{"id":9187,"date":"2023-05-06T10:05:51","date_gmt":"2023-05-06T09:05:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=9187"},"modified":"2023-05-06T14:35:03","modified_gmt":"2023-05-06T13:35:03","slug":"politics-the-coronation-of-chuck-iii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=9187","title":{"rendered":"POLiTiCS: The Coronation of Chuck III"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Anyone who knows me at all well will most likely know I\u2019m vehemently anti-royalist. I\u2019m with Tom Paine, who said \u2018Monarchy is the Popery of government.\u2019 That said, I\u2019m watching the coronation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I\u2019m typing this South African singer Pretty Yende has just finished singing \u2018Sacred Fire\u2019, by Sarah Class. What an apt surname for a such a day! Read more about Sarah here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pretty Yende in her coronation outfit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As a musician and music teacher, the fact that music has such a prominent and important role in this and all such similar ceremonies is a double edged sword. It shows how central music is to culture at large. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But in broader terms the UK\u2019s musical culture is in a pretty bad place, as a result of Brexit, under-investnent in music education (esp\u2019 in state schools), and the abject reign of crass commercialism on all fronts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a lover of history, and martial history, I have to confess I do love all the military pomp and splendour. But my historically aware and critical eyes also see the way it is used to maintain an oppressive status quo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We can thank Napoleon for this impressive look.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Anyway, back to an observation on the military parade: the \u2018Blues & Royals\u2019 owe their very powerful look to Napoleonic France. They adopted their cuirasses and shiny helms thanks to their role in defeating Boney\u2019s heavy horse at Waterloo. This was itself a triumph of the \u2018Ancien Regime\u2019, fighting against French Republicanism (despite Nap\u2019s attempts to convert to Imperial \u2018legitimacy\u2019). The Royalty and aristocracy of Europe (Oligarchies, in truth) didn\u2019t want French Revolutionary ideals being exported. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Stock image (copyright Reuters).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The two horse drummers are, as ever, really impressive. Usually, at any rate. One of them wound up doing a rather awkward looking sideways shuffle, just as the cameras were on them. No mention was made of this gaffe. Indeed, Claire Balding was fulsome in her praise of these beasts and their riders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the music has switched to the Abbey\u2019s organ, and a rather ridiculous Blackpool Pier sounding musical selection! What the heck was that? Rather bizarre and comical, for a coronation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now it\u2019s gone into a rather gonzo reworking of Waltzing Matilda! Apparently Chucky chose a lot (maybe all?) of the music. Bonkers. Well, a bit of research reveals that the organ weirdness was the work of one Iain Farrington, and was called \u2018Voices of the World\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balding has just acknowledged that Apollo, one of the drum horses, is giving his rider – who also has to drum, as well as guide his steed – a rather hard time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Royal procession in progress. On our TV.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Just snapped the above, on\u2019t iPhone. It\u2019s a rather dismal day. Overcast and raining lightly. On such a gloomy note, it might be time to turn to one of the less appealing facets of this show. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thirty-six facial recognition cameras, made in China (and banned in government buildings, on security grounds!) are being deployed to help the forces of oppression deal with anyone who might dare to show their disapproval. Our slide towards a fascist police state continues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You can read more about this here<\/a>. But I think that link is very pro usage (poss\u2019 it\u2019s the company providing them?), so take their gloss on it with a bag or two of salt! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, from salt, to sand. What\u2019s that all about? Some are saying it\u2019s to keep the horses from slipping. Others are saying it\u2019s because of the appalling state of the UK\u2019s roads; filling in potholes and making it all look slightly less shabby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image grab from an online piece by The Sun. (Not a working link!)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If it\u2019s the former, then surely it should be uniform along all the route? and it very clearly isn\u2019t. So it does rather suggest it might be the latter. Either way, it kind of draws attention to the fact something is a bit odd. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Out cometh the flumpets\u2026 parp!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A stock photo, can\u2019t recall where from. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So, a bit of a lacuna here, as I was busy wrapping presents for Teresa and Chester\u2019s forth-coming birthdays. In the meantime we\u2019ve moved from the procession from Buck House to Westminster Abbey, to the ceremony itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeez, High Anglican is so very obviously Catholicism-lite. They even have the papal style hats! The transparent evolution of religion that\u2019s plainly on view here – despite being swaddled in mummery – makes a mockery of the idea there\u2019s any inherent truth in religion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the bizarre professions of allegiance to Protestantism jar somewhat; a relic of the ECW, a failed attempt to be rid of monarchy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Royalist parties? No, food banks, at record high.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The most offensive parts of this, with deep and horrific irony, tragically, are the hypocritical genuflections towards helping the meek and needy, and serving. Oh how the ruling elite do salve their consciences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No amount of charity work by the \u2018great and the good\u2019 can ever make a rotten system that condemns so many to bleakly hopeless poverty-stricken lives better, let alone acceptable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But wait, who\u2019s footing the bull? