It's worth noting that many countries have formal pledges, so it's not a tinpot dictatorship thing.
This is completely optional and seems to be a tone-deaf attempt to build up enthusiasm for the event.
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King Charles III Coronation
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This is completely optional and seems to be a tone-deaf attempt to build up enthusiasm for the event.
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birchesgreen
Established Member
I'm looking forward to the coronation, all the pomp and circumstance and historical nonsense, this is basically like the FA Cup Final for a English historian.
Lost property
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Are you indeed.
Obviously, you've never had the misfortune to participate in a route lining because if so, you would be aware of the hours of preparation involved, a considerable amount of which impact on your social time. Fine, if you've joined the Army who do this as part of their job, but not if you've joined the RAF to maintain / operate aircraft.
The article may not meet with your approval.
Personally, it's not the RF as such that cause the aggravation, it's the hordes of clingers on by association. That, and there will be no other news on the day.
I won't be watching, other than a glimpse at the news, because there's only one day that is relevant to "pomp and ceremony " and that's Remembrance Day.
Now we know how fabulously wealthy Charles is, why can’t he pay for his own coronation? | Norman Baker
If the king wants to be a moderniser, he won’t let UK taxpayers pick up the bill for this self-serving tradition, says former Lib Dem MP Norman Baker
www.theguardian.com
Intercity110
On Moderation
Whilst we do spend money, the tourism generated by the king offsets the money we spend. How much money will, Tesco, for example, generate by selling coronation themed bags and things? Millions? Memorabilia alone may offset the coast of the coronation.Now we know how fabulously wealthy Charles is, why can’t he pay for his own coronation? | Norman Baker
If the king wants to be a moderniser, he won’t let UK taxpayers pick up the bill for this self-serving tradition, says former Lib Dem MP Norman Baker
Are you indeed.
Obviously, you've never had the misfortune to participate in a route lining because if so, you would be aware of the hours of preparation involved, a considerable amount of which impact on your social time. Fine, if you've joined the Army who do this as part of their job, but not if you've joined the RAF to maintain / operate aircraft.
The article may not meet with your approval.
Personally, it's not the RF as such that cause the aggravation, it's the hordes of clingers on by association. That, and there will be no other news on the day.
I won't be watching, other than a glimpse at the news, because there's only one day that is relevant to "pomp and ceremony " and that's Remembrance Day.
Now we know how fabulously wealthy Charles is, why can’t he pay for his own coronation? | Norman Baker
If the king wants to be a moderniser, he won’t let UK taxpayers pick up the bill for this self-serving tradition, says former Lib Dem MP Norman Baker
Worth noting that the inauguration of a president of the United States can cost around $100 million, which is comparable to the quoted cost of £100 million for the coronation of King Charles III.
As both are state occasions, the cost is picked up by the respective governments, and because a presidential inauguration happens every 4 years, the overall cost to US taxpayers is greater.
Given that the population of the UK is just over 67 million, the cost of this coronation (the first for 70 years) is just under £1.50 per person, and it could be 10 years or more before there is another one.
So the overall cost of the coronation per is peanuts in terms of overall government spending, despite what all the moaning minnies in The Grauniad think.
birchesgreen
Established Member
So are you not watching or are you an unfortunate RAF mechanic in the parade? Its unclear. Anyway i'm sure Netflix will still be available.
brad465
Veteran Member
For the record it is possible to be pro-Monarchy but against the Coronation needing to be a thing.
Lost property
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To save you any confusion, I'm not an RAF mechanic, my one and only, thankfully !!!...route lining was as an apprentice at Halton, ("some time ago " ) I don't have Netflix and thus I won't, as I say, be watching
That's pretty much how I see it. Rather unnecessary. I'm pro monarchy, simply because I can't think of a better system. We certainly don't need an extra level of corrupt politicians in a presidential administration, nor surely do we want some washed up has been as a ceremonial president (President Boris Johnson anyone?).
The coronation itself is very much slimmed down compared to 1953, but they could still go further. Would it really be undignified for the King to arrive at the Abbey in the state Rolls Royce?
As for alternatives, I think Ireland does it pretty well. Check out the thoughtful set of Machnamh 100 events that Irish President Michael D. Higgins organised, exploring issues of national identity on the hundredth anniversary of Irish independence.
president.ie
Presidential Seminars | President of Ireland
Machnamh 100 is an initiative of President Higgins that builds on his extensive work to date during Ireland’s Decade of Commemorations that has examined and…
president.ie
Historically the British Establishment were pretty good at "reading the room" when it came to popular opinion on the mainland. We've not had a proper revolution since the 17th century. However, the whole "pledge" thing is the latest indicator of many that they're losing their marbles.
As for a better system, I think the Swiss have it good with a federal council and elements of direct democracy. The political system there seems to be much more about policy than personality.
As for a better system, I think the Swiss have it good with a federal council and elements of direct democracy. The political system there seems to be much more about policy than personality.
Depends on how you look at it. The idea is that, rather than the peers swearing allegiance, it is the people at large. From the linked article:
Which is, in many ways, a reflection of the reality that the whole hereditary titles system is an anachronism. As I noted above, many countries have formal pledges of allegiance - usually to the constitution, the flag or the country.
And that £1.50 should be going into the NHS or something to help with the cost of living. It’s incredible that people (including NHS workers) are queuing up for food banks while we fund this patriotic nonsense. But, each to their own.
nanstallon
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I do get a little bored when people go on about tourism supposedly generated by the royal family. France is a bigger tourist economy than UK, and anyway do we really want to attract tourism by being a quaint Ruritania for wealthy people from more advanced countries such as USA or Germany to gawp (or laugh) at? No silly tat like coronation mugs will be entering my house!
