V and for four of its eight detachable arches to be
removed.[32] The Crown of Queen Elizabeth The Queen
Mother was not used, to avoid a potential diplomatic dispute
with India; the crown contains the Koh-i-Noor diamond,
which is claimed by the former colony.[33]
The dress
code for peers without a role in the ceremony was originally business suits
or parliamentary robes, rather than the coronets,
coronation robes, and court dress traditionally worn.[34][20] This
was changed in the week before the coronation after protests, with peers
allowed to wear coronation robes but not coronets.[35] The
general dress code for men was morning dress, a lounge suit or national dress.[36]
The official
photographer of the coronation was Hugo Burnand, who had previously been the official
photographer for Charles and Camilla's wedding in
2005.[37] Eileen Hogan was
selected to paint the coronation ceremony, and Peter Kuhfeld and Paul Benney to paint the coronation portraits of
Charles and Camilla respectively.[38]
Andrew
Jamieson was commissioned to create the coronation invitation, which featured
the couple's coats of arms, the floral emblems of the United Kingdom,
and a Green Man amid
other British wildflowers and wildlife.[39][40] The
coronation emblem was designed by Jony Ive with
his creative collective LoveFrom, and depicts the
floral emblems of the United Kingdom in the shape of St Edward's Crown.[41][42] There
are versions of the emblem in both English and Welsh.[43]
The
procession into the abbey was led by the Cross of Wales,
a new processional cross commissioned by Charles to mark the centenary of
the Church in Wales. It includes relics of
the True Cross gifted
to the King by Pope Francis.[44] The
screen which concealed the King during his anointing was designed by
iconographer Aidan Hart and embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework. It includes 56
leaves embroidered with the names of the members of the Commonwealth of Nations.[45][46]
The Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, Simon Armitage,
released a new poem, An
Unexpected Guest, to mark the coronation. The poem follows a woman invited
to attend the coronation in Westminster Abbey, and quotes Samuel Pepys'
experience at the coronation of Charles II in 1661.[47][48][49]
Music[edit]
Twelve new
pieces were commissioned for the service and used alongside older works,
including several used at previous coronations.[50]
Six of the
new commissions were performed by the orchestra before the service — those
by Judith Weir; Karl Jenkins;
a vocal piece by Sarah Class performed by Pretty Yende; Nigel Hess, Roderick
Williams, and Shirley J. Thompson; Iain Farrington;
and a new march by Patrick Doyle.[51] New
compositions by Roxanna Panufnik, Tarik O'Regan, and Andrew Lloyd Webber were part of the
service, and Debbie Wiseman composed two related
pieces, one of which was performed by the Ascension Choir.[51][52] Existing
works by William Byrd, George Frideric Handel, Edward Elgar, Walford Davies, William Walton, Hubert Parry,
and Ralph Vaughan Williams were included, as
they had been at previous coronations.[52] Six
pieces were performed in new arrangements by John Rutter.[53]
In tribute to
the King's 64-year tenure as Prince of Wales the Kyrie was set
in Welsh by Paul Mealor and was sung by Bryn Terfel.[51] Greek Orthodox music
was included in the service in tribute to the King's ancestry and his late
father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.[50]
The director
of music for the coronation was Andrew Nethsingha, the organist and master of the
choristers at the abbey.[52] Before
the service John Eliot Gardiner conducted the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists.[50][52] The
main choir was a combination of the choirs of Westminster Abbey, the Chapel Royal,
the Monteverdi Choir, and girl choristers from Methodist College Belfast and Truro Cathedral.[52][51][54] The
orchestra players were drawn from the Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Regina Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Royal Opera
House Orchestra, and Welsh National Opera Orchestra, which are all patronised by Charles.[52][51] The
orchestra was conducted by Antonio Pappano and
led by Vasko Vasilev.[51] The
State Trumpeters of the Household
Cavalry and the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Royal Air Force played
the fanfares.[52]
In the
Coronation Procession, all of the eight massed bands played the same music,
keeping time with each other with the help of a radio broadcast click track –
the first time such technology has been used on such a large-scale ceremonial
event; previously bands would march to different pieces of music starting at
different times. The tempo set was 108 beats per minute, slowed down from the
regulation 116 beats per minute because of the size of the bands.[55]
|
List of
music played at the Coronation Service hide |
||
|
Title of
piece |
Composer |
Notes |
|
Opening voluntary |
||
|
Bach |
||
|
Bach |
||
|
Alla breve in D
Major |
Bach |
|
|
Brighter
Visions Shine Afar |
New
composition |
|
|
Gustav Holst (arranged
by Iain Farrington) |
||
|
Crossing
the Stone |
New
composition |
|
|
Sacred Fire |
New
composition |
|
|
William Walton (arranged
by John Rutter) |
New
arrangement; composed for the coronation of George VI |
|
|
Be Thou My
Vision |
New
composition |
|
|
Voices of
the World |
Farrington |
New composition |
|
King
Charles III Coronation March |
New
composition |
|
|
Trumpet
Tune |
Henry Purcell (arranged
by Rutter) |
New
arrangement |
|
Handel |
||
|
Handel |
||
|
Edward Elgar (arranged
by Farrington) |
New
arrangement |
|
|
Flourish
for an Occasion |
||
|
Vaughan
Williams |
||
|
During the
service |
||
|
Fanfare for
the Arrival of Their Majesties |
||
|
Hubert Parry (arranged
by Rutter) |
New
arrangement; Parry version used since coronation of Edward VII |
|
|
Kyrie
Eleison |
New
composition; sung in Welsh |
|
|
The
Recognition |
New
composition |
|
|
Prevent Us,
O Lord |
||
|
Byrd |
||
|
New
composition |
||
|
Wiseman |
New
composition |
|
|
Handel |
Composed
for the coronation of George II |
|
|
Richard
Strauss (arranged by Mealor) |
New
arrangement |
|
|
O Lord,
Grant the King a Long Life |
||
|
Homage
Fanfare |
Robinson |
|
|
Confortare |
Walford Davies (arranged
by Rutter) |
New arrangement |
|
Make A
Joyful Noise |
New
composition |
|
|
Purcell
(arranged by James O'Donnell) |
||
|
Coronation
Sanctus |
New
composition |
|
|
Coronation
Agnus Dei |
New
composition |
|
|
Threefold
Amen |
||
|
J. Goss (arranged by Robinson) |
New
arrangement |
|
|
The King
Shall Rejoice: Opening Chorus |
||
|
Coronation Te Deum |
Walton
(arranged by Rutter) |
New
arrangement |
|
(arranged
by Gordon Jacob) |
||
|
Closing
voluntary |
||
|
Elgar
(arranged by Farrington) |
New
arrangement |
|
|
March from
the Birds |
Parry
(arranged by Rutter) |
New
arrangement |
|
Chorale
Fantasia on "The Old Hundredth" |
Parry |
|
|
Earl of
Oxford's March |
Byrd
(arranged by Matthew Knight) |
|
Cost[edit]
The Department for
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) stated that it was
"unable to give costs, or a breakdown of funding" until after the
coronation, but unofficial estimates of £50 to £100 million have been reported,[56] while
other reports suggest a figure of up to £250 million.[57]
Coronation service[edit]
The events of
the coronation day included a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey,
the coronation service itself, a procession back to Buckingham Palace, and an
appearance by the King and Queen, with other members of the royal family, on
the palace balcony for a flypast by
the Royal Air Force.[58]
The
coronation was conducted by the Church of England and contained several
distinct elements, which were structured around a service of Holy Communion.[59] Charles
and Camilla first proceeded into the abbey, then Charles was presented to the
people and recognised as monarch. After this Charles
took an oath stating that he will uphold the law and maintain the Church of
England. He then was anointed with holy oil, invested with the coronation regalia, and
crowned with St Edward's Crown. After this he was enthroned and received homage
from Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, and William,
the prince of Wales, and the people were invited to
swear allegiance. Camilla then was anointed, crowned, and enthroned. The King
and Queen ended the service by taking Holy Communion, and processed out of the
abbey.[60]
Procession to the abbey[edit]
On the day of
the coronation Charles and Camilla travelled to Westminster Abbey in
procession.[61][62] They
departed Buckingham Palace at 10:20 BST and went along The Mall,
down Whitehall and
along Parliament Street, and around the east and south sides of Parliament
Square before reaching the Great West Door of Westminster
Abbey, a distance of 1.42 miles (2.29 km).[61][63] Charles
and Camilla used the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, drawn by
six Windsor Greys, and were accompanied by the
Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.[61]
Procession into the abbey[edit]
The
procession into the abbey was led by leaders and representatives from
non-Christian religions, including the Baháʼí, Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Jewish,
Shia and Sunni Muslim, Sikh, and Zoroastrian communities.[12][64] They
were followed by Christian leaders from different Christian denominations, including the Church
of England. After this the flags of the Commonwealth realms were carried by
representatives, accompanied by their governors general and prime ministers.
The choir followed.[12][64][63]
Charles and
Camilla arrived shortly before 11:00 and formed their own procession. It was
led by four peers,[c] who
carried heraldic standards displaying the
quarterings of the royal coat of arms and
the arms of the Principality of Wales,[12][64] while
the king's champion, Francis Dymoke,
carried the royal standard.[12] The
Lord High Constable of England and the Earl Marshal also took part.[12] Charles
and Camilla were each attended by four pages of honour, including Prince George of Wales and Camilla's
grandsons.[d][65] Camilla
was also accompanied by two ladies in attendance: Annabel Elliot,
her sister, and Fiona
Petty-Fitzmaurice, the marchioness of Lansdowne.[66] Unexpectedly
the Prince and Princess of Wales and their two younger children arrived at the
Abbey after the King and joined the procession after their majesties.[67] The
choir sang Hubert Parry's "I was glad",
during which the King's Scholars of Westminster School sang "Vivat Regina Camilla" and "Vivat Rex Carolus" ('Long live Queen
Camilla' and 'Long live King Charles').[64][68]
After this
the coronation regalia was processed to the altar, first Camilla's and then
Charles's.[12][69] At
Charles's request, the sixth-century St Augustine Gospels was also carried in
the procession.[70]
|
Bearers and
presenters of regalia hide |
|||
|
Regalia |
Bearer |
Presenter |
Ref. |
|
King's
Regalia |
|||
|
— |
|||
|
Sword of
Temporal Justice |
General
The Lord Houghton of Richmond GCB CBE |
— |
|
|
Sword of
Spiritual Justice |
General
The Lord Richards
of Herstmonceux GCB CBE DSO |
— |
|
|
Air Chief
Marshal The Lord Peach GBE KCB |
— |
||
|
Sword of
State |
The Rt
Hon. Penelope Mordaunt MP as Lord President of the Council |
— |
|
|
Petty
Officer Amy Taylor (arrival) |
The Most
Rev. and Rt Hon. Justin Welby |
||
|
The Lord Hastings and
The Earl of Loudoun |
|||
|
— |
The Lord Kamall |
||
|
— |
The Rt
Rev. Paul Butler |
||
|
— |
The Prince of Wales KG KT PC ADC and The Baroness Merron |
||
|
The Most
Rev. John McDowell |
|||
|
Brigadier
Andrew Jackson CBE as Keeper of the
Jewel House |
The Lord Patel KT |
||
|
— |
|||
|
The Most
Rev. Mark Strange |
|||
|
The Baroness
Benjamin OM DBE |
The Most
Rev. Andrew John |
||
|
General Sir Gordon
Messenger KCB DSO & Bar OBE ADC as Lord High Steward of England |
The Most
Rev. and Rt Hon. Justin Welby |
||
|
Queen's
Regalia |
|||
|
The Rt Rev.
and Rt. Hon The Lord Chartres GCVO PC FSA |
Brigadier
Andrew Jackson CBE as Keeper of the
Jewel House |
||
|
The Most
Rev. and Rt Hon. Justin Welby |
|||
|
General Sir Patrick Sanders KCB CBE DSO |
The Rt Rev.
and Rt. Hon The Lord Chartres GCVO PC FSA |
||
|
The Rt
Rev. Rose Hudson-Wilkin CD MBE KHC |
|||
Recognition[edit]
The service,
conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, began with the
King and Queen having a silent moment of prayer before seating themselves on
their chairs of estate, made for the 1953 coronation.[64][73][74] Paul
Mealor's "Coronation Kyrie" was sung
in Welsh by Sir Bryn Terfel.
After this the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lady Elish Angiolini (representing
the Order of the Thistle), Christopher Finney (representing the holders of the Victoria Cross and
George Cross), and Baroness Amos (representing the Order of the Garter) stood facing east, south,
west, and north and in turn asked the congregation to recognise
Charles as king; the crowd replied "God save King Charles!" each
time.[64][63] It
was a break from precedence, previously, in 1953, the segment was made up of
the high officers of the state alongside the Archbishop, by now the officers
were now replaced by holders of the highest medals and orders of the nation.
Charles was then presented with a new Bible by the Moderator of the
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.[64]
Oath and accession declaration[edit]
Before administering
the oath, the Archbishop of Canterbury acknowledged the existence of multiple
faiths and beliefs in the United Kingdom.[63] Charles
then took the coronation oath, in which he swore to
govern each of his countries according to their respective laws and customs, to
administer law and justice with mercy, and to uphold Protestantism in the
United Kingdom and protect the Church of England. Subsequently, he made the
statutory accession declaration.[64] Charles
then signed a written form of the oath, before kneeling before the altar and
saying a prayer.[64]
The service
of Holy Communion then continued. The Archbishop of Canterbury delivered
the collect,
and the epistle and gospel were
read by the prime minister, Rishi Sunak,
and the bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, respectively.[64] This
was followed by a sermon by the Archbishop of Canterbury.[64]
Anointing[edit]
Charles
removed his robe of state and was seated on the Coronation Chair.[75][76] He
then was anointed with holy oil by the Archbishop of Canterbury, using the
ampulla and a medieval spoon, the latter the oldest part of the coronation
regalia. The anointing emphasised the spiritual role
of the sovereign. It was a private part of the service; as in 1953 it was not
televised, and Charles was concealed by a screen. During this the choir sang
the anthem Zadok the Priest.[77]
Investment and crowning[edit]
In the next
part of the service, Charles was presented with several items from the
coronation regalia. The spurs, Armills, Sword of State,
and Sword of Offering were given to the King, who touched them with his hand,
before they were removed again.[64] During
this, Psalm 71 was chanted in Greek by an Orthodox choir in tribute of the
King's father, Prince Philip, who was born a prince of Greece.[64] The
Greek Orthodox choir was requested personally by the King.[78] The
King was invested with the stole royal, robe royal,
and the sovereign's orb, and presented with the sovereign's ring,
which he touched but did not wear. He was then invested with the glove,
the sovereign's sceptre with
cross, and the sovereign's sceptre with
dove.[64][69]
The King then
was crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, with the Archbishop and then the
congregation chanting, "God save the King!".[64] At
the moment of crowning the church bells of
the abbey rang, 21-gun salutes were fired at 13 locations
around the United Kingdom and on deployed Royal Navy ships,
and 62-gun salutes and a six-gun salvo were fired from the Tower of London
and Horse Guards Parade.[79]
Charles then
received a Christian blessing read by the Anglican Archbishop of
York, the Greek Orthodox
Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain,
the Moderator of the Free Churches, the Secretary
General of the ecumenical Christian organisation Churches Together in England, the Roman
Catholic Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, and
the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury.[64]
Enthronement and homage[edit]
Charles moved
to the throne (originally made for George VI in 1937) and the Archbishop of
Canterbury and William, Prince of Wales, offered him their fealty.[74][64] The
Archbishop of Canterbury then invited the people of the United Kingdom and the
other Commonwealth realms to swear allegiance to the King, the first time this
has occurred.[64][80]
Coronation of the Queen[edit]
The next part
of the service concerned Camilla. She was anointed in public view, thought to
be the first time this has occurred, and then presented with the Queen Consort's Ring.[64][81] The
Queen then was crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury using Queen Mary's
Crown.[64] Camilla
then was presented with the Queen Consort's Sceptre
with Cross and the Queen Consort's Rod with Dove (which,
unlike other Queen Consorts, she chose not to carry), before sitting on her own
throne (originally made for Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in
1937) beside the King.[64][69][74]
This was the
first coronation of a consort since that of Charles's grandmother Queen Elizabeth
in 1937.[7]
Holy Communion[edit]
The offertory
followed, during which gifts of bread and wine were brought before the King and
prayed over; the prayer was a translation from the Liber Regalis, which dates from c. 1382 and is one of the
oldest sources for the English coronation service.[64] Charles
and Camilla then received Holy Communion from the Archbishop of Canterbury and
the congregation recited the Lord's Prayer,
before a final blessing.[64]
End of the service[edit]
At the end of
the service the King changed into the Imperial State Crown.[82] Charles
and Camilla then proceeded to the west door of the abbey as the national
anthem, "God Save the King", was sung. At the end
of the procession the King received a greeting by leaders and representatives
from non-Christian faiths (Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist),[64] during
which the Orb and Sceptre were temporarily removed
from the King's hands and held by the Crown Jeweller.
State Procession to Buckingham Palace[edit]
The second
procession followed the same route as the first, but in reverse and on a larger
scale. The King and Queen were carried in the Gold State Coach,
drawn by eight Windsor Grey horses, with other members of the royal family in
other vehicles.[61]
The armed
forces of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and the British Overseas Territories played a
significant part. Over 5,000 members of the British Armed Forces and 400 Armed Forces
personnel from at least 35 other Commonwealth countries were part of the two
processions, and 1,000 lined the route.[79] The Sovereign's Bodyguard, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Royal Watermen also took part in the
procession, and the Royal British Legion formed a Guard of Honour of 100 Standard Bearers in Parliament Square.[61][83] The
Princess Royal and the Commander of the Household Cavalry served as the Gold Stick-in-Waiting and Silver Stick-in-Waiting,
respectively.[84]
At Buckingham
Palace, the King and Queen stood on the rear balcony and received a royal
salute and three cheers from the armed forces, who were massed in the garden, then joined other members of
the royal family on the front balcony to review a flypast
by helicopters and the Red Arrows aerobatic team. A six-minute flypast of 68 aircraft was planned, but prevented by rain
and low cloud.[85][e]
A grandstand
was built in front of Buckingham Palace from which to watch the procession and flypast, with 3,800 seats offered to Armed Forces veterans, NHS and social care
workers, and representatives of charities with links to the King and Queen.[87] In
addition, 354 uniformed cadet forces viewed the procession at Admiralty Arch.[87]
Public events and
commemorations[edit]
In April
2023, Buckingham Palace revealed a new hashflag emoji depicting
St Edward's Crown for use on Twitter.[88]
On 2 May, the
King and Queen attended a celebratory pre-coronation reception at Westminster Hall.[89] They
are due to host coronation garden parties at Buckingham Palace on 3 and 9 May
and at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on
4 July.[90][91] On
5 May, Charles hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace for the
governors-general, presidents, prime ministers, and other leaders of the 56
Commonwealth states. Together with the Prince and Princess of Wales, he greeted
crowds at The Mall during a walkabout.[92] Charles
then met Commonwealth leaders at Marlborough
House where they discussed issues of mutual interest as well as
the Commonwealth Year of Youth and initiatives to empower youth.[93] In
the evening, the King hosted a reception for foreign royalty and other overseas
dignitaries at Buckingham Palace,[94] and
family members and guests also attended a reception at Oswald's.[95]
Between 6–8
May people in Britain held "Coronation Big Lunch" street parties.[73] More
than 3,000 parties were planned, with English councils having approved the
closure of 3,087 roads. Most street parties were scheduled for Sunday, 7 May.[96] Coronation
quiche was chosen by Charles and Camilla as the official dish
of the Coronation Big Lunch.[97] Pubs
also remained open until 01:00 on the coronation weekend.[98]
The Coronation Concert was planned for 7 May
on Windsor Castle's East Lawn.[73][62] In
addition to performances by singers, musicians, and stage and screen actors,
the show also featured a "Coronation Choir" composed of community
choirs and amateur singers.[62][73][99] During
the concert, landmarks, areas of natural beauty, and street parties were
featured.[100] 5,000
pairs of free tickets were distributed by public ballot, and volunteers from
the King and Queen's charities were also invited.[73][101] Several
musical performers reportedly turned down the palace's invitation to perform
citing scheduling conflicts.[102]
A public
holiday was declared on 8 May to commemorate the coronation.[103] On
the same day, the Together Coalition, in partnership with The Scout Association, the Royal Voluntary Service, and various faith
groups, organised the Big Help Out initiative to
encourage volunteering and community service.[73][62] The
Royal Voluntary Service, of which Camilla is president, also launched the
Coronation Champions Awards, which recognised 500
volunteers nominated by the public.[104][105]
Institutional initiatives[edit]
Ecclesiastical[edit]
Twenty-eight days
prior to the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla, the Church of England
established a period of prayer for
them, and to this end, published a Book
of Daily Prayers that included "daily themes, reflections and
prayers for use by individuals, churches or groups".[106][107][108]
Congregations
of the Church of England held special commemorative services throughout the country
on 6–7 May 2023.[109]
Government[edit]
The
government of the United Kingdom issued coronation medals to
400,000 individuals, including those involved in supporting the coronation,
front line emergency and prison services workers, and members of the British
Armed Forces. The medals are made of nickel silver and plated in nickel and
feature an effigy of the King and Queen, on a red, white and blue ribbon.[110]
The Transport for London voice announcement
was replaced by the voice announcements recorded by the King and Queen on 5
May, and were used on railway station and all London Underground stations throughout
the coronation weekend and bank holiday on Monday.[111] The London North Eastern Railway also
named its daily 11:00 passenger train from London King's Cross to Edinburgh Waverley the Carolean Express, starting on 6 May.[112]
Natural England will
mark the coronation with the creation of the King's Series of National Nature
Reserves, which will see five major national nature reserves named every
year for the next five years.[113][114]
Memorabilia[edit]
The Royal Mint released
a new collection of coins, including 50p and £5 coin depicting the King wearing
the Tudor Crown.[115] Royal Mail issued
four stamps to mark the King's coronation, as it did for the coronations of
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. The company will also apply a special
postmark from 28 April to 10 May.[116]
The Royal Collection Trust released official
coronation memorabilia to mark the occasion.[117][118] In
February 2023, Buckingham Palace announced it would temporarily relax the
"rules governing the commercial use of royal photographs and official
insignia" to allow other groups to produce coronation memorabilia.[119]
Companies
that have produced coronation memorabilia include Emma Bridgewater, Jan Constantine, Merrythought,
and Royal Crown Derby.[117][120] Greene King produced
a special brew to mark the coronation and auctioned several unopened crates of
a special brew created for the cancelled coronation of Edward VIII in
1937, with proceeds from the auction going to the The Prince's Trust.[120]
Crown Dependencies[edit]
A public
holiday was declared on 8 May in Guernsey,
the Isle of Man,
and Jersey.[121][122][123] As
in the United Kingdom, Big Help Outs will also be organised
in all three Crown Dependencies on the day of the
holiday.[62][124][125]
The states of
Guernsey planned events to celebrate the coronation from 5 to 8 May. A vigil
was held on 5 May at Forest Methodist Church to reflect on the coronation's
spiritual element. On 6 May, bells rang from Town Church, Vale, Forest, and St
Pierre du Bois. A live broadcast of the coronation
service was played on a large screen at the King George V Sports Ground (KGV),
followed by a military parade from Fort George to the Model Yacht Pond. A
21-gun salute was fired at noon from Castle Cornet as
part of the national salute. On 7 May, a Coronation Big Lunch was held at Saint Peter Port seafront,
along with a service of thanksgiving at the Town Church. That evening the
Coronation Concert was planned to be screened live at the KGV playing fields,
and buildings including Castle Cornet and Fort Grey were
illuminated in red, white, and blue in the evening.[126]
In Jersey, on
6 May, Coronation Park hosted a large-screen broadcast of the coronation,
musical entertainment, and activities. Licensed establishments were encouraged
to open ahead of the ceremony's broadcast, and seventh category licensed
establishments could apply for special extensions to stay open until 3 am on 7
May. On 7 May, the Coronation Big Lunch took place in Liberation Square, where a
public screening of the coronation concert was also held.[124][127]
The Isle of
Man government organised three days of festivities
from 6 to 8 May. A Coronation Event Fund was established to assist local
authorities, community groups, and charities help finance celebrations. On 7
May, a Biosphere Bee Community Picnic took place, and the Legislative Buildings
in Douglas was also lit up.[125][128] A
collection of 12 Isle of Man stamps featuring photos of Charles and Camilla,
portraits of the King, and the royal cypher were also released in April 2023.[129]
British Overseas Territories[edit]
A public
holiday was declared in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands on
8 May.[103]
Several
events were planned in Bermuda. On 6 May, commemorative tree planting and the
opening of a Coronation Garden, designed to reflect Prince Charles's work in
support of the environment and sustainable farming, took place at Bermuda Botanical Gardens. On 7 May, a
service of thanksgiving was held at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity,
and on 8 May the Children's Reading Festival took place to recognise
Camilla's commitment to literacy, particularly for young people.[130][131]
Celebrations
in the Falkland Islands included a
children's fancy dress party, a live music and karaoke
event for young adults, as well as the Big Lunch and the Big Help Out.[132] In Gibraltar,
festivities took place on 3 May, including a parade of British Forces Gibraltar and
essential services, garden and street parties, and concerts. The coronation was
also broadcast live at Grand Casemates Square.[133]
Canada[edit]
Federal[edit]
On 6 May a
televised national ceremony to mark the coronation took place at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in
Ottawa.[134] It
featured speeches by Algonquin spiritual
leader Albert Dumont and aerospace engineer Farah Alibay, and performances by the Eagle River
Singers, Sabrina Benaim, Florence K, Inn Echo, and the Ottawa Regional
Youth Choir.[135] During
the event, Dominic Laporte created a spray-paint artpiece
thematically linked to flowers, as an homage to Charles's support for the
natural environment.[136] The
ceremony concluded with a 21-gun salute and a performance by the Central Band of the Canadian Armed
Forces on Parliament Hill.[135]
The Department of Canadian Heritage provided
$257,000 to the Royal Canadian Geographical Society to
produce educational material for schools on the King's
association with Indigenous peoples in Canada and
his tours of the country.[135] The
society distributed a special edition of Canadian Geographic about the King.[137] Innovation,
Science and Economic Development Canada approved the use of a
special call sign in Canada for amateur radio operators
to use from 5 May to 2 June.[138]
Landmarks
across Canada were illuminated emerald green on 6 and 7 May. Guided tours were
offered at Rideau Hall, the official residence of the monarch and governor general of Canada, and the
Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces performed there.[135][139] Several Royal Canadian Legion branches hosted
receptions.[140][141] On
8 May the government announced a donation of $100,000 to the Nature Conservancy of Canada to mark
the coronation.[142]
The
government issued a coronation medal to
30,000 Canadians who had made significant contributions to the country or their
local region.[143] Two
commemorative coronation medallions approved by Charles were also produced by
the Canadian Heritage Mint.[144]
Symbols and memorabilia[edit]
A Canadian coronation
emblem was created by Cathy Bursey-Sabourin, Fraser Herald of Arms, and registered with
the Canadian Heraldic Authority. It includes
Charles III's royal cypher inside a ring of 13 triangular shapes, the number
corresponding to Canada's provinces and territories. The circular arrangement symbolises inclusion and the Indigenous concept of equity
and the cycles of the natural world. The colour green
is a reference to the King's commitment to the natural environment, while the
white spaces may be viewed as a sunburst, symbolising
innovation and new ideas.[145]
At the
national ceremony, the Canadian Heraldic Authority unveiled
a new standard for the monarch and an heraldic crown incorporating
distinctly Canadian elements.[135][139] The
design of the first Canadian definitive stamp with
an image of the King was revealed by Canada Post.[139] The Royal Canadian Mint displayed coins
designed to commemorate the coronation, and it was
announced that an effigy of Charles would replace that of Elizabeth II on
Canadian coinage and the Canadian twenty-dollar note.[146] The
official Canadian portrait of Charles III will be unveiled on 31 May.[147]
Provincial[edit]
Lieutenant
governors and territorial commissioners organised events
that included exhibitions, military parades, and tree plantings.[139][135] The
Lieutenant Governors of Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia,
and Saskatchewan hosted events at their respective Government
Houses on 6 May.[147][148][149][150][151] Additional
events were planned at Government House, Nova Scotia, for 2 May
and 22 June, and at Government House, Saskatchewan for 7
and 13 May.[147][151] The
latter will feature a debut musical performance by Jeffery Straker,
who composed a new song for the coronation.[151] The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta will
host an event to mark the coronation on 13 May at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden.[152] The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario hosted
a panel on the coronation with the Empire Club of Canada on 2 May and will
open the Lieutenant Governor's Suite at
the Ontario Legislative Building to the
public as a part of Doors Open Toronto on 27 and 28 May.[153] Government House, British Columbia will
host a garden festival and unveil a new garden pathway later in 2023 to mark
the coronation.[154]
Other
celebrations organised by provincial governments
included events organised at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building on
5 May and the Manitoba Legislative Building on 6
May.[155][156] The government of Ontario hosted a fair
at Queen's Park in Toronto and offered free
admission to provincially-owned attractions and 39 provincial parks on the date
of the coronation.[153][157] A
program by the government of Newfoundland and
Labrador to distribute seedlings from the Wooddale Provincial
Tree Nursery to the public was launched on 6 May to honour
Charles's focus on environmentalism.[158]
Several
coronation concerts were also organised. The Office
of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario initiated a six-part coronation concert
series for long-term care homes from April to May.[153] Several
places hosted concerts during the coronation weekend, including the Cathedral Church of St James in
Toronto, Christ Church
Cathedral in Victoria, and Knox-Metropolitan
United Church in Regina.[153][154][155]
Australia[edit]
Celebrating
Charles III's coronation as king of
Australia, buildings and monuments across the country were
illuminated in royal purple on 6 and 7 May.[159] A
flag notice was also issued, urging the display of the national flag,
the Aboriginal flag, and Torres Strait Islander flag throughout
the coronation weekend.[160] On
7 May, the Australian Defence Force fired
a 21-gun salute from the forecourt of Parliament House, followed by a flypast by the Royal Australian Air Force.[161] The Federal Executive Council also made a
$10,000 donation in the King's name to a charity working to conserve the western ground parrot, as an official
"coronation gift" to Charles.[162]
The ballroom of Government House, Perth during an
open house to mark the coronation. A group poses next to a photo portrait of
Charles and Camilla in the background.
