The King and Her

The coronation took place today, in case you had not noticed.  Several thoughts coursed through my mind throughout.  One that kept returning was the thought that Camila was only there because she had been told it was a 'Coronation Street' party.  She looked a wee bit disappointed.

My thoughts concerning Archbishop Selby and his fellow Bishops on show were not polite.  While working through the liturgy as if he believed it, he forgot to add that he was opposing it with his 'Stonewall' propositions.  He was asking the King to be 'defender of the Faith,' while all the time moving away from that very faith.  The title itself was given first to Henry VIII in 1521, by Pope Leo X, after he wrote a booklet opposing the works of Martin Luther.  He had it removed a while later when he decided to become head of his own church, an action that begat much seen in today's coronation.  It had actually been offered to Scotland's King James IV in 1507, many years before, as 'Protector and Defender of the Christian Faith.'  It could be said the kings since that date have been defending the Rome version, but I suspect legal moves since have abandoned this. 

Anyway, throughout I was not happy with the Bishops performance, more an event than a Christian service, though the biblical words I liked.  Leaders of the Anglicans in England are becoming more of a shadow of the faith rather than leaders.

One thought concerned the chair.  The throne on which the King is 'kinged,' I note was not as it appeared in the shop.  Behind the king were initials cut into the wood, I spent much time attempting to read them rather than watch the event.  I winder who scribbled on there, when, how?  Probably kids from the choir.

The overlong ceremony did appear to be out of place in today's world.  If we have a king we need a coronation, I understand Charles changed much, but it appears the CoE, therefore the Archbishops, who have the last say.  It is a church run event.  

The BBC coverage continued in the normal royal vane.  The commentators bland, grey voices, the information regarding the marchers, the dresses, what the kids were doing, the false enjoyment of nothing almost 'Daily Mail' like.  Indeed in the studio a royal correspondent from the paper itself offered his opinions.  Who heard the word 'slime ball' there?  Others who appeared to offer their thoughts 'How fantastic,' 'wonderful day,' 'excitement,' and so on.  Gush, gush. gush.  Now I expect much of this at these times, but there is a limit.  I also noted the BBC appeared not to mention the 'Not my King' protestors who were arrested, nor the 'Stop the oil' bairns also.  Maybe the BBC did not know?   

I was more concerned for the troops standing for hours in the rain, sometimes at 'attention.'  All night they will be drying their outfits, scrubbing equipment, polishing steel, and proud to have taken part, well, most of them.  All will be glad they did not faint, drop the gun, trip, or walk behind the horses.

All have done their duty, the policemen working out how much overtime they will get, the rest sitting in a pub before making off home tomorrow, unless there is more overtime.  

Events like this do bring the nation together, however, the generation gap, the Conservative Party, and rising electricity prices have dampened much of these events.  The royals will have to work hard to change their image, and possibly within 10 years we may have another royal funeral, and then 'Dim Wullie' under his wife's orders, will be king.  Oh dear oh dear...

Vote for Coronation

I awoke early, I usually do in Spring when the light shines in, and was greeted with the not surprising news that Labour had won all three seats available in our ward.  As far as I can tell the Conservatives are still in control, but now only by 8 seats.  The Independents, who are doing well in the villages, the Greens and others have filled gaps left by departing Tories.  

The result has been similar throughout the country.  This election only covered England, and so far Labour have won about 200 seats, the Liberal Democrats 60 or so, and the Tories just lose everywhere, especially in what is called the 'Red Wall' seats.  These are areas once totally committed to Labour, but which sold out at the last General Election to Boris Johnsons lies.  They now regret this decision.

We expect the usual statement from the various parties but Greg Hands has topped the lot.  In an interview this morning he claimed he had visited 33 wards and met on the doorstep a great deal of support for what Rishi Sunak is doing.  The implication is that Rishi is not like those who have gone before.  It was put to him that, at the time of the interview, around 150 seats have been lost.  His reply was to state that he found no support for Keir Starmer!  The people, in his view, are supporting the PM by voting against him, and dislike Starmer so much his party has already won over 150 seats.  This interview is a classic of ignoring reality.

In 1968 the SNP won well over 360 seats in the local elections of that year, on TV late at night the head of the Scottish Communist Party was interviewed.  "Our victory tonight," he said, "shows that the Scottish people realise that only the Communist Party has the answer for our troubles."  His party had won one single seat, in Inverness I think!  

I thought our seat would be counted today, but this occurred last night.  However, the majority of seats are being counted today, and thus the damage to the Tory Party will be immense.  There is still support for the Tories, mostly in wealthier areas, but when you consider almost all local elections carry only a quarter of the population to vote, and the nonsense about personal ID has turned away many Tory as well as other voters, there is no doubt this election has been a shambles for them.  By late evening we will know just how bad this has been.

Saturday sees Charlies big day.  After a lifetime of waiting, longer than I have lived, just, he now has the chance to fill his destiny.  The reactions to this are interesting.  The Mall is lined with the usual collection of women of a certain age, some men and a lot of foreign types, awaiting a glimpse of the royals as they pass.  Quite what motivates some of them leaves me wondering.  

We also see an immense, and not very worthy, amount of cynicism regarding the monarch and the coronation.  How much genuine thought has gone into this I suggest is limited in scope.  Once again we see the 'divide and rule' at work, where genuine patriots will support the monarch, and non patriots will refuse.  There is no nuance in this.  Age is one part.  Many royalists are "cough," older people, many opposing, young whippersnappers.  

The war left a large impression on those who lived through it, including the children.  While children usually enjoyed war, many interesting happenings almost daily, they grew up in a patriotic culture, a culture impressed on such as I, in the years after the war.  The passage of time amended many understandings of royalty, and Scottish Independence adds to this, and it is a long time since many of my generation 'respected' royalty by doffing the cap.   For those born in more recent times with no memory of Empire, little connection to those who ran it, and with absolutely no understanding why it existed, they can be excused for wondering about all the pomp of a coronation.  

The pomp goes back into history, mostly English, concerns a variety of kings and queens, mostly of dubious morality, and reflects the imperialist attitude of the English mind.  Scotland of course, is still nothing more than a colony under English rule.  The coronation reveals the constitution crafted over many years, entwining the king (because of the mad Henry VIII) with the church, and obliging many an unbelieving monarch to play as head of the church.  Such is the confusion over the constitution that to separate church and state would be a bonanza for the lawyers, take many years, and cost Billions!  

This also does not take into account of attitudes on far off one time colonies.  Their opinion is not sought. 

I am not one to throw eggs at the King, he is there, this is how it is, and if we wish to change it this must be done by debate, not middle class wee boys with placards.  Neither those who support the monarchy, for whatever reason, or those who oppose, will find support from me.  The monarch debate will begin now, especially if Charles dies within 10 years and his dumb son and wife take over.  That really will be the end.

I will watch the coronation, for historical reasons, and to cogitate over those attending at the side of the road or elsewhere.  A procession is always worth watching, and who knows what will happen?