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m going to leave that corrective typo (bull instead of bill) in place, as it\u2019s a Freudian slip worthy of the occasion. John Q Public, of course. The same \u2018commons\u2019 of whom over 14 million currently live below the official poverty line. The same commons the rapine Tories are robbing blind every single day<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rees-Mogg\u2019s failure to get a Handel on history.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Zadok The Priest\u2019 makes its inevitable entrance. The ironies here won\u2019t be getting any mention: written by a German composer, only able to live and work in Britain thanks to a specially enacted law, about which the odious Rees-Mogg made risibly ignorant pro-Brexit remarks (revealing himself to be extremely dumb, despite his hugely expensive Etonian education), this Germanic expression enabled by \u2018free\u2019 European movement has now become a staple of modern Tory England, the acme of regressive backwards looking ignorance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The smorgasbord of \u2018inclusivity\u2019 at such events is in stark contrast to the elitism actually practised by the wealthy. We now have a Byzantine choir, and earlier we had a very modern take on African choral singing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Royal inclusivity only extends so far.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I remember being struck by all of this when Harry and Meghan were married, shortly thereafter their relation with the rest of the royal family descending into a tabloid-baiting circus of awkwardness. Harry is here, but Meghan is home in California. How very inclusive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And how\u2019s this for tolerant inclusivity:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Britain today. Yep, the plot is long lost!*<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

*Predictive text actually rendered \u2018long lost\u2019 as \u2018king list\u2019\u2026 oddly apt!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyway, as the Archbishop of Cranberry drones on, peaceful anti-monarchy protesters are being arrested. Their crime? Wanting a fairer society. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lock \u2018em up and throw away the key. Better yet, hang \u2018em from traitor\u2019s gate, and put their heads on spikes. That\u2019s what real<\/em> royalty would do. And did, back in the \u2018good old days\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Watch out, traitors, it\u2019s the Tower (and the chopping block) for you!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

See our doughy, er, doughty boys and gals in blue endorsing more Royal inclusivity in Toryland here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Some believe this to be Oliver Cromwell\u2019s head.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For a gruesome reminder of what real Royal power used to look like, have a butchers at what is purported to be Oliver Cromwell\u2019s decapitated noggin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cromwell died in 1658. His corpse (or perhaps someone else\u2019s?) was dug up by the minions of Charles II, to be hung and decapitated, along with a certain John Bradshaw and one Henry Ireton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cromwell\u2019s head (or whoever\u2019s it was) remained on a twenty foot spike until 1684, when it was blown off in a gale. It then passed through various hands, before winding up at Cromwell\u2019s alma mater<\/em>, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more about the peregrinations and authenticity of \u2018Cromwell\u2019s head\u2019 here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Monarchical bling-wagon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Grenadiers (whose busbys are another Waterloo relic) pass through\u2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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And back to Buck House.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Canadian Mounties.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Somewhat ironically our Virgin set-top box decided it had had enough, and switched itself off. Even Clare Balding admitted that, after the lengthy investiture of crowning, etc, the change to a parade was \u2018a bit of relief\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And on it goes\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The military segment rumbles on, now in the garden of Buckingham Palace. Poor old military man and commentator Greville welled up in tears contemplating and admiring it. The troops did look dapper, and did their bit with proper parade ground precision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I understand the powerful appeal of all the pomp and ceremony. But what century are we living in? As historian David Olusoga just noted, there\u2019s a contradiction here, between our everyday lives and culture, and this sort of shenanigans. Indeed, as Olusoga also said, it accentuates the contrast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Beefeaters and ermine lined cloaks.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hmmm\u2026 well, that\u2019s nearing five solid hours<\/em> of BBC bootlicki\u2026 er, I mean coverage. And I\u2019m all coronation-ed out. Utterly exhausted. Can one imagine what it must\u2019ve been like for someone in a bearskin busby carrying a sodden flag? At least they\u2019re young and fighting fit. I\u2019m older and more knackered\u2026 Phew! And it isn\u2019t over yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m bailing now. Getting out while I can. Pimms and some strawberries and cream probably added to my tiredness. What a rigmarole!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Anyone who knows me at all well will most likely know I\u2019m vehemently anti-royalist. I\u2019m with Tom Paine, who said \u2018Monarchy is the Popery of government.\u2019 That said, I\u2019m watching the coronation. As I\u2019m typing this South African singer Pretty Yende has just finished singing \u2018Sacred Fire\u2019, by Sarah Class. What an apt surname for … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “POLiTiCS: The Coronation of Chuck III”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paGwUa-2ob","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9187"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9187"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9232,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9187\/revisions\/9232"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}