Government
Houses in Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney hosted
open houses on 6 and 7 May. Government House in Adelaide will do
the same on 21 May,[163][164][165][166][167][168] after
a garden party took place there during the coronation weekend, when the same
was held at Government House in Sydney.[167][168] Government House, Melbourne will host
a reception to mark the occasion later in 2023.[165]
The Australian Monarchist League hosted
several low-key events and screenings of the coronation on 5 and 6 May,
including in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney; but, opted
not to organise street parties over concerns that
they might be disrupted by republican protesters.[169][170]
New Zealand[edit]
To celebrate
the coronation of Charles III as king of New Zealand, a national event featuring
performances was held at the Auckland Domain on
7 May. The New Zealand Defence Force performed
a gun salute at Devonport and Point Jerningham in
Wellington on the same day.[171][172]
Trees That
Count and the Department of Conservation initiated
a tree planting campaign, with the New Zealand Government providing one
million dollars to support the planting of 100,000 trees by local councils
during the coronation weekend.[171] The
campaign was launched on the grounds of Parliament House, Wellington on 26
April, during a tree planting ceremony with various parliamentarians, including
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and
Opposition Leader Christopher Luxon.[173]
NZ Post released
commemorative coins and stamps on 3 May.[174] An
initiative to illuminate landmarks in purple also took place in Auckland,
Hawera, and Wellington on 6 May.[171][172]
Several other
public services and private groups also organised
commemorative events. The New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts is
holding a special exhibition to mark the coronation from 21 April to 21 May,
featuring works from 68 practising artists and pieces
belonging to the Royal New Zealand Navy.[175] Libraries
in South Taranaki hosted coronation events from 1 to 6 May. The Wellington Cathedral of St Paul held
a coronation festival from 5 to 7 May.[172]
Antigua and Barbuda[edit]
Events to
mark the coronation of Charles as king of Antigua and Barbuda took
place in St. John's. On 6 May, a parade featuring
the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF), Girl Guides, Boy
Scouts, Boys and Girls Brigades, The Duke of Edinburgh Award recipients,
Seventh Day Adventist Pathfinder, and Cadet Corps marched from the Multipurpose
Cultural Centre to Government House.[176] There,
a ceremony took place that included a bonfire and performances by the ABDF
Band, Salvation Army Timbralists, and SDA Parthfinders Drum Corps. On 7 May, a service of
Thanksgiving to mark the occasion took place at the St John's Pentecostal House
of Restoration Ministries.[177]
Vanuatu[edit]
The Kastom people who worshipped Prince Philip on the Vanuatuan island
of Tanna marked
the coronation of his son. Events were organised in
the villages of Yakel and Yaohnanen throughout
6 May, including a flag-raising ceremony of the Union Flag, and drinking and
dancing. Around 5,000 to 6,000 people gathered to celebrate, with an additional
100 chiefs also attending.[178]
Coverage and ratings[edit]
The BBC suspended
the television licence
fee for the coronation weekend, so that venues could screen the
coronation on 6 May, and the coronation concert the next day, without
needing to buy a television licence.[179] The Department for Culture, Media and
Sport announced that the event would be shown on big screens
across 57 locations in Britain, including in Hyde Park, Green Park and St James's Park.[87]
Media outlets
in Britain, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand and the United
States broadcast the coronation live. Several broadcasters in those countries
provided coverage of the occasion throughout the coronation weekend.[180][181][182][183][184]
The
coronation was viewed by an average television audience of 18.8 million
and a peak television audience of 20.4 million in the UK, making it the
most-watched broadcast of the year so far.[185][186] The
BBC showed the coronation on BBC One, BBC Two with British Sign Language interpretation and
the BBC News Channel, and its peak audience of 15.5 million was the
largest of any broadcaster.[185] ITV had
an audience of 3.6 million people, with ITV3 carrying British
Sign Language interpretation from 10:45am to 1pm, and a further 800,000 watched
on Sky News and Sky Showcase.[185]
Outside the
UK, the ceremony was watched by over 3 million people in Australia, nearly 9
million people in France, over 4.8 million people in Germany (a market share of
42.6 percent), and 12 million people in the US.[187][188][189] [190]
Reactions[edit]
Public opinion[edit]
In April
2023, YouGov conducted
multiple surveys related to the coronation in the United Kingdom. A survey 13
April revealed that 46 per cent of British adults were likely to watch the
coronation, and another survey conducted on the same day found that only 33 per
cent of the respondents cared about the ceremony.[191] A
survey on 18 April found that 51 per cent of Britons believed that the
coronation should not be financed by taxpayers.[192] Another
poll of young British people found that 70 per cent were "not
interested" in the royal family or the coronation.[193]
The removal
of the Stone of Scone was controversial in Scotland.
In October 2022, an online petition calling for the stone to remain in Edinburgh Castle was
signed by hundreds of people.[194] Alex Salmond,
the leader of the Alba Party and former first minister of Scotland, suggested in
March 2023 that the Scottish Government ought to prevent the
stone from being taken to London.[195] Despite
these objections, the stone was moved to London on 28 April 2023.[196]
Several
events were planned to mark the coronation in Canada, although public opinion
toward it was ambivalent and the celebrations were more subdued than those for
the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953.[197][198]
The use of
the Cullinan diamonds in the coronation was controversial in South Africa. The
ceremony prompted some South Africans to demand their return, following a
petition on the same topic after the death of Queen Elizabeth II which
attracted 8,000 signatures.[199][200]
Republicanism[edit]
Some Commonwealth
realms held celebratory events to commemorate the coronation.[198] However,
several politicians, including the prime ministers of Belize, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, used the occasion to argue that
the UK should apologise for the slave trade, and
expressed their desire for making their respective countries a republic.[201][202][203] In
the lead up to the coronation, republican and reparations campaigners from a
number of realms also signed an open letter to Charles, asking him to formally apologise for the effects of British colonialism and to
begin a "process of reparatory justice".[204]
In the
lead-up to the coronation, the Australian Government was criticised
by monarchists for not declaring a public holiday, or organising
official government events to mark the coronation.[169][170][205] Conversely,
republicans in Australia criticised Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese for attending the
coronation,[206] and
faced pressure from republicans to not partake in the oath of allegiance.[207][208]
Marlene Malahoo Forte,
the minister of legal and constitutional affairs of Jamaica, used the
coronation to emphasise the Jamaican government's
intention to transition to being a republic as early as 2024, and that the
coronation had accelerated the government's plans for a referendum on the
subject.[209] A
constitutional reform committee on the issue was set up earlier in 2023. In the
weeks leading up to the coronation, the government released a video on the
country's constitutional reform process, in which it referred to Charles as a
"foreign king".[210]
Protests[edit]
The British republican group Republic protested against the coronation
in London; its chief executive, Graham Smith, called the ceremony a
"celebration of hereditary power and privilege".[211] The
organisation anticipated an attendance of around
1,500–2,000 in Trafalgar Square, the focus of the London
protests, with smaller groups of one to three people spread throughout the
procession route.[212][213] According
to BBC News,
there were hundreds of protesters.[214] Republic
encouraged protesters to wear yellow during the protest.[213][215]
To control
disruptive protests, as well as terror threats and general crime, the police and
security services from across the UK deployed a large number of physical
barriers, armed officers, and police drones in London.[216] Over
11,500 police officers were on duty on the day of the coronation, and units of
the UK Counter Terrorism Defence
Mechanism were also placed on standby.[57] Extensive
security planning had been ongoing for several years leading up to the
coronation as part of Operation Golden Orb.[216]
Pro–Scottish independence and republican marches took place in both
Edinburgh and Glasgow on the day of the coronation. The group All Under One Banner marched in Glasgow,
and the Radical Independence Campaign and Our Republic in
Edinburgh. The latter group also promoted the Declaration of Calton Hill during
its march.[217]
The Welsh republican advocacy group Cymru
Republic staged a protest on 6 May in Cardiff, with a march from the statue of Aneurin Bevan to Bute Park.[218] Around
300 protesters took part.[214]
Arrests[edit]
The Metropolitan Police stated that 64 people
were arrested on the day of the coronation for "affray, public order
offences, breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance".[219] Several
groups have claimed that their members were among those arrested, including
Republic, whose chief executive Graham Smith was arrested, Animal Rising,
and Just Stop Oil. Republic had been in
consultation with police for months prior to the event, and up until the Friday
before had been assured by police that there would be no issues with their
protest.[220] Human Rights Watch described the arrests
as alarming and something "you would expect to see in Moscow not
London".[221][222][223]
The Metropolitan
Police claimed that some arrests were due to plans by protesters to "throw
rape alarms" in an attempt to startle horses in the parade, potentially
injuring riders and spectators, something about which they had briefed Oliver Dowden,
the deputy prime minister, in April 2023.[224][225][226][227] Members
of the women's safety campaign group Night Stars were arrested for
distributing rape alarms to women in Westminster, prompting
criticism from the Green Party politician Caroline Russell.[228]
On 8 May the
Metropolitan Police apologised to six of the arrested
protesters, including Smith, after a review found no proof that the protesters
in question were going to engage in unlawful behaviour.
The Metropolitan Police expressed "regret" over the arrest of Smith
and the five other protestors.[229] Smith
indicated that he would not be accepting the apology, and that he would be
considering legal action.[230]
AND…
ATTACHMENT FOUR (A)…
ATTACHMENT
FIVE – From NASDAQ
World leaders gather
in London for King Charles' coronation
By Michael Holden May 05, 2023 — 07:04 am EDT
LONDON, May 5
(Reuters) - King Charles will
hold a reception on Friday for world leaders gathered in London for his
coronation this weekend, the biggest ceremonial event to be staged in Britain
for 70 years.
Charles, 74,
and his wife Camilla will be crowned at London's Westminster Abbey in a
glittering but solemn religious ceremony with traditions dating back some 1,000
years, followed by a procession, resplendent with pomp and pageantry.
Royal fans
have been gathering on The Mall, the grand boulevard that leads to Buckingham
Palace, and heads of state and global dignitaries have been arriving in the
British capital ahead of Saturday's event.
"It's an
honor to represent the United States for this historic moment and celebrate the
special relationship between our countries," U.S. first lady Jill Biden
said on Twitter before leaving for Britain.
She will be among
the world leaders attending the reception at Buckingham Palace on Friday
evening which the king and queen will host along with other senior members of
the royal family.
Earlier,
Charles will hold a meeting of leaders from the Commonwealth of Nations, the
voluntary associations of 56 countries which he also heads, while he will also
greet prime ministers and royal representatives from the 14 other realms where
he is head of state, including Australia and Canada.
The leaders
of Australia and New Zealand will pledge their allegiance to
King Charles at his coronation on Saturday even though both are life-long
republicans who do not shy away from making their positions clear.
Across
Britain, preparations are underway for the first coronation since 1953 when his
mother Queen Elizabeth was crowned. The king has even voiced announcements for
the London underground network, reminding passengers to
"mind the gap".
Charles
automatically became king after the queen's death at 96 last September but the
coronation, although not essential, is regarded as a hugely symbolic moment
which legitimises the monarch in a public way.
Set against
the backdrop of a cost of living crisis, some public scepticism
and in a modern era when questions are being posed about the future of the
institution, its role and finances, Saturday's event will be on a smaller scale
than the previous one 70 years ago.
Nonetheless
it will be a lavish occasion. The St Edward's Crown,
which weighs about 2.2 kg (4 lb 12 ounces) and dates
back to 1661 and the reign of his namesake King Charles II, will be placed on
his head during the ceremony.
BEJEWELLED
Among the
other historic, bejewelled items involved will be the
golden Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross which holds the
530 carat Cullinan 1 diamond, also known as the Star of Africa and
the world's largest colourless cut diamond.
After the
ceremony, there will be a mile-long procession involving some 4,000 military
personnel, with the newly-crowned King Charles III and Queen Camilla returning
to Buckingham Palace in the four-tonne Gold State
Coach, pulled by eight horses.
Thousands are
expected to line the route and millions more will watch on giant screens
erected at 30 locations around Britain or at home, with the event set to be
broadcast live around the world.
Retailers are
hoping for a boost from the three-days of celebrations and street parties with
the public enjoying an extra holiday on Monday. Buckingham Palace said it
expected it would provide an economic lift for
Britain's struggling economy.
Supermarket
Lidl said it had sold enough bunting to line the procession route 75 times
over, and Tesco said it expected to sell enough bunting to stretch from Land's
End in southwest England to the tip of Scotland. Sainsbury's said its sales of
sparkling wines were up 128% year-on-year.
But polls
suggest far from everyone will be celebrating with a majority of the
public generally apathetic about the event, and critics have
questioned the cost at a time when many people are struggling to pay bills.
"They
just take everything from me. They never do a day's work," said Philip
Nash, 68, as he swept the streets in Whitechapel, a more run down area of east
London.
FACTBOX-Key
moments in King Charles' coronation
(Additional
reporting by James Davey; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
ATTACHMENT
SIX – From The Mirror
King Charles mingles with world leaders ahead of historic Coronation
Flanked by his closest family, the
monarch hosted a Buckingham Palace lunch for prime ministers and governors
general of the 14 other British realms
By Russell Myers, Royal Editor
21:54, 5 May 2023
The King was on top of the world
yesterday as leaders from around the globe wished him luck at his Coronation.
Flanked by his closest family,
including the Prince and Princess of Wales who joined him on a rapturous
walkabout earlier in the day, the monarch hosted a Buckingham Palace lunch for
prime ministers and governors general of the 14 other British realms.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Australian
prime minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister of New Zealand Chris Hipkins were seen chatting animatedly.
The King then arrived – to
applause – at the royal HQ. The 42 guests including Queen Letizia of Spain,
Prince Albert of Monaco and his wife Charlene arrived in the white drawing
room.
They mingled in a drinks reception
in the music room and ate lunch in the blue drawing room.
The Princess of Wales could be
heard chatting about the forecast of rain during the Coronation procession.
Future King William told guests of his excitement that his father’s big moment
was near. Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, worked opposite sides
of the room to Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence,
thanking the guests for travelling so far.
Completing the royal contingent
were the Duke and Duchess
of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent, who will join the King and
others on the Buckingham Palace balcony later this afternoon.
The Duke of Kent, who at 87 is due
to retire in the near future in the King’s “slimmed-down monarchy”, told guests
it would be a “remarkable” occasion thanks to all the intensive planning.
The King thanked guests for
coming, including US First Lady Dr Jill Biden, who is here in place of the
president, her husband Joe.
Dr Biden arrived in the UK shortly
before midnight then yesterday spent the day with Mr
Sunak’s wife Akshata Murty.
Ms Murty
went with Dr Biden, a community college professor in the US, to speak with
primary pupils in Central London. Later in the afternoon King Charles took
advantage of the good weather to
host a garden reception at Marlborough House in Westminster for the
Commonwealth heads of government.
Despite a growing republicanism
sentiment across the realms, especially among the Caribbean nations, that
particular topic was not on the agenda, sources revealed.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame, the
current chair of the Commonwealth, said: “We appreciate the King’s lifelong
devotion to Commonwealth affairs just as we remember the role of her late
Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.”
The meeting came after Charles,
William and Kate surprised crowds on The Mall with a walkabout.
The monarch mingled with leaders
at the meeting before they all gathered in the garden for a group photograph
with the Commonwealth Mace. At an evening event, again at Buckingham Palace,
First lady of Ukraine Olena
Zelenska represented her husband Volodymyr
Zelensky, who stayed at home in a country bravely defending itself
against the Russian invasion.
Mr Sunak also held separate meetings
with visiting world leaders.
Mr Albanese said they had discussed
mutual working holiday visas and the “economic opportunities” of climate
change. Mr Hipkins said
they spoke about the UK/New Zealand free trade agreement. Brazilian leader Lula
Da Silva said his country was ready for trade talks, and that rich nations
should support poorer ones in their efforts to prevent any further
deforestation.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
of Qatar and
Mr Sunak spoke about the war in Ukraine, regional security
and last year’s World Cup.
But Amnesty International said the
Prime Minister should instead have pressed the emir on compensating migrant
workers who built the World Cup stadiums, and the emirate’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws
and “unacceptable restrictions” on free speech and women’s rights.
The
conservative Mirror called out Joe Biden’s bizarre claims he couldn't
attend Charles' Coronation due to MSNBC interview.
More than 100 heads of state will
be in London for the Coronation. Representatives from 203 countries are due to
attend.
French president Emmanuel Macron,
the presidents of Germany and Italy, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Sergio
Mattarella, and Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif will be
among those in Westminster Abbey.
