Should the Coronation be “slimmed down”?

He already stated that it will be. He at least has thought about the costs and the people. Unlike Truss.

Anniebach

So those who choose to watch are mentally ill ?

No, just a bit abnormal :D

It absolutely should be slimmed down people all over the country are facing abject poverty to have all the pomp would be an utter disgrace

volver

Oh, this is good...

Start with the military,;all those ruritanian uniforms have to be maintained, kept clean and polished. After the Queen's funeral I was told that all the uniforms were used anyway, they didn't cost anything. Can't have it both ways. Same with the saddlery etc.

The splendid horses have to be fed and shod I would expect them to feed and shoe the horses anyway . Otherwise the RSPCA need to know about it.

The souvenirs could raise money if they were pictures of Charles in a gold coach or Charles on top of a hill with his foot in an indentation.

Hiring barriers, hiring toilets, hiring transport to bring in the extra police, security etc. Fair enough. Who's going to pay for the impacts of the policing that won't be done because they've all gone to London for the day?

It is difficult to know how to 'Slim down' as some of the biggest costs are to do with security. A friend of mine was talking about his experiences working in Windsor on child safeguarding as he normally works with vulnerable children. We were talking about the security aspects and he said "If I was a terrorist - which I'm not - I wouldn't have committed an attack in London or Windsor, I'd have done it somewhere where there were few police because they'd all been drafted in to manage the funeral!"

Personally I support the monarchy as being generally good for the country though I wouldn't describe myself as a royalist, just not a republican. I think the spending by those who would take an active part is probably good for the economy and souvenirs will be more significant for a coronation as there is time to market them. The people probably profiting most from the funeral were the florists! If things could be slimmed down I would definitely approve but without any pomp and ceremony there would be few benefits.

Hopefully King Charles' views and concern for the environment will have some effect, though I was sad to hear he had been told not to attend the next climate change conference and truly hope his new status will not result in him being silenced on such important matters!

I never imagined I'd turn out to a royal occasion but in the end my DD and I did visit Windsor to see the flowers the Saturday before. We live fairly near and drove to a village a bit nearer then walked in. The 9Km nearly killed me but probably did me some good and I'm glad I went. Windsor benefitted from our presence as we spend a small amount in the town and I felt a bit more part of it all, though I spent the Monday firmly on the sofa!

Absolutely. Many people are not monarchists anyway, and even if they are, with all the hardship and worry and shortfall in wages etc. it’s an insult to say ‘there’s no money’ Yuen suddenly there is. The royal family are welcome to pay for it themselves or maybe crowdfund for those who want their money to go on that?!

It should be slim. An ostentatious coronation at this point with so many people worried about energy bills, food bills and mortgage costs would make me feel sick not uplifted. Maybe it was appropriate after the war when people were already happy and looking forward to the future. But now, with so much anxiety and foreboding (what is this terrible government going to do to us next?), it would be deeply inappropriate. Symbolic meