...and it's on all three main channels, so avoiding it will be difficult. Or would be, if not for the plethora of streaming services and freeview channels available!
So will I watch? Maybe. Not with any enthusiasm for his reign, which I suspect will not be the triumph of 'quietly getting on with it' that marked the late Queen's reign. But to see the sort of spectacle that we do better than any other country in the world.
How about you, Reader?
When I worked in Poland I told my secretary to decline an invitation from the British Embassy to a celebration of Her late Majesty's official birthday, saying "tell them I am a republican". Apparently that got me noticed by British Intelligence, who marked me down as an Irish Republican. Fortunately the next ambassador was someone I was at university with. He told me the story and assured me he'd had the intelligence record updated.
ReplyDeleteI am a republican because I think it's toxic that the first thing a British child understands about politics is that s/he was born into the wrong family to be head of state. It's the very opposite of the much-mocked "American Dream". I think that dream is powerful in making citizens feel part of something. If trailer-trash like Bill Clinton could be elected, anyone can, and that's good (even if Clinton wasn't).
That said, the monarchy is *so* popular that I've never troubled to write about it. If it's what my fellow-Brits want, it's by far the least of their errors and I can just smile about it and enjoy the parades, concerts and ceremonies when they occur. We Brits are pretty damned good at pageantry and today will be one hell of a show, so yes I will be watching with enjoyment and a sardonic smile.
In truth, there's a lot to be said for not having a political has-been as President. Good people are not attracted to politics or public service and democracy comes down to a choice between self-selected rival sociopaths (at best) in control of an army of other sociopaths attracted to being parasites on their fellow-citizens, while bossing them about.
A Head of State selected at random (and with no say in the matter) has a good chance of NOT being a sociopath (though, like you, I have my doubts about His current Majesty). I fear he is as delusional as most politicians in believing that his Government can make better choices for millions of us than we could ourselves.
It's also better for armed forces to swear loyalty to a monarch than to a state. It's also a very cheap system as the immense personal wealth of the Royal Family is deployed to fund it. Were the monarch abolished, unless by the traditional Continental method of separating head from body, I think it unlikely the ex-King would leave it behind to pay the salary of President Blair or Cameron.
Didn't realise Newcastle v Arsenal was on the main channels.
ReplyDeleteI hope there will be some venues today, where this fuckin coronation won't be compulsory viewing. In any event, I can't bring myself to swear allegiance to an old Establishment with its new head, irrespective of Charlie's preference to be a Tampon. And the performance of our Establishment in providing inspirational role models, has been a tad disappointing.
ReplyDeleteI decided to stay up until 6AM and then sleep through the coronation.
ReplyDeleteWorked well, apart from the wall-to-wall coverage in every online newspaper. Good job they ain't worth reading in the first place.
My weekend on shift, but even if not working you couldn't pay me enough to suffer watching it.
ReplyDeleteThere's only one use for the modern monarchy far as i can see, it protects us from the horror of Presidents Blair Smarmer or bloody Cameron.
Drizzle for most of the day (pissing down in Wales where i had to go) which portents a damp squib of a reign.
What a miserable bunch of moaning bastards you all are. So , lets have a republic. Does the President replace the Prime Minister? Or as most likely, is in addition to the Prime Minister in which case all those who did not vote for him/her/other will dislike him/her/other because the wrong one got in.
ReplyDeleteWho will be eligible? Any one who has just got off a dinghy,or a native born as in the USA?
So, Charles may not be a very good King,it does not matter, the Institution and tradition is greater than any individual. Long may it continue.
I voted 'yes' in a referendum once here in Oz. I was wrong.
ReplyDeleteI've voted 'no' ever since.
So while I'm not a staunch monarchist, I believe the alternative would be even worse. Yes really.
"Apparently that got me noticed by British Intelligence..."
ReplyDeleteAh, the days when they had the time for this...
"We Brits are pretty damned good at pageantry and today will be one hell of a show..."
It certainly was, wasn't it!?
"Didn't realise Newcastle v Arsenal was on the main channels."
🤣
"I hope there will be some venues today, where this fuckin coronation won't be compulsory viewing."
I'm sure you managed to find one.
"Worked well, apart from the wall-to-wall coverage in every online newspaper."
It's still going isn't it?
"There's only one use for the modern monarchy far as i can see, it protects us from the horror of Presidents Blair Smarmer or bloody Cameron."
*shudders*
"So, Charles may not be a very good King,it does not matter, the Institution and tradition is greater than any individual."
Like so many, it's creaking, and the foundations need looking at to be sure...
"So while I'm not a staunch monarchist, I believe the alternative would be even worse. Yes really."
Of that, I think we all have little doubt.