Chinese vice-president Han Zheng,
who presided over a civil liberties crackdown in Hong Kong, is also on the
King’s guest list, a move described as “outrageous” by some Conservative MPs.
READ MORE
Sarah Ferguson shares sweet
Coronation hope for the UK with sweet tribute to the Queen
Four royal fans who became
friends in queue to see Queen reunite for King's Coronation
Doctor explains medical reason
behind King Charles' swollen 'sausage fingers'
Glen Matlock updates Sex
Pistols' 'God Save The Queen' for King's Coronation
ATTACHMENT
SEVEN – From the Guardian U.K.
The coronation has
reminded Americans: there are people more eccentric than you are
This very British
circus is low down the US news agenda, but still they are enjoying it. It will
be a good day for Charles lookalikes
By
Emma Brockes Thu 4 May 2023 03.00 EDT
One of the more startling aspects
of living abroad is adjusting to the reduced importance of things considered
very important back home. I remember the moment I realised
that little below the level of a change in prime minister or an act of
terrorism would make the news list in the US. It was like the first time you
see one of those maps produced by countries that aren’t Britain and in which
Britain isn’t at the centre of the universe. (The
Australian one really blew my mind on this front.)
In the US, nobody
cares who Suella Braverman is – to be fair, a
sentiment shared by a great number of Britons at home – or who’s in and out at
the BBC. I once heard an American publishing executive refer to Britain as a
“small foreign market”, triggering a similar out-of-body experience, plus some
apparently unshiftable residual jingoism. As they
say, how very dare you.
A rebuff to
this has always been the royal family, which, whatever its fluctuations in
popularity, is perennially flagged in school debates about the future of the
monarchy as unimpeachably “good for tourism”. The death of the Queen was sad
and also a major moment for a country that, post-Brexit, seems increasingly marginalised. It made it above the fold in the New York
Times three days in a row – three days in a row! Not so irrelevant now, are
we?!
For all the
silly-little-country vibes attending the run-up to the coronation this weekend,
the hope will surely be that, for happy reasons this time, there may be a
similar effect: a reminder to those who need reminding that Britain is a
glorious, ancient, and extremely dignified country where things happen that
couldn’t happen anywhere else. This last point, while emphatically true, fails
to bump the question mark hanging over the whole thing: namely, how much will
the rest of the world care?
And it’s a
week of fierce competition for news space in the US, with Donald Trump
facing rape accusations in New
York, more alleged Tucker Carlson
texts coming to the surface –
these ones described as explicitly racist – and another probable round of
interest rate rises coming down the pike. In this context, the coronation
appeared this week in its rightful place in the US, as the and-finally item, a
reminder to Americans that for all their eccentricities, the people in the
baffling fancy dress still just about have the edge.
There’s a
piece in the Washington Post that leans in on the quiche coverage –
quiche exists in the US but it isn’t the Proustian trigger it is in Britain –
and also expresses doubt as to the wisdom of the mass pledge of allegiance.
Americans do love a pledge of allegiance, as anyone lingering in the halls of
their child’s elementary school after morning drop-off will know. But the
pledge Britons will be invited to make on Saturday – starting with “I swear
that I will pay true allegiance to your majesty” and ending with “God save King
Charles. Long live King Charles. May the King live for ever”
– seems to have fallen on American ears as more outlandish than anything from
Hollywood. As the Post remarked: “See Page 28 of the official liturgy if you
think we are making this up.”
In the New
York Times, a reporter was dispatched to Gloucester to
get to the bottom of some coronation pie news – breaking with 800 years of
tradition, reported the Times, it’s a pivot from traditional coronation eel to
pork pie for the people of Gloucester, and from international to local newspaper
vibes for the Times (they also checked in with –
brace yourselves – the Pearly Kings; presumably because no one could lay their
hands on a morris dancer).
The New York
Post, meanwhile, has been predictably focused on what Harry and Meghan will be
doing; “Prince Harry, Meghan
Markle waited ‘for some time’ for coronation invitation” was
yesterday’s underwhelming story, although an improvement on the previous day’s
offering, in which a reporter was sent to speak to the
King Charles look-alike community, at which point one starts to feel sorry for
everyone.
The dominant
tone of this coverage has been indulgent, incredulous, and mildly and
affectionately mocking, in stories that have appeared a long way down the
American news list. This is, obviously, vastly different from the coverage that
would have greeted the run-up to the previous monarch’s coronation in 1953. I
would guess, however, that in a crowded media market rife with divided
loyalties and splintered attentions, the royals may settle for it as preferable
to the alternative.
·
Emma Brockes is a Guardian columnist
ATTACHMENT
EIGHT – From National Geographic
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ATTACHMENT
NINE – From GUK
King Charles complained
‘we can never be on time’ at coronation, lip reader claims
Monarch
reportedly said ‘there’s always something’ during the build-up to the ceremony
By Joe Middleton and agencies
Sun 7 May 2023 15.34 EDT
King Charles grumbled
“we can never be on time” and “there’s always something” at the start of his
coronation, a lip reader has claimed.
The monarch
and Camilla arrived at Westminster Abbey early and were forced to wait outside,
sat in their diamond jubilee state coach.
The Prince
and The Princess of Wales – accompanied by Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis
– were reportedly late, and forced to join the king’s procession through
Westminster Abbey, instead of entering before Charles.
A lip reader
for Sky News said that Charles complained: “We can never be on time. Yes I'm …
This is a negative. There’s always something … This is boring,” Charles said
during the tense buildup to his coronation.
Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, the bishop
of Chelmsford, said on Saturday outside Saint Margaret’s church next to the
abbey that there were a couple of hiccups.
“There were
one or two things that didn’t go strictly to plan,” she said. “I’m not going to
embarrass anyone in particular.”
William and
Kate were due to arrive at 10.45am, while Charles and Camilla’s arrival had
been set for 10.53am in the carefully organised
schedule, planned months in advance.
It is not the
first time Charles has shown an outburst of emotion during stressful situations
in his reign as king.
While signing
a visitors’ book at Hillsborough Castle, shortly after Queen Elizabeth
died, he got upset at a pen
after it appeared to leak, telling aides: “I can’t bear this bloody thing”.
Charles could
be heard in a video clip asking the date, before standing up in frustration.
Camilla, who was
given the pen, said: “It’s going everywhere,” before the pair wiped their
hands.
The
coronation celebrations will continue with a concert on Sunday night as musical
acts including Gary Barlow and Nicole Scherzinger perform at Windsor Castle
from 8pm.
PA Media contributed to this
report
ATTACHMENT
TEN – Also from GUK
‘You must be joking’: readers on swearing oath of allegiance on King Charles’s
coronation
From mild
bemusement to plain disgust, Guardian readers share their views on being asked
to swear allegiance to the king
By Clea
Skopeliti Thu 4 May 2023 03.00 EDT
Members of
the public watching the coronation will be invited to swear their
allegiance to the king in a “chorus of millions of voices” on
Saturday.
People around
the UK and abroad will be invited to take part in the declaration which
replaces the traditional homage of peers. Though some have welcomed the move,
others have expressed bemusement.
From those
who see it as an anachronism to those mulling over joining in, Guardian readers
share their views on the oath of allegiance.
‘Incredibly distasteful during a cost of
living crisis’
“I think it’s
incredibly distasteful and out of touch. £100m of taxpayers money is going into
this ‘ceremony’ while we are in a cost of living crisis. Most of us are
suffering and will continue to suffer financially while he’s being crowned. It
just shows how detached they are.
“I think from
the viewpoint of my generation, we couldn’t care less about pledging allegiance
to a monarch. We don’t care about them, they’re an oppressive symbol from a
bygone age and in my opinion should be abolished. We lack a true democracy
until then.”
Jake Pocklington, 20, delivery driver and musician in
Nottinghamshire
‘A relic of a violent colonial past’
“I think the
monarchy is an incongruous institution that has no purpose other than as a relic
of a violent colonial past, the sooner left behind, the better, especially for
the future generation of the world. The less we hold on to these parasitic
institutions, the better chance we have at reconciling historic injustices and
moving on.
“I think
there is a tone deaf message to the Commonwealth countries. ‘Celebrate and
recommit to our personal nostalgia for empire, even though you are looking
ahead to a future where the violent legacy of our making is only yours to
tackle.’
Tanni Mukhopadhyay, 51, independent
consultant and adjunct professor in Toronto
‘I think he’s shot himself in foot’
“I would not
be able to force the words out of my mouth. On a good day, I could laugh
hysterically at the whole thing. Talk about unelected privilege and entitlement.
“I was just
so appalled – I’ve never heard of anything so ridiculous and overprivileged.
Everything is so wrong about it. I couldn’t believe he would expect people to
do that. I think he’s shot himself in the foot – people won’t carry on looking
up to him. I think this might have done it – he might just have gone too far.
To me it’s actually probably quite a good thing – I think it’s made people
think, ‘You must be joking’.”
Barbara Hinds, 77, retired teacher in Essex
‘I might join in if the mood takes me’
“I’d describe
myself as a ‘Royalist-lite’. I think the monarchy provides an excuse for
spectacular national events like the jubilee, royal weddings, coronations and
state funerals. There’s so much history woven into the ceremonies – plus we get
extra bank holidays and street parties.
“The oath of
allegiance seems like an incredibly cringe idea – did they focus group test it
at all? It just seems like they’re gifting republicans an open goal for mocking
the coronation. That being said though, I don’t think it’s going to define the
occasion, it’s just a bit silly.
“I’m planning
on going to St James’s Park to watch it on the big screen. I might join in the
pledge if the mood takes me; I’ll see how I feel after a glass of prosecco!”
Andrew, 30, civil servant in London
‘The monarchy should be slimming down
dramatically’
“I feel
disgusted. At a time when the monarchy should be slimming down dramatically
here we are being asked to swear allegiance not only to the king but also to
his heirs. For those of us who are Scottish this is like rubbing salt in our
wounds. It [reminds] us of our continued inability to extricate ourselves from
ineffective Westminster government.
“I am not
against the monarchy but it is now so outdated it should be seeking to adopt a
very low profile. The vast expense of this coronation is in shocking contrast
to the day to day experiences being felt by the population at large.”
Helen Robertson, retired in Scotland
ATTACHMENT
ELEVEN – From Time
A Man Was Arrested With a Knife Outside Buckingham Palace Days Before
King Charles III’s Coronation
BY ARMANI SYED MAY 3,
2023 7:25 AM EDT
As security efforts are being
ironed out for King Charles III’s coronation on May 6, a 59-year-old man
has reportedly been arrested outside Buckingham Palace on suspicion of
possessing an offensive weapon.
The man allegedly threw items
believed to be shotgun cartridges onto the palace grounds on Tuesday evening.
Officers detained the man around 7 p.m. local time and searched him, finding a
knife but no gun in his possession, according to London’s Metropolitan police.
The area was then cordoned off so
a controlled explosion of the discarded items could be carried out as a
precaution. The incident is not being treated as terror-related and the man is
believed to have acted in isolation, the Metropolitan police said.
“There have been no reports of any
shots fired, or any injuries to officers or members of the public,” Chief
Superintendent Joseph McDonald said in a statement posted on Twitter.
“Officers remain at the scene and further enquiries are ongoing.”
King Charles and Camilla, Queen
Consort, were not in the palace during the time of the arrest but they
entertained Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier that day.
The U.K. security minister Tom
Tugendhat lauded the efforts as “a fantastic piece of policing” during a
Wednesday radio interview with BBC. He added “a huge security operation,” known as Operation
Golden Orb, is in place to ensure public safety during the coronation.
Tugendhat also told Sky News, “We’re in
no way complacent. And I’m very, very proud of the response that the police
have done.” He added: “The intelligence services, the police and others have
been working on this extremely effectively for months.” He declined to
volunteer an estimate of how much these security measures would cost the
British taxpayer.
These measures will involve the
deployment of hundreds of officers across the procession route—from Westminster
Abbey to Buckingham Palace—as well as plainclothes officers located in the
crowds and snipers in place on rooftops. A no-fly zone will also be implemented
in Central London, with drones banned, and barriers will be erected to prevent
vehicles from driving into crowds.
Metropolitan police officers are
also undertaking unusual preemptive measures to minimize the threat of terror
offenses and public disruption, the Times of
London reported.
Police and mental health officers
are working together to identify anyone who could be a possible threat,
including royal obsessives. These individuals will be engaged and monitored by
mental health workers.
Additionally, police officers will
reportedly visit convicted terrorists and warn them to avoid the public event.
They will also use intelligence to monitor disruption from environmental
protests groups and make pre-emptive arrests of troublemakers.
Simon Morgan, a former Met
personal protection officer told the Times: “Senior members of the British royal family, royals
across the world, key government figures and heads of state. They’re all still
coming and the policing plan has to reflect that.”
ATTACHMENT
TWELVE - From PBS
At King Charles’
coronation, Prince Harry was an odd man out
May 6, 2023 5:30 PM EDT
LONDON (AP) — In the fairy-tale
ending to the ancient pageantry in which King Charles Ill was
crowned monarch, he stepped into a gilded horse-drawn carriage
with his queen and rode off to his palace.
Following closely behind was Prince
William, his eldest son and heir, along with his family, including 9-year-old
Prince George who is second in line to the throne.
The king’s youngest son
was nowhere to be seen. On his father’s biggest day, Prince
Harry arrived at Westminster Abbey alone and he left alone. The
disgruntled Duke of Sussex was assigned to sit two rows behind his brother.
His isolation was likely the
result of him quitting his royal duties and, thus, no longer ranking as a
senior family member — as well as alienating himself from his father and
brother by airing grievances and telling palace secrets in his explosive best-selling
memoir, “Spare.”
If anyone was hoping the
coronation would help break the ice between Harry and his brother, who were
once so close, they are sure to have been disappointed. The siblings were not
seen speaking or even acknowledging each other during the ceremony.
After months of
speculation about whether he would attend, it was announced about three
weeks ago that Harry would come alone, leaving behind his wife, Meghan,
and their two young children at their Southern California home.
Harry and Meghan, who is biracial,
left royal life and moved to the U.S. in 2020 after complaining about
intense scrutiny and racist attitudes from the British press.
READ MORE: Prince Harry says he
wants reconciliation with King Charles III and Prince William
In a six-part Netflix
series, they lobbed other criticisms at the royal family, alleging racial
bias. In January, Harry dropped his bombshell book dishing family
dirt along with intimate details about losing his virginity behind a pub at 17,
taking drugs and killing enemies in Afghanistan.
The book was particularly
unflattering toward his stepmother, Camilla, who was once blamed for wrecking
his father’s marriage to his mother, the late Princess Diana. He accused
Camilla of leaking private conversations to the media to rehabilitate her own
image after marrying Charles.
Buckingham Palace had announced
before the coronation that Harry and the king’s brother, Prince Andrew, would
not have any role in the service.
Andrew, the Duke of York,
relinquished royal duties after revelations about his friendship with convicted
sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He was later stripped of his honorary military
titles and patronages and settled a lawsuit with
a woman who said she was forced to have sex with him when she was a teenager.
William played a prominent role,
kneeling at his father’s feet, pledging his loyalty and then kissing him on the
cheek. George served as page boy, helping to carry the train of his
grandfather’s robes.
Harry entered the cavernous church
in a black custom Dior three-piece suit with coattails. An honorary cross hung
around his neck and military medals were pinned to the left side of his chest.
He nodded, waved and spoke a few words to clergy and several guests already
seated.
He proceeded along behind his
cousin, Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank,
who followed her father, Andrew. They all sat in the same row.
During the two-hour spectacle,
keen attention was focused on Harry by the media and royal watchers. He
appeared to join the congregation in one of many refrains of “God save the
king” during the pomp- and music-filled ceremony.
Some British tabloids even
consulted professional lip-readers to interpret what Harry was saying.
The Daily Mirror revealed that it
appeared he said, “hello,” “morning” and “nice to see you” when he entered the
church.