And they can surely pay for their own pomp and ceremony - including getting road closure orders, etc, in the proper way the same as anyone else who wants to inconvenience the general public.
Correct. And on the Saturday too.
Germany isn’t a “more advanced” country than Britain, what nonsense. Miserable post redolent of the necrotic state of British republicanism.
They are more advanced in terms of getting rid of their King
D1537
Established Member
I know which country's public transport system I'd rather use - not to mention they have a road system without millions of holes in it.
The state of the public transport system and the number of potholes in the road has nothing to do with whether we are a monarchy or a republic.
Well, to be fair, they really just exported their monarchy to us.They are more advanced in terms of getting rid of their King
Keeping it on topic for a rail forum, based on historic averages the German railway has almost three times the rate of fatal rail collisions or derailments as the UK.
Source: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/a.evans/document/7283/FTAE2019/?FTAE2019.pdf
D1537
Established Member
Given the amount of miles I do by rail, I don't think the fact it would take me on average 300,000 years to die in Germany as opposed to 900,000 years in the UK is going to be a major factor in which network I'd prefer to use.
Tazi Hupefi
On Moderation
For £1.50 you're getting an extra bank holiday, (and for many workers this will be worth a few quid itself) - and not only that, the vast majority of people, regardless of whether they support the monarchy or not, will be out and about enjoying their bank holiday and probably contributing substantially more than £1.50 in taxes, and supporting many struggling businesses in the process, when they go for a nice bank holiday meal out, cinema or some other leisure activity with the family, friends etc, maybe even just get an extra takeaway that week!
Don't underestimate the huge overseas interest either - most of my family and friends in Asia and South America are fascinated by British ceremony and it does greatly enhance the UK's reputation in many parts of the world, which probably does translate to economic benefits in all sorts of ways. This will dominate many foreign news networks just as much as the BBC! Don't forget, Charles isn't just the British monarch!
It's also one of those rare occasions where many little villages and communities pull together and enjoy the moment with neighbours, stick some flags and bunting up and get the communal BBQ out.
You don't have to be a royalist to enjoy yourself and participate!
Don't underestimate the huge overseas interest either - most of my family and friends in Asia and South America are fascinated by British ceremony and it does greatly enhance the UK's reputation in many parts of the world, which probably does translate to economic benefits in all sorts of ways. This will dominate many foreign news networks just as much as the BBC! Don't forget, Charles isn't just the British monarch!
It's also one of those rare occasions where many little villages and communities pull together and enjoy the moment with neighbours, stick some flags and bunting up and get the communal BBQ out.
You don't have to be a royalist to enjoy yourself and participate!
GS250
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I'm going to enjoy the Coronation even though I'm only a very moderate Monarchist.
The Monarchy does need slimming down and King Charles III will be judged on this.
The thought of an elected head of state has always filled me with dread. Whilst fair and proper on paper, we all know what the likely outcome would be. There would be yet another layer of politics involved with the 'President' being far more politically active than any monarch ever would be. I don't wish to have to choose from Gary Lineker, Philip Schofield, Tony Blair or Nicola Sturgeon thank you.
The Monarchy does need slimming down and King Charles III will be judged on this.
The thought of an elected head of state has always filled me with dread. Whilst fair and proper on paper, we all know what the likely outcome would be. There would be yet another layer of politics involved with the 'President' being far more politically active than any monarch ever would be. I don't wish to have to choose from Gary Lineker, Philip Schofield, Tony Blair or Nicola Sturgeon thank you.
That isn't how statistics work.
But it is a demonstration that rail is one of the safest methods of transportation. But that doesn't change the fact that German rail is less safe than UK rail, despite their being a "more advanced" country.
I think this is a rather good point - it is a great demonstration of 'soft power'. As the Queen's funeral showed last year, pomp and circumstance are one of the few things we still do well as a country.
There's a religious angle here too, though I appreciate that is probably incidental to most. This will be the most-watched Anglican Eucharistic service ever, in much the same way that the Queen's funeral was the most-watched Anglican religious service ever.
I agree - I'm indifferent to the royals and the monarch (though, to misquote Churchill, I suspect it is the least worst option for a head of state). And I'm not much of a fan of Charles in particular, and I won't be standing up and proclaiming my loyalty, which seems a rather odd idea (although I understand why it has been put in place of an endless stream of Lords doing the same, as was previously the case). But I do enjoy ceremony and tradition and pomp, so I'll be watching it with enthusiasm.
One interesting thing is that the intent Charles apparently had to get the service in under an hour appears to have failed miserably. For those who are interested in this sort of thing, here's a detailed analysis of the differences between the 1953 and 2023 coronation services:
https://drfrancisyoung.com/2023/04/29/coronation-ordines-compared-1953-and-2023/
There's a few things cut out, but there's a lot of extra stuff required for the crowning of the Queen (which of course we didn't have in 1953), plus we're apparently getting a homily from the Archbishop of Canterbury (hurray!), so it seems the service will end up being of similar length to that of 1953 after all.
Bevan Price
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More likely that the choices would have included a President Thatcher or Boris..........
GusB
Established Member
I really don't care if the royals splash out on big ceremonies, but I'd far rather they dipped into their own pockets to fund it. It's not as if they cannot afford £100m out of their own coffers, is it?
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