Harry has vowed to make media
reform part of his mission in life. He has filed several
lawsuits against the publishers of British tabloids for a phone-hacking
scandal dating back more than a decade.
His trial against the publisher of
the Mirror begins Wednesday in the High Court. Harry is expected to testify in
June.
After the carriages departed from the
church, Harry was seen waiting for a car. He was later seen at Heathrow
Airport. His son, Archie, turned 4 on Saturday and it was said he was headed
back for his birthday.
A short while later, King Charles
III and Queen Camilla stepped out onto the balcony of Buckingham
Palace to wave to the crowd gathered below. They were joined by William, his
wife, Kate, three children and other senior royals.
ATTACHMENT
THIRTEEN – From the AP
Lionel Richie, Katy Perry sing for royal coronation concert
By BRIAN MELLEY and SYLVIA
LONDON (AP) — A day after a gilded
coronation ceremony watched by millions, King Charles III and Queen
Camilla let others take the center stage Sunday as they took in a star-studded
concert featuring Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and others at Windsor Castle.
The newly crowned monarch and his
wife appeared to enjoy the show as Richie performed “All Night Long,” at one
point getting up on their feet and swaying to the music. Other members of the
royal family, including 8-year-old Princess Charlotte and Prince George, 9,
waved Union flags along with a crowd of some 20,000 gathered on the castle’s
east terrace.
Charlotte and her mother, Kate,
the Princess of Wales, sang along as Perry, dressed in a gold foil ball gown,
performed her pop hit “Roar.”
“Top Gun” star Tom Cruise appeared
in a recorded video message, saying: “Pilot to pilot. Your Majesty, you can be
my wingman any time.” The mixed program also saw performances by the Royal
Ballet, Nicole Scherzinger from the Pussycat Dolls, opera singer Andrea Bocelli
and British band Take That.
Even Miss Piggy and Kermit the
Frog made an appearance, joking with host Hugh Bonneville.
The entertainment was interspersed
with more serious moments. A message from Charles on the importance of
environmental conservation was played, and the show was accompanied by a light
and drone display with a nature theme.
Prince William, heir to the
throne, took to the stage to pay tribute to his father’s dedication to service.
“Pa, we are all so proud of you,” he said.
Concert goers sang “God Save the King”
as landmarks around the U.K. were lit up in colorful lights.
Earlier Sunday, thousands of
picnics and street parties were held across the U.K. in Charles’ honor. The
community get-togethers, part of a British tradition known as the Big Lunch,
provided a down-to-earth counterpart to the gilded spectacle of the king’s
crowning Saturday.
The events were intended to bring
neighbors together to celebrate the crowning even as support for the monarchy
wanes. Critics complained about the coronation’s cost at a time of exorbitant
living expenses amid double-digit inflation.
But plenty others took the
opportunity to enjoy a party with friends and family. In Regent’s Park in
London, Valent Cheung and his girlfriend showed up to cheer the new king with
the neighbors who embraced them when they moved from Hong Kong. They dolled up
their loyal and “royal” fluffy white dog, Tino, with a tiny purple crown for the
occasion.
“This is a new era for U.K,”
Cheung said. “We didn’t have these things in Hong Kong. Now, we are embracing
the culture. We want to enjoy it, we want to celebrate it.”
Charles and Camilla didn’t drop in
on any of the picnics, leaving that duty to other members of the royal family.
William and his wife, Kate,
surprised people picnicking outside the castle before the concert. Dressed far
more casually than the day before, they shook hands and Kate embraced a crying
girl in a hug.
The king’s siblings, Prince Edward
and Princess Anne and their spouses took on lunch duty for the royal family at
events across England. The king’s nieces, Princess Beatrice and Princess
Eugenie, the daughters of Prince Andrew, joined a lunch in Windsor.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosted
U.S. first lady Jill Biden and her granddaughter Finnegan Biden at the Big
Lunch party held in front of his office. Other guests included Ukrainian
refugees and community activists.
Like the picnic in the park,
Downing Street and Sunak’s spread — even his teapot — were festooned in the
nation’s colors of blue, white and red.
Sausage rolls and salmon were
served along with coronation chicken — a dish cooked up for Queen Elizabeth
II’s coronation 70 years ago — and coronation quiche, which was picked to suit
Charles’ taste and has been the buzz of social media, often for the wrong
reasons.
The lower-key events
followed regalia-laden
pageantry that saw the king and queen crowned together in Westminster
Abbey. They were presented with centuries-old
swords, scepters and a jewel-encrusted golden orb symbolizing
the monarch’s power in a medieval tradition celebrated with liturgy, song and
hearty cheers of “God save the king.”
The couple then paraded through
the streets in a gilded horse-drawn carriage led by the largest ceremonial
military procession since the coronation of
Charles’ mother. Some 4,000 troops marched in formation through the
streets, their scarlet sleeves and white gloves swinging in unison to the sound
of drums and bugles from marching bands, including one group of musicians on
horseback.
Hundreds of thousands of
spectators lined the route in the rain to see it in person. Nearly 19 million
more watched on television in the U.K., according to ratings released by Barb,
a research organization. That’s about 40% fewer viewers than had watched
the funeral of Queen
Elizabeth II in September.
Charles and Camilla said Sunday in
a statement that they were “deeply touched” by the celebration and “profoundly
grateful both to all those who helped to make it such a glorious occasion – and
to the very many who turned out to show their support.”
Not everyone was there to
celebrate, though, and criticism continued Sunday over arrests of more than 50
protesters, including members of a republican group shouting “Not my king” and
environmentalists aiming to end the use of fossil fuels.
The Metropolitan Police said
officers detained 64 people Saturday, with four suspects charged with offenses
including a religiously aggravated public order offense and drug possession.
Graham Smith, leader of Republic,
a group advocating for abolishing the monarchy, said he was arrested as he
planned a peaceful protest and spent 16 hours in police custody.
“These arrests are a direct attack
on our democracy and the fundamental rights of every person in the country,”
Smith said. “Each and every police officer involved on the ground should hang
their heads in shame.”
The Metropolitan Police
acknowledged concerns over the arrests, but defended the force’s actions.
“The coronation is a
once-in-a-generation event and that is a key consideration in our assessment,”
Commander Karen Findlay said.
At Regent’s Park, celebrants
talked about the novelty of what they had witnessed. But the coronation was
nothing new for Rosemary McIntosh, 95, just a lot more vivid than the one she
saw televised while living in Zimbabwe in 1953.
“We didn’t have TV all day and it
was black and white, so it wasn’t as wonderful as has been this one,” she said.
Helena Alves contributed to this
report.
ATTACHMENT
FOURTEEN – From the Mirror U.K.
Glen Matlock updates Sex Pistols' 'God Save The Queen' for King's
Coronation
The rocker has updated the lyrics
to feature King Charles III, and is playing a gig on Saturday for people who
are 'fed up with the Coronation'
Glen Matlock was the original bass
player in the Sex Pistols
By Tom Bryant Head of Showbiz 19:15, 5 May 2023 UPDATED 21:07, 5 May 2023
His performance on Saturday is
billed by London's City Hall as part of the capital's official Royal
celebrations and a “Royal Rock Out”.
But former Sex
Pistols star Glen
Matlock - who is playing at the legendary 100 Club - has told
the Mirror he’s “no royalist” and “thinks about the King as much as he thinks
about me”.
The 66-year-old legend adds: “You
have to ask the question whether we need the monarchy at all.”
The star said he’s putting on the
show for people “fed up with the Coronation” and will play anti-Royal song God
Save the Queen, but change the lyrics to include the new King.
He said: “When the show was set up
I didn’t even realise it was going to be the
Coronation. The people in my rock and roll circle are not up to date with the
Royal Diary.
Sex Pistols star rules out Sid Vicious hologram despite ABBA success with 3D format
“I’ve been in America for two
months and it has sort of crept up on us. I am no royalist but am not
vehemently anti-royalist. Hopefully people will be fed up with proceedings in
the afternoon and will want to get out of the house after watching it.
“It will get me out of the house
from watching it too.”
Asked about his thoughts about the
King, he laughs: “I think about the King as much as he thinks about me. He
hasn’t had much of a chance yet but he’s been groomed quite well…but you have
to ask the question as to whether we need a monarch at all. But at least
Johnson isn’t in power.”
The Pistols’ 1977 God Save the
Queen was released during the former Queen’s Silver Jubilee, which Glen will
play on Saturday.
Countries that could END their time in Commonwealth
and cut King Charles ties - full list
Prince Louis bangs his fists on Palace balcony as he
steals the show during flypast
King's Coronation Concert CHAOS - all the stars who
dropped out last minute
Ant and Dec thought Coronation invite was a
revenge-strike 'wind up'
Katy Perry raises eyebrows with 'awkward' lyric at
King's Coronation concert
“We’ll have to change the words a bit but it
will be a missed opportunity if I don’t,“ he says. “I wrote the music for that
song and John (Lydon) wrote the lyrics. My interpretation was that song wasn’t
exactly bigging the Royals up given it equated them with a fascist regime.”
Glen is to play the song, as well
as new tracks off his solo album ‘Consequences Coming’ released last week on.
The show will be followed by further solo tour dates around the UK. Glen is
currently touring with Blondie
For tickets, check out glenmatlock.co.uk
John Lydon's wife Nora Forster
dies after heartbreaking Alzheimer's battle
Sex Pistols icon's poignant
role in Viviene Westwood's incredible career
Sex Pistols star loves
'brilliant' Cliff Richard as he admits being a 'superfan'
Sex Pistols drama charts rise
and fall of punk band who mocked the Queen at Jubilee
John Lydon takes another swipe
at Sex Pistols TV show, claiming it is too sleazy
ATTACHMENT
FOURTEEN (A) – From the Mirror U.K.
JOHN LYDON'S WIFE NORA FORSTER DIES AFTER HEARTBREAKING ALZHEIMER'S
BATTLE
John Lydon's wife Nora Forster has
died after living with Alzheimer's for several years.
By
Katherine Heslop Showbiz
Reporter 16:52, 6 Apr 2023
John
Lydon's wife Nora Forster has died aged 80 after a battle
with Alzheimer's.
The
musician, also known as Johnny Rotten, 67,
had been Nora's full time carer.
John's
official Twitter page
announced the news this afternoon, writing: "Rest in Peace Nora Forster.
It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news that Nora Forster - John
Lydon's wife of nearly 5 decades - has passed away.
"Nora
had been living with Alzheimer’s for several years. In which time John had
become her full time carer."
"Please
respect John's grief and allow him space. Rest in Peace Nora. Heart felt condolences to John from Rambo and all at PiL Official."
The page
also shared a sweet picture of the Sex Pistols star and Nora, their arms around
each other.
In January, John spoke about caring for his wife, as he dedicated his entry to represent Ireland at
Eurovision, to her.
Touching
on his previously unheard song titled Hawaii, he told Good
Morning Britain: “This is the beginning of a new journey. Oddly
enough, as bad as Alzheimer's is, there are great moments of tenderness between
us.
“I try to capture that in the song. It’s not
all waiting for the Grim Reaper. I can see the personality in her eyes that
lets me know.
“Her
communication skills are letting her down. I’m just blessed that I can be there
and catch on to that and pass something useful on to other people.”
He
added: “I care now for all of its victims. Particularly spouses that have to
endure this. What you’ve got to do is fight.”
In the
song, John reflects on their years together, and in particular, one of their
happiest moments in Hawaii.
Ed Ball,
who touched on his own mother’s battle with dementia, praised the track,
prompting Johnny to well up.
He
replied: “Brought a bit of a tear to my eye. This is my significant other, my
partner, so I find it even less care out there available for our situation.
“That’s
why I developed myself into a 24/7 kind of person to deal with it. You live for
the moment and you can’t make any plans at all for that moment, but you’ve got
to be there.”
John
spoke about caring for his wife, who he affectionately called Babbie, in his
book I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right.
He tells how he was determined to look after her himself and not put her into specialist care.
He says:
“We’re not dealing with the walking dead. It’s a matter of memory fusing in and
out.
“I had
those issues when I was younger, coming out of meningitis. So I’m
absolutely in the right place for it. It makes us love one another even more,
no question.
ATTACHMENT FIFTEEN – From
GUK
THE CORONATION OFFERED A CHANCE TO REFORM AND MODERNISE THE MONARCHY. IT HAS
BEEN SQUANDERED
Despite gestures towards inclusivity, the ceremony remains rooted in
outdated religious and feudal ideals
By Martin Kettle Fri 5 May 2023 01.00
EDT
Despite gestures towards inclusivity, the ceremony remains rooted in
outdated religious and feudal ideals
At the heart of the
coronation of Charles III on Saturday is a very deliberate national deception
about religion. In some ways, the deception hides in plain sight, not
attracting attention. Pre-coronation speculation has focused instead on more
trivial things – Camilla, Harry, Meghan – or on monarchy’s general
popularity in the post-Elizabeth era. But when you watch and
listen to the coronation itself, the religious deception will be hard to miss –
and harder to believe.
Many will instinctively want to be generous about the coronation and will
not want to spoil the party. In that spirit, they might call this weekend’s
ritual a historical pretence that pleases many and
does no particular harm. If they were being stronger-minded, as they ought to
be about an event that inevitably says so much about this country to itself and
the world, they could instead call the ritual what it is: a lie at the heart of
the British state.
The lie is that Britain is a practising
Christian nation, and that it is defined and held together by the established
Protestant religion, of which the monarch is the embodiment. That claim may
have been accurate in the 18th century. It is simply untrue in the Britain of
2023. But the Protestant claim remains inseparable from the modern coronation.
Fear of change probably explains why Saturday’s proceedings are taking place at
all. Charles III has been king for months now and no coronation is legally
required in order to confirm that fact.
Those who planned the coronation had a real choice. They could have been
bold reformers. They could have removed the Protestant pre-eminence from the
coronation, demystified parts of the ceremony and made clear to the nation that
the king stands committed to justice, tolerance and religious freedom. Many
years ago, Charles appeared willing to go in that direction.
Instead, the coronation planners have guarded the Protestant claim like
the crown jewels. This has ensured that the central deception remains, in spite
of some superficial changes in the ceremony that have been made since the last
coronation in 1953. The outcome is very conservative. No significant concession
has been made to suggestions that the coronation ritual should be diluted,
reframed – or even abandoned. It is a foolish error, and a revealing one.
If you doubt any of this, take a careful look at the 42-page authorised liturgy for
the coronation rite that was published last week by the Church of England. It
is a highly informative document, which sets out precisely what will happen in
the abbey from 11am onwards. It does this, word by carefully drafted word, step
by step, gesture by gesture, and with useful accompanying explanatory notes.
There will be much said on Saturday about the more pluralistic aspects of
the 2023 coronation service, as well as other changes that are more personal to
Charles. Jewish, Muslim and other faith leaders will have walk-on roles.
The nations of the UK will have moments in the spotlight. There will be singing
in Welsh and Greek.
Non-Christians will have roles in presenting the king’s regalia. Our first
British-Asian prime minister will read a lesson. All this sends a welcome
message of national inclusivity.
Most of it, though, is well-intentioned window-dressing. In fact, at the
two central moments of the coronation, make-believe will take over. The
inclusivity of the minor changes may be seriously meant. But it cannot compete
with the institutional exclusivity that dominates the rest of the service,
including its climactic rituals. In one, the inclusivity hits an Anglican wall.
In the second, it disappears into a feudal farrago.
The Anglican wall is the swearing of the coronation oath. In post-civil
war coronations, this was the key moment. The oath’s contents were laid down in statute in
1688. There is no ambiguity about what the oath says. Charles must
declare himself a faithful Protestant, commit himself to maintain the
Protestant succession and swear to uphold the Church of England’s position as
the established religion of England.
This made life-and-death sense in 1688. Today it is absurd. Charles’s
swearing of his coronation oath flies in the face of the realities of modern
Britain. Most Britons are not Christians.
Few of those who are Christians are practising Anglicans.
We are a more secular and pluralised nation and
likely to remain one. In the blunt language of
University College London’s Constitution Unit, the coronation oath “reflects a
period of history that is now over.”
A similar sense of anachronism applies to the feudal farrago part of the
coronation. This comes later, after the oath, with the anointing of Charles
with holy oil by the archbishop of Canterbury, behind a screen, while the choir
sings Handel’s Zadok the Priest. This sacral part of the coronation has deep
historical roots, but then so does witch burning. Today, the anointing of the
king sets the British monarch completely apart, not just from the citizenry of
Britain, but also from every other crowned head of state in Europe.
The language comes from another era. In a newly written prayer before the
anointing, the archbishop will ask that the people should be blessed by “a
royal priesthood” and become “a holy nation”. Then, speaking quietly (according
to the liturgy), the archbishop addresses Charles III in words that Charles I
himself would have appreciated. He is to be “anointed, blessed, and consecrated
King over the peoples, whom the Lord your God has given you to rule and
govern”.
This is constitutional monarchy at its least modern and its most
obdurately feudal. It will be reinforced on Saturday by the proposed homage of
the people. Here the archbishop will invite the congregation and those watching
at home “to make their homage” to the king.
The liturgy document presents this as a progressive reform, since in
previous coronations homage was paid by peers alone. In fact, because it asks
the public to assert their subordinate status as subjects rather than equal
citizens, it is the reverse.
The decision typifies the failure of the British state, under Charles as
under his mother, to find ways of building consent for reform of the monarchy.
The upshot is that this coronation does not mark the start of a new era. It is
merely the continuation of the old one. A chance to do things more sensibly has
been squandered, not just by the king and the archbishop, but by the rest of us
too.
·
Martin Kettle is a Guardian columnist
ATTACHMENT SIXTEEN – Also from GUK
A delayed reckoning: King Charles and the future of the Commonwealth
The new monarch has an opportunity – though not much time – to show
leadership on issues such as slavery reparations and the climate crisis, but
will he be moved to act?
By Brooke
Newman Mon 8 May 2023 01.00
EDT
On 13 March 2023,
King Charles delivered his first Commonwealth Day message as
monarch from the great pulpit at Westminster Abbey. Departing from the
tradition of his predecessor, Queen Elizabeth, who typically pre-recorded her
annual messages, Charles took the opportunity to deliver his address live and
in person. Appealing directly to billions of Commonwealth citizens spread
across 56 member countries, he declared that the voluntary association’s “near
boundless potential as a force for good in the world demands our highest
ambition; its sheer scale challenges us to unite and be bold”.
“This week marks the 10th anniversary of the charter of the Commonwealth,
which gives expression to our defining values: peace and justice; tolerance,
respect and solidarity; care for our environment and for the most vulnerable
among us,” Charles continued. “These are not simply ideals. In each lies an
imperative to act, and to make a practical difference in the lives of the 2.6
billion people who call the Commonwealth home.”
But in an era when Britain’s role on the global stage and the future of
the Commonwealth itself remain uncertain, improving the lives of more than a
third of the world’s population poses an enormous, perhaps insurmountable,
challenge. How can 74-year-old King Charles, the oldest monarch to be crowned
in British history, fulfil the ambitious, forward-looking promises of his
Commonwealth Day message in the time he has left?
Most Britons are familiar with the Commonwealth if not particularly
well-versed in its history. The Commonwealth arose from the dying flames of the
British empire and has long been closely associated with Queen Elizabeth, who
served as its head and most passionate champion for all of her 70-year reign.
From the outset, she envisioned the Commonwealth as a powerful vehicle for
forging new diplomatic relations with, and exerting soft influence over,
Britain’s former colonies as they won their independence in the years after the
second world war.
“[I]n our time we may say that the British empire has saved the world
first,” Elizabeth remarked in her most well-known speech delivered
from Cape Town on her 21st birthday, “and has now to save itself after the
battle is won.”
That newly independent states would seek to maintain close ties with
Britain and its monarch as willing members of “our great imperial family”
served as a point of immense pride for the Queen. While postwar decolonisation may have signalled
the end of Britain’s global dominance and a contraction of British power and
grandeur, the rise of the Commonwealth confirmed the lasting values and virtues
of Britishness. “The Commonwealth,” as historian Caroline Elkins observed
in Legacy of
Violence, “would be the triumphant coda to the greatest
empire in world history.”
During the second half of the 20th century, Elizabeth could look to the
growth of the Commonwealth of Nations, with herself as its centre,
as evidence of the continued preeminence of British culture, institutions, and
laws around the world. Focusing on the Commonwealth enabled Britain and its
queen to draw a veil over past atrocities committed in the name of empire,
certain of, as Priyamvada Gopal put it in Insurgent Empire,
“the cherished mythology of an empire that ruled in order to free”.
In 1977, in an address delivered at the Guildhall on the occasion of
her silver jubilee,
Queen Elizabeth emphasised the historic nature of the
Commonwealth and the myriad benefits member states had accrued through their their longstanding relations with Britain. “During these
last 25 years, I have travelled widely throughout the Commonwealth as its
head,” she said. “And during those years I have seen, from a unique position of
advantage, the last great phase of the transformation of the empire into
Commonwealth and the transformation of the Crown from an emblem of dominion
into a symbol of free and voluntary association. In all history this has no
precedent.”
Her assessment, however, obscured the brutal history and residue of
British imperialism across the globe. It concealed the extent to which violent,
extractive and exploitative colonial practices not only shaped the emergence
and struggles of the developing world but continue to affect the daily lives
and prospects of billions of people today. Despite arguments that developing
economies must move on, unlock their potential, and stop harping on historic
wrongs, the fate of Britain’s former colonial possessions remain inextricably
bound up with the past. In the 21st century, during an era of mounting global
inequalities, casting light on the enduring shadows of empire is the only way
to ensure existing inequities are not amplified and perpetuated.
We are all subject to the movement of time but failing to look back and
reflect has consequences for the present as well as future. “But to move only
forward in time, to lose the fullness of time, the way the past lives in the
present and shapes the future,” Priya Satia observed
in Time’s Monster, “is itself an
inhuman and impossible expectation, given how intimately such societies have
been shaped by the colonial past. – including the historical imagination
envisioning progress towards some developmental end”
By choosing for the most part not to confront the ruthlessness that
underpinned British colonisation, Queen Elizabeth
deferred the day of reckoning to an unspecified future date. This postponed
reckoning has now fallen to her eldest son and heir, Charles. Indeed, it was
Elizabeth who convinced Commonwealth leaders to announce in
2018 that Charles, Britain’s next monarch, would succeed her as head, although
the position is not hereditary. She probably anticipated that Charles would
conform to and confirm her vision of the Commonwealth, helping member states to
navigate today’s complex, rapidly changing world and maintain connections with
the institution of the monarchy.
Charles has promised boldness. But in areas where he can make a real
difference, such as the pressing issue of slavery reparations, he has thus far
exhibited caution. In speeches delivered in Ghana in 2018, Barbados in 2021,
and Rwanda in 2022, Charles expressed regret and sorrow over colonial slavery
but did not apologise or reach out to affected
communities to discuss reparatory justice. Now that he is both king of 15
Commonwealth realms and the head of the Commonwealth, Charles has an
opportunity to demonstrate leadership on this crucial issue and leave behind
his own legacy instead of his mother’s. Delaying action on Britain’s colonial
past and reparations is the opposite of ambitious – it’s consigning the most
difficult work to the next generation. A generation that is already facing
unprecedented challenges related to climate change.
Charles has promised boldness but has thus far exhibited caution
Advocating on behalf of member states that are the most marginalised and vulnerable is a worthy goal and one
Charles appears keen to pursue. From floods and cyclones to droughts and
heatwaves, all the members have seen the impacts of climate change.
Smaller island nations are particularly threatened by global warming and rising
sea levels. They need more than advocacy; they require wealthy nations to
become partners in creating more sustainable economies and addressing the
structural underdevelopment that stems from colonialism and slavery.
Charles has waited all his life to follow in his mother’s footsteps and
assume her roles. Although the time remaining to him as monarch and head of the
Commonwealth is limited, it is nonetheless sufficient for him to improve
people’s lives. Now that he has taken the coronation oath, all eyes will be on
him to see if he is in fact moved to act and leave his mark on history.
Brooke
Newman is an associate professor of history at Virginia Commonwealth
University and author of the upcoming book, The Queen’s Silence
ATTACHMENT SEVENTEEN – And Another, from GUK
x6 The coronation pulled a screen across a desperate, polarised
nation – just as intended
Those who opposed it must be portrayed as radical, or the whole rotten
system it represents might come crashing down
By Nesrine Malik, Mon 8 May 2023 01.00 EDT
The biggest illusion
– and utility – of royal events such as the coronation is that we are somehow a
part of them. We are, of course, in a way; we need to be for the institution of
monarchy to have any meaning at all. But not as equals. We have the worst of
both worlds: the royal family gives us nothing, and we in turn legitimise it, give it meaning and audience and pay,
through subsidies and tax exemptions,
for its ability to wow us. The monarchy does provide a service, but not to us.
It is to an entire system of political decline and economic inequality that
cannot withstand closer scrutiny, and so it must be embellished and cloaked in
ceremony.
And it was ever thus. The historian David Cannadine,
in an essay on the “invented traditions” of royal ceremonies, wrote: “in a
period of change, conflict or crisis”, unchanging ritual “might be deliberately
unaltered so as to give an impression of continuity, community and comfort,
despite overwhelming contextual evidence to the contrary.” That evidence to the
contrary cannot be more overwhelming than reports that money for food banks has
been diverted to pay for coronation events. What those funds bought was a
coronation, much like the screens assembled to hide King Charles as he derobed, that for a moment erected an ornate cover that hid
the nation’s hunger.
And my God, doesn’t it feel good? For a few moments to think of the
country as the place of sacred ointments and special spoons, grand cathedrals
and epically wealthy, exquisitely dressed people. In that moment we can see our
own country in their image: a country that is sober, benign and loaded. A place
of filial connection and a galvanising national
identity. Who can begrudge people, as a cost of living crisis rages, a few
hours of harmless escapism? It’s not only stomachs that need feeding, morale
does too.
The problem isn’t the escapism, but why escapism is necessary. People
flock to these diversions because, in a way, we are forced to. In subtle and
explicit ways, consent is manufactured and dissent is stigmatised.
Even more so under Charles, who doesn’t enjoy the sort of affection his mother
did, there has been a need to sell the celebrations. Schools have recruited students to
the cause of coronation celebration in such a dizzying variety of ways that an
absolute monarchy would be impressed. For the first time in history, the nation
had been invited to pledge “true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs
and successors according to law. So help me God.”
Some of this is just event hysteria, of course, like an England World Cup
final, if we ever see that again in our lifetimes. A swirl of corporate
marketing and a media grateful for some rolling coverage that requires the sort
of banal, cliche-ridden commentary that will not exercise a single brain cell.
It’s not so much a documenting of history as it is a gratefulness for material.
During the ceremony, there were a few moving moments of familial plot – the
rest is content.
Nevertheless, combine that mass observance, cynical or not, with the more
earnest, menacing demands for submission, and it becomes clear that we must
celebrate the monarchy because we have no other choice. The Metropolitan police
enacted draconian new public order laws and arrested protesters before
they had raised a single placard. The home secretary, Suella
Braverman, described those laws as
targeting “those who seek to attack our ways of life”.
And so frippery and force combine to make a political position – support
for the monarchy – seem like the natural, sacred default. Much like the
ceremony itself, which depicts kings and queens as ordained by God and not the
people, the purpose of branding these political positions as “traditions” and
“ways of life” is to stop us contemplating another way of life. We can seek
comfort and shelter in the shade of our betters, but never answers about why
our betters are so much better off. The monarchy is a law of nature, like
death, taxes, landlords, structural inequality and food banks. And royal
ceremony is a way to draw our eyes away from the fact that, increasingly, there
is no sense of what the country is good at apart from this sort of invented
ritual.
There is even less sense of what binds us together as countrymen and
women, and there are virtually no causes for which we are so encouraged to queue
and wait and march to support each other: for decent living standards and
healthcare, or humane immigration and climate change policies. Patriotism is
only allowed to flow upstream.
And again, it was ever thus. Commenting on the success of the golden jubilee
in 1887, the archbishop of Canterbury said,
“days afterwards, everyone feels that the socialist movement has had a check”.
The status and solidarity that people derive from royal ceremonies is one
that is absent elsewhere, both in practice and in vision. In practice, our
economy is barely dodging recession,
our government is at the end of a traumatic extended season of malpractice,
dishonesty and corruption, and what we are most proficient at globally is our
ability to launder and park the assets of the global rich. “Butler to the world”
doesn’t have as much of a ring to it as “God save the King”. In vision, our
politics is devoid of any language that calls on us to make communal
connections with each other, the sort that we fetishised
in queues to pay homage to the departed queen. Instead, the right asks us to
focus on the threat of small boats and minorities, while Labour
offers us stronger law enforcement, focuses on individual aspirations of home
ownership and prosperity and asks us to be “realistic
about what is possible”.
Arrested for
wearing a T-shirt? The coronation heralded a frightening slide towards
authoritarianism
Republicanism is threatening not because the monarchy is loved, but
because its removal must be part of a wider movement that challenges these
notions about “what is possible”. Last week, David Lammy wrote that
Saturday was “a tea party for a country that sorely needs it, a pause to
celebrate a civic version of British identity that is an alternative to the
destructive ethnic nationalism promoted by the far right.” I agree with the
first part. But it is bizarre to not pause and think for a second, why are
feudalism and ethnic nationalism the only two options we have to celebrate
British identity?
The answer is that there can only be one alternative to these two: one in
which we question deliberate political decisions not to redistribute wealth
more equally, in which our allegiances are to each other, in which there is a
real modern appraisal of the country as a place that isn’t a glorious continuum
of empire and global dominance, but where political and economic models are
failing. This is a national project that no one who matters has any interest
in, which is why any stirrings of it must be portrayed as radical and beyond
the pale – assaults on a natural order. And so we can only look up and fawn, or
look down, and fear.
·
Nesrine Malik
is a Guardian columnist
ATTACHMENT EIGHTEEN – From Fox
UK
publishers, broadcasters blast BBC ‘blackout’ of Coronation of King
Charles: ‘We are deeply concerned’
News Media Association, TalkTV, GB News and
Local TV team up
United Kingdom-based publishers and broadcasters have united in
opposition to the BBC "blackout" of King Charles III's coronation on Saturday.
News Media Association, TalkTV, GB News and
Local TV issued a joint statement condemning the BBC for restricting access
to historic ceremony at London's Westminster Abbey. Charles,
74, immediately ascended the British throne after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II,
died in September, however, his official coronation is set to take place on
Saturday and the organizations feel everyone should have a chance to witness
it.
"We are deeply concerned by the BBC’s behaviour
in restricting UK media companies access to pool footage of the Coronation of
the King, and therefore denying UK citizens the opportunity to enjoy this event
of major public interest and national importance on the platform of their
choice," the statement said.
CORONATION OF KING CHARLES OVERSHADOWED BY PRINCE HARRY, PRINCE WILLIAM
FEUD
"Given the historic significance of the occasion, all efforts should
have been made by the BBC to ensure that the footage - which is created using licence fee payer money - is distributed as widely as
possible to allow UK citizens to witness this event, and the BBC has not
fulfilled this obligation," the joint statement continued. "The decision
to charge UK media companies an excessive commercial fee (with no visibility of
true costs) seems perverse when the BBC is allowing foreign publishers and
broadcasters the same footage for free. These foreign broadcasters and
publishers will be allowed to stream or broadcast footage in the UK despite
restrictions on UK media."
News Media Association, TalkTV, GB News and
Local TV said the BBC, along with Sky and ITN, have "repeatedly delayed
and prevaricated on this issue since the death of Queen Elizabeth in September
last year in an anti-competitive manner."
The broadcasters then urged the BBC to change its stance to allow
everyone the ability to tune in.
KING CHARLES' CORONATION INTIMATE GUEST LIST INCLUDES NOTABLE SNUBS
"The BBC must urgently reconsider their position and allow all
members of the British public who want to watch the Coronation the choice to
access the event where they wish to do so," the joint statement
concluded.
Charles' wife, Camilla, will also be crowned queen during the ceremony.
ATTACHMENT NINETEEN – From CNN
The King’s coronation brought in far fewer
viewers than the Queen’s funeral
By Anna Cooban and Xiaofei Xu, CNN
Updated 8:48 AM EDT, Mon May 8, 2023
More
than 20 million people in the United Kingdom tuned in to watch King Charles III’s coronation on Saturday,
but the ceremony attracted far fewer British viewers than his mother’s funeral last year.
Average
viewing figures for the two-hour service at Westminster Abbey — the main part
of the Saturday ceremony during which the King was crowned — reached 18.8
million, according to data provided by the UK Broadcasters’ Audience Research
Board (Barb).
The
rainy day kicked off with King Charles III and Queen Camilla traveling from
Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. Watched by cheering and waving crowds,
the couple rode in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach drawn by six horses. The
coach was built in 2012 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the reign of
Queen Elizabeth II.
According
to Barb, which analyzed audience figures across 11 television channels and
services, the number of viewers peaked at 20.4 million just after midday when
the King received his crown.
The BBC
took the biggest share by far, with viewership across its BBC One and Two
channels peaking at around 15 million, according to numbers released by the UK
public broadcaster.
But the
overall peak viewing figure was 9 million fewer than the number recorded for
Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, according to UK media reports, while the BBC
audience was down about 5 million from the 20 million that tuned into BBC One
for that service last September.
In 1953,
more than 20 million people watched the late Queen being crowned, according to
estimates based on surveys by the BBC at the time. Cameras
were installed in Westminster Abbey for the first time to cover that
coronation, which the BBC has described as the first mass
television event in the UK.
Charles
III’s coronation also underperformed compared with the wedding of his eldest
son in 2011. The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton attracted a
peak viewership of 20 million on the BBC, at the end of the ceremony in
Westminster Abbey, according to the broadcaster.
Scores
of foreign dignitaries, British officials, celebrities and faith leaders
gathered in the abbey for Saturday’s coronation. Still, the 2,300-strong
congregation was much smaller than in 1953 when temporary structures had to be
erected to accommodate the more than 8,000 people who attended.
Following
the service, 4,000 armed forces personnel, accompanied by 19 bands, took part
in the largest UK military procession for 70 years, cheered on by thousands of
spectators.
Some
anti-monarchy demonstrators turned out to protest Saturday’s coronation.
London’s Metropolitan police said it arrested a total of 64 people on Saturday
for a variety of offenses, including “conspiracy to cause public nuisance” and
“breach of the peace.” Four of the people arrested have been charged with
an offense.
Republic,
Britain’s largest anti-monarchy group, told CNN Saturday that police arrested
organizers of the protest without providing any reason. The group said in a
tweet Monday that the “protest was curtailed to protect the image of the king”
and called the arrests “an absolute disgrace.”
Sign up
for CNN’s Royal News, a weekly
dispatch bringing you the inside track on the royal family, what they are up to
in public and what’s happening behind palace walls.
— Duarte
Mendonca contributed reporting.
ATTACHMENT TWENTY - From the Daily Mail
'Pomp and pageantry!' How the US media covered King Charles' ascendance
to the throne alongside Queen Camilla at his official coronation ceremony
·
Newspapers and broadcasters from coast to coast have dedicated their
coverage to the new King and Queen
·
CNN, ABC, Fox News, CBS and NBC
all canceled their usual coverage to follow the procession the entire way
through
By EMMA JAMES FOR
DAILYMAIL.COM PUBLISHED: 09:33
EDT, 6 May 2023 | UPDATED: 09:41
EDT, 6 May 2023
Americans
joined together to mark the star of a new era for the British monarchy as King
Charles ascended to the throne.
Many US
publications had a live stream of the official coronation ceremony, as the
majority had wall-to-wall coverage of the historic occasion.
They
showed the Royals coming together to mark the historic moment, with Prince Harry jetting back from California to see his
father become King.
First
Lady Jill Biden, 71, joined her
daughter Finnegan, 24, at the ceremony after her husband Joe declined the
invitation because he has 'a lot going on'.
However,
the President was quick to thank his wife for representing the US, tweeting:
'Congratulations to King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their Coronation. The
enduring friendship between the US and the UK is a source of strength for both
our peoples.
Drudge Report shared all of the British front pages which marked the
historic event
'I am
proud the First Lady is representing the United States for this historic
occasion.'
Thousands
lined the streets to pay their respects, as millions tuned in across the globe
to watch the ceremony, which was described by the LA Times as being a show of
'pomp and pageantry'.
The Washington
Post led the coverage from inside of Westminster Abbey for the procession, with
the New York Times and New York Post also having footage from the event.
CNN,
ABC, Fox News, CBS and NBC all canceled their usual coverage to follow the
procession the entire way through, with royal commentators covering the
build-up to the occasion.
CBS,
CNBC, Spectrum News, and MSNBC also all carried their own special guests
throughout the morning to mark the event – with Piers Morgan leading the
coverage for Fox News.
Many
were quick to point out that the ceremony appeared lavish, despite attempts but
the palace to create a pared-down coronation.
Buckingham
Palace does not provide an official figure for the cost of the coronation, but
estimates put it at between £50 million and £100 million.
The Wall
Street Journal pointed out that despite the star-studded guest list the event
'celebrated a millennium of history and reflects a more modern, diverse
Britain.'
Others pointed out that Prince Harry struck a lonely figure after
traveling from California for the occasion, with the New York Post calling him
the 'lone prince'
The
Washington Post covered the movement of the royal procession through London to
Buckingham Palace with experts, as well as describing the Gold State Coach as a
'bumpy ride'.
The New
York Times also had a live stream of the event, after toning down criticism of
the coronation after receiving a huge backlash when they slammed the costs of
the late Queen Elizabeth's funeral.
However
they were quick to say that Charles was walking a 'tightrope', and cover
anti-monarchist protests which made a small blip on the big day.
Other
publications continued to report on the 'special relationship' between the two
countries, as thousands of world leaders and hundreds of members of the public
began filing into the Abbey.
Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis also stole part of the show by
holding hands throughout the coronation, with the eight-year-old princess
donning an encrusted flower crown to match her mother
Other viewers complained about coverage by ABC, moaning that it was a
'shambles', and many had to switch channels to watch the coverage.
People magazine had special coverage of the coronation, and marked the
occasion with a simple headline
Host of
CNN's coverage Anderson Cooper was also mocked online following the coverage,
where he failed to recognize Prince George.
The lead
anchor was quickly cut off by Max Foster and Christiane Amanpour after saying
'we haven't seen George' as the third in line to the throne was on the screen.
Cooper
pointed out the next few occasions the nine-year-old prince was on the screen,
but not before his blunder was picked up by the millions watching the
coronation.
Foster
quickly cuts across Cooper saying: 'No we did see him, he's holding the robe
behind the King.'
Cooper
then goes: 'George is there in the back left', but is ignored by the other two,
who continue to discuss the crowns the new King will wear.
ATTACHMENT TWENTY ONE – From GUK
‘Happy and glorious’: what the papers say after King Charles’s coronation
Souvenir editions abound and positive appraisals dominate amid
descriptions from ‘his crowning moment’ to ‘king of the world’
Guardian staff
Sat 6
May 2023 23.54 EDT
The crown weighs heavy on newsstands this Sunday morning.
On its front page, the Observer has “King
Charles III … His crowning moment”. There’s room for other news, though: “Labour winning back swathes of Brexit voters, data
reveals”.
“Happy and glorious” declares the front of the Sunday Express.
The Mail on Sunday published a “Historic souvenir
edition”. Charles and Camilla are together on page one, headlined: “The look
that says ‘Darling, it was a triumph’”.
The Sunday Times, like others, did a souvenir wrap – it is simply
labelled “Coronation of King Charles III”. The front page inside says “At last,
their crowning glory”, with the same picture as the MoS.
Another souvenir cover: the Telegraph has an
indoor shot of the king and queen in their crowns and regalia.
The Sun on Sunday calls this moment Charles’ “Crowning
glory”.
On the front of the Sunday Mirror there’s
more of that simple labelling – “King Charles III, May 6 2023”.
The fun-loving Daily Star dubs his majesty “King
Chas III”.
Scotland’s Sunday Mail says “King of the
world”. We say “Eh?” The paper continues “A record-breaking 300 million people
globally watch historic coronation of Charles III”. We say “Err, OK …”
To other realms, and in Melbourne, Australia, the Sunday edition of
the Herald Sun goes with “Long live the King”. There’s
Charles again, waving. Its Sydney sibling, the Sunday Telegraph, has more or
less the same front page.
France’s Le Journal du Dimanche says “The
Crown”. Inside it promises you’ll find Tony Blair’s confidences about the king,
plus coverage of the coronation protests: “In the UK, not everyone is a
royalist”.
ATTACHMENT TWENTY TWO – From GUK
X5 Royal drama at Sydney Opera House after refusal to light up sails for
king’s coronation
Government argues the financial burden would have been significant if the
projection had gone ahead
Jordyn
Beazley Mon 8 May 2023 02.59 EDT
A decision to scrap plans to light the sails of the Sydney Opera House in
honour of the coronation of King Charles has been
defended by the premier of the state of New South Wales, Chris Minns.
The famous sails of the Opera House are often lit for major events in
Australia, including for a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II after she died and
a controversial projection
promoting a horse race.
But Saturday’s coronation did not make the cut, with the recently elected
Labor government in the state reversing its predecessor’s decision to do so.
Citing a cost of between $80,000 and $100,000, Minns, whose party defeated the
conservative Coalition government in a state election in March,
argued the financial burden on taxpayers would have been significant and said
the sails were being lit too often.
“It was lit up for everything from solemn occasions to … a football team
that was touring,” he told Sydney radio
station 2GB on Monday.
“Of course I respect the new king but I’m mindful of where and when we
spend taxpayers’ money.
“I’d like to keep it for Australia and Australians, and for moments of
sacrifice and heroism for the country – or when there’s an important
international event in Sydney.”
Since coming into power the government has already rejected a number of
requests to light up the Opera House from various organisations
and for religious events, in a bid to be more selective.
The sails were lit on 23 days in 2012, but that ballooned to more than 70
days last year to showcase various events in the country.
The Australian Monarchist League condemned the decision not to light the
sails for the king.
“Had the premier contacted the Australian Monarchist League, our members
would readily have contributed towards the funding for this purpose on this
important occasion,” the statement said.
“From now on, should taxpayer funds ever be used to light up buildings,
it will prove that this decision was based on Mr Minn’s [sic] republican sympathies and not on cost,” it
said.
The sails are lit annually to mark Sydney’s month long
festival of art and technology, Vivid Sydney, featuring artists work
such as John Olsen.
In 2020 the sails were lit to mark the 20th
anniversary of athlete Cathy Freeman winning gold at the Sydney
Olympics in the women’s 400m race.
In 2018, the state’s racing body controversially received approval to
project an advertisement for a horse race, drawing the ire of many
Australians. Hundreds of demonstrators
shone torches on the sails in protest against the commercialisation of the world heritage-listed structure.
A Sydney Opera House spokesperson said work was being done on an “updated
sails lighting policy, including greater clarity about the type and frequency
of projections permitted”.
“Over the past 10 years, there has been a substantial increase in the
number of requests to illuminate the sails, including from community groups,
charities, organisations, foreign
embassies/consulates and the NSW government,” the spokesperson said.
“As a place that belongs to all Australians, the opera house takes
seriously its responsibility to protect the cultural heritage significance of
the World Heritage-listed building while meeting community and artistic
expectations.
“The opera house does not charge a fee for these projections, it is only
required to turn off its floodlights. The costs incurred are for third-party
service providers.”
ATTACHMENT TWENTY THREE – From the Ukraine Independent
By
Shweta Sharma
Ukraine released
an upbeat video to congratulate Britain’s King Charles
III and Queen Camilla during their
historic coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey on
Saturday, where world leaders gathered to witness the once-in-a-generation
royal event.
The
video released by Ukraine’s defence ministry was
edited to the tune of London Calling by The Clash, and showed British weaponry
deployed to the Ukrainian frontline and Ukrainian president Volodymyr
Zelensky meeting King Charles and British prime minister Rishi Sunak, Labour leader Keir Starmer and
former prime minister Boris Johnson.
"On
the eve of the historic coronation, we’d like to thank our British friends for
your friendship. We are grateful for your unwavering support and partnership,
especially in the past year!" the defence
ministry said on Twitter.
First
lady of Ukraine Olena Zelensky and prime minister Denys Shmyhal
are already in London this week to celebrate the coronation of King Charles.
Charles,
who became King after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II in
September last year, has now taken the coronation oath, becoming the first
monarch to pray aloud in front of a coronation congregation.
The King
asked that his reign “be a blessing” to people “of every faith and conviction”
in his prayer.
The King
and the Queen were crowned in front of a 2,200-strong congregation
including world leaders
and dignitaries, with US first lady Jill Biden, Chinese vice
president Han Zheng, Canada’s Justin Trudeau, French president Emmanuel Macron
and many others among them.
China’s
president Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to King Charles and Queen
Camilla to mark their coronation, according to Chinese state media.
Mr Xi told Charles that China is willing to expand cooperation and cultural
exchanges with the UK and that the two countries should "jointly promote
peace and cooperation".
His
comments reflect Mr Xi’s efforts in recent months to
present himself as a potential peace-broker in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Mr Xi claims China to be neutral in regards to the war,
despite enjoying a much closer working relationship with Russia’s Vladimir
Putin.
US
president Joe Biden, who did not attend the coronation, congratulated Charles
through a tweet, calling it a historic occasion.
“Congratulations
to King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their coronation. The enduring
friendship between the US and the UK is a source of strength for both our
peoples. I am proud the first lady is representing the United States for this
historic occasion,” he said.
Australian
prime minister Anthony Albanese, who is in Britain to attend the coronation,
shared a number of pictures from London including a post on Friday night
showing “preparations in full swing in London this evening at Buckingham
Palace”.
European
Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who was received by the King at
Windsor Castle, said it was a “heart-warming” occasion.
“It is
an honour to be in London to meet King Charles III on
the eve of his Coronation. Heart-warming to see so many nations gathering
together in celebration today!” she said.
“The EU
counts on the unwavering friendship with the United Kingdom and its new King.”
On
Saturday, King Charles became the 40th sovereign to be crowned at Westminster
Abbey, the nation’s coronation church since 1066.
Archbishop
of Canterbury Justin Welby placed St Edward’s Crown on his head, a historic
moment watched around the globe.
ATTACHMENT TWENTY FOUR – From Time
Why Jill Biden Is Attending the Coronation
Instead of the President
BY BRIAN
BENNETT MAY 4, 2023 2:44 PM EDT
No
American President has attended a coronation of a British Monarch. President
Dwight D. Eisenhower was invited to the last crowning of a British sovereign—in
1953 when Queen Elizabeth formally took the throne—but decided to
skip it and send a delegation of American luminaries instead.
In
keeping with that precedent, Joe Biden won’t be at the crowning of King Charles
III on Saturday, part of a three-day national celebration estimated to cost British
taxpayers $125 million. He tapped First Lady Jill Biden to attend
in his place, along with his granddaughter Finnegan Biden. Biden’s absence is
not intended to insult Charles, White House Press Secretary Karine
Jean-Pierre said last month “It is not a snub,” Jean-Pierre said.
Read
more: Here’s What We Know About the Vast Cost of King
Charles III’s Coronation
But that
didn’t stop Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, from blasting him for not making
the return trip to England for the coronation, after Biden had recently swung
through Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
“I think
it’s very disrespectful for him not to be here,” Trump said on Wednesday in an
interview with Nigel Farage, a former British politician who was a prominent
supporter of Brexit, on GB News. He added, “And when you have somebody who’s
going to be sleeping instead of coming to the coronation as President of the
United States, I think that, I think that’s a bad thing.”
While
she is in the United Kingdom, Jill Biden will meet with Akshata
Murty, the wife of Rishi Sunak, the British Prime
Minister, at 10 Downing Street. The two will meet with veterans and visit a
local elementary school on Friday. On Friday evening, Jill Biden will attend a
reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by Charles the night before the crowning
ceremony on Saturday.
In a
25-minute phone call in early April, Biden told Charles that First Lady Jill
Biden would attend the coronation in his place. Charles invited Biden to come
to the U.K. at a later date during his presidency for a formal state visit, and
Biden accepted, according to a description of the phone call from the White
House.
Much of
Biden’s father’s family is English, but he’s long favored his mother’s Irish
ancestry in his speeches and the anecdotes he tells. In 1982, when he was
traveling to meet Queen Elizabeth for the first time, his
mother called him to tell him not to bow to her.
Biden
has occasionally made reference to Britain’s violent colonization of
Ireland and the centuries of animosity that followed.
During
his Ireland trip last night, while visiting the Windsor Bar and Restaurant in
Dundalk, Biden described his grandfather, Ambrose Finnegan, telling him,
“‘Remember, Joey, the best drop of blood in you is Irish.’” A few minutes
later, he acknowledged his English ancestry as well. “You know, Biden is
English. I hate to tell you that. I don’t hate to — I’m joking, but it’s true,”
Biden said.
ATTACHMENT Twenty Five – From Newsweek
Trump Reacts to Biden's Absence at King
Charles Coronation
BY ANNA COMMANDER ON 5/6/23 AT 12:11 PM EDT
Donald
Trump called out President Joe Biden on
Saturday for not attending King Charles III's and Queen Camilla's coronation,
saying that the people of the United Kingdom are "insulted" by his
absence.
King
Charles III and Queen Camilla were crowned at Westminster Abbey in a coronation ceremony that was watched by millions of
people in the U.K. and around the world. Charles III became head of state
following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, last
September. This coronation ceremony is the first held in the
U.K. in 70 years.
Biden
did not attend the ceremony, but first lady Jill Biden was
present, along with her 22-year-old granddaughter, Finnegan.
While
speaking on his social media platform, Truth Social, the former president
called out Joe Biden saying, "Joe Biden should have been at the Coronation
of King Charles III. Is that really so much to ask? The people of the U.K. are
greatly insulted. No wonder we are losing support all over the World. MAKE
AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"
In an
earlier post on Saturday to Truth Social, Trump also wished the king and queen
best wishes, writing, "Good Luck and Best Wishes to the wonderful new King
and Queen of The United Kingdom. You are two very Special People. May your
Reign be a Long and Glorious One. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH!!!"
Nile
Gardiner, foreign policy analyst and former aide to British Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher, also called out Biden on Twitter for his
absence, tweeting, "Leaders from across the world are attending today's
Coronation of King Charles III. Even the French President is there. Notably
absent is Joe Biden, who could not be bothered. What message does this send to
America's closest ally? Biden is a petty, arrogant, sneering disgrace."
Political
analyst Craig Agranoff told Newsweek on Saturday,
"It's worth noting that Trump also did not attend the coronation of King
Charles III. In fact, no sitting United States president has ever attended a
British coronation. So, while Biden's decision may not be popular with
everyone, it's not unprecedented."
Jill
Biden attended the coronation with her granddaughter wearing blue and yellow,
the colors of the Ukrainian flag. The day before, the first lady was also
photographed with Olena Zelenska,
Ukraine's first lady, at a reception hosted by Kate Middleton at Buckingham
Palace.
Meanwhile,
Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine,
highlighted the importance of Jill Biden's outfit on Twitter, writing on Saturday morning, "The language of
colors."
Also,
notably absent at the coronation ceremony was Meghan Markle, wife
of Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, the second son of King Charles III and Princess Diana, and
brother to future king Prince William. Markle
remained in California with her and Harry's children.
Update
5/6/2023, 1:02 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Craig Agranoff.
READ
MORE
1. Jill Biden's political
statement at coronation condemned: "Hate America"
2. Russian TV pundit calls for
fomenting violent attacks against White House
ATTACHMENT TWENTY SIX – FROM CBS
ROYALS FROM AROUND THE WORLD GATHERED FOR
KING CHARLES III'S CORONATION. HERE'S WHO ATTENDED.
UPDATED
ON: MAY 6, 2023 / 9:14 PM / CBS NEWS
More
than 2,000 people were invited to attend King Charles III's coronation on Saturday, and many of those guests are high-profile royals themselves.
Along with members of the British royal family and leaders of the government —
like British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, who spoke at the ceremony — world
leaders from other countries were also attendance.
Delegates
from countries in the British commonwealth attended, carrying flags for their
countries as they entered Westminster Abbey.
Non-British royals at the ceremony included:
Crown
Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of
Norway
Prince
Radu and Margareta of Romania
Crown
Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko of Japan
Gabon's
President Ali Bongo Ondimba and wife Sylvia Bongo Ondimba
King Felipe VI and Letizia of Spain
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the
Netherlands
Prince
Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene
Grand-Duke
Henri of Luxembourg and Grand-Duchess Maria Teresa
Yang di Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia
Letsie III,
King of Lesotho, and Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso
Crown
Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark
Dominican
President Luis Abinader and his wife Raquel Arbaje
King
Philippe of Belgium and Queen Mathilde
King
Carl XVI Gustaf and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden
King
Abdullah II of Jordan and Queen Rania
Sophie,
Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein and Alois and Hereditary Prince of
Liechtenstein
Crown
Prince of Yugoslavia and Crown Princess Katherine
King of
Malaysia Abdullah of Pahang and Queen Consort Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah
World leaders in attendance included:
First
lady Jill Biden with her granddaughter, Finnegan
French
President Emmanuel Macron, along with his wife, Brigitte
Governor-General
of Jamaica Patrick Allen and wife his Lady Patricia Allen
Lebanon's
Prime Minister Najib Mikat
New
Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins
President
of Israel Isaac Herzog and wife Michal Herzog
Canadian
prime minister Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie Trudeau
Former Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis and Marguerite Pindling
First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf
Former
British Prime Ministers John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were seen
arriving together. Former prime ministers Boris Johnson, David Cameron, Teresa
May and Liz Truss were also there.
Some
celebrities were also there, including actress Emma Thompson and singer Lionel
Richie.
Prince
Harry was seen entering with his cousin, Princess Beatrice and her
husband.
ATTACHMENT TWENTY SEVEN – From GUK
Colonialism and controversial guests
inform Africa’s reaction to Charles’s coronation
While some paid tribute to the British monarch, the presence in London of
certain guests proved less than welcome
Jason Burke Africa correspondent Sun 7 May 2023 10.58 EDT
In South Africa, as across
the African Commonwealth countries, Saturday’s coronation of King Charles III
prompted mixed reactions. There was much interest in Pretty Yende, the South African soprano who sang at the
beginning of the ceremony, and some high-profile public figures sent their best
wishes to the monarch.
Thuli Madonsela, a popular lawyer and activist widely respected after her
leadership of the country’s public corruption watchdog, offered
“congratulations to HM King Charles and Queen Camilla on their coronation” in a tweet.
“It was wonderful to see our peerless opera starPrettyYende shine
during the coronation,” Madonsela said.
The EFF said on Sunday that the attendance at the ceremony of the ruling
African National Congress, which sent its foreign minister, Naledi Pandor, “legitimised the
brutality of the British monarchy against the very people [the ANC] was elected
to serve”.
“Today, 116 years later, the king of England … continues in the pompous
steps of his predecessors flaunting the stolen Star of Africa at his
coronation. Apartheid criminal Louis Botha handed over the Star of Africa to
the ruthless British colonisers in 1907 … The British
monarchy had no dignified grounds to accept it, let alone still parade it as
British glory 116 years later,” the party said.
In the coastal city of Durban, expatriate British communities planned a
special church service on Sunday followed by a picnic or a braai, a traditional South African
barbecue. “I think people want to be part of an important moment in history,”
said Illa Thompson, one of the organisers of the
festivities.
Few African media organisations had sufficient
resources to cover events in London themselves, instead relying on
international press agencies. Many news websites ran galleries of photographs
depicting events but with little comment on them.
In some countries, attention focused on the presence of controversial African
leaders. In Zimbabwe, some alarm was expressed at the presence of Emmerson
Mnangagwa, the president.
Mnangagwa, who won a contested election in 2018 and whose government has
been accused of widespread human rights abuses, said upon taking power that he
wanted Zimbabwe to rejoin the Commonwealth, but he then balked at the necessary
democratic and economic reforms.
“We are concerned when countries which claim to be
champions of democracy choose to entertain despots like Mnangagwa,” said Obert Masaraure, a trade unionist
and pro-democracy activist in Zimbabwe. “It is now clear that nations are now
choosing business deals ahead of people. The British government is keen on
laying hands on Zimbabwe’s raw materials and no longer care about soiled human
rights record of Mnangagwa.”
In Kenya, Herman Manyora, a political
analyst and journalism professor at the University of Nairobi, said many people
had been put off by “the torture during colonialism, because of the oppression,
because of detentions, because of killings, because of the alienation of our
land.”
But, as in South Africa, reactions have been varied, with some Kenyans,
often from older generations, arguing that the Commonwealth still has some
relevance on the continent.
In Uganda, the political analyst Asuman
Bisiika said British culture continued to have a
strong influence on young people, especially those who follow English football.
There is also a lot of goodwill for Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September
after 70 years on the throne.
“It’s not about caring for the British monarchy,” Bisiika
said. “It’s about relating.”
The inclusion of Tiwa Savage in the lineup for
the coronation concert on Sunday prompted mixed reactions in
the Nigerian singer’s homeland, with some criticism. Others welcomed the
inclusion of “the queen of afrobeats” in the royal
occasion.
ATTACHMENT TWENTY EIGHT – From Time
The Enduring Oddness of King Charles III
BY YASMEEN
SERHAN MAY 4, 2023 7:00 AM EDT
“The
occupations of a constitutional monarch are grave, formal, important, but never
exciting,” wrote the British journalist Walter Bagehot in his 19th-century work
on the English constitution. If that’s true,
no one appears to have told King Charles III.
The
British monarch, who will formally be crowned king in a coronation ceremony this weekend, is perhaps the least
non-exciting royal alive. Quite aside from his position as the head of the
British royal family—a role that he automatically took over following the death
of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September—Charles’s life has always
been under the spotlight, from his fairytale wedding to Princess Diana in 1981
to his falling out with his youngest son, Prince Harry, in 2021.
What
distinguishes Charles from his mother, as well as most other members of his
family, is his vast array of interests and hobbies. Many Britons could probably
name something about the king that most would find eccentric or odd: His love
of red squirrels, for example, or his passion
for British hedgerows. There’s also his
disdain for cube-shaped ice. Virtually everyone in the
country, if not the world, knows how he feels about leaking pens.
“He’s
quite quirky,” Sally Bedell Smith, author of Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life,
tells TIME. Quite unlike Queen Elizabeth, who had a reputation for keeping her
personal views on everything beyond corgis and horses private, Charles has
always been outspoken about his views and interests. The one that he is perhaps
best known for is his passion for environmentalism, a cause that he took up as
early as 1970 when, as the Prince of Wales, he issued a prescient warning about
the “horrifying effects of pollution.” On related issues such
as organic farming and sustainable fashion, Charles was ahead of
his time. So committed is he to the cause of conservation that he purportedly
still wears a pair of shoes that he bought
in 1971 and drives a classic Aston Martin that runs on bioethanol made from cheese and wine. He has since
issued more urgent calls for radical climate
action.
But the
monarch’s interests don’t end with the planet. Among Charles’ other noted
pastimes is architecture and, in particular, how it has been stained in the
modern era. He once described a proposed addition to London’s National Gallery
as “a monstrous carbuncle” and even likened London’s contemporary
landscape to the Battle of Britain in World War II. (“You have, ladies and
gentlemen, to give this much to the Luftwaffe,” he once told attendees of an event marking
the Royal Institute of British Architects’ 150th anniversary. “When it knocked
down our buildings, it didn’t replace them with anything more offensive than
rubble. We did that.”) A living embodiment of Charles’ architectural worldview
can be found 130 miles southwest of London in Poundbury, a town featuring
pastel-colored houses, abundant courtyards, and signless
roads that was designed by Charles as an experimental planning project in the
1980s. Due to be completed in 2025, Poundbury has been hailed as a model for
new, livable urbanism. To critics, however, it’s seen as more of a feudal Disneyland.
That
Charles has so many passions—to say nothing of his interest in philosophy, homeopathic medicine, and Islam—is, in many ways, a direct consequence of his extended
stint as heir to the throne, a period in which he had both the time and the resources
to pursue his interests. His time as Prince of Wales “was not, by any stretch
of the imagination, a life spent in waiting,” Bedell Smith says, noting his
work with more than 400 charities, many of which
were directly tied to his interests. “He was very busy; he was a man in a
hurry.”
“He has
a fogeyish side, there’s no doubt about it,” says Richard Fitzwilliams,
a longtime royal expert. “But he’s also an extremely hard worker.” This
perception can get lost amid Charles’ more peculiar idiosyncrasies, from his
reported preference to travel with his own custom-made toilet seat to his
apparent unwillingness to administer his own toothpaste. It’s little
wonder that one of his biographers, royals expert Christopher Anderson, dubbed
him “one of the most eccentric sovereigns Great Britain has ever had.”
Since
becoming sovereign, however, Charles had to scale his own personal views and
interests back. In his first address to the nation
following his mother’s death, he conceded that, as he takes on his new role,
“it will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies
to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply.” For many observers,
this was an essential step in ensuring the continuity of the royal family as a
unifying force in the country. “A monarch simply cannot go out and make
pronouncements on issues that could very well alienate some portion of the
British population, and for that matter the population in those nations that
remain realms over which the British monarch is a head of state,” Bedell Smith
says. “One of the most important roles of the monarch is to be the binding
force in British society, and to do anything that runs counter to that
threatens his position.”
Charles
has found some ways of maintaining his individuality, though. While the monarch
was reportedly blocked, for example, from
attending the COP27 summit in Egypt last year, he did host a reception for
others attending the summit to discuss the issue of climate change. And while
he may still be the “defender of the faith,” as the supreme governor of the
Church of England, Charles has also dubbed himself the “defender of faiths,” reflecting his desire
to be more inclusive.
And
while Charles’s coronation will be steeped in religious symbolism and tradition
dating back centuries, there will still be elements of the celebration that are
unique to him, if you know what to look for. The design of the ornately
illustrated coronation invitations, for example, features a hedgerow border in
an apparent nod to the monarch’s love of horticulture. The ceremony will
also feature Greek Orthodox music, in a tribute to the king’s father, the late
Duke of Edinburgh, who was born in Corfu into the Greek and Danish royal
families (“He was always interested in Eastern Orthodox thinking and
practices,” says Bedell Smith). The inclusion of religious leaders representing
the Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh traditions in the coronation
underscores Charles’s efforts to reflect Britain’s diversity, as well as his
own interests in non-Christian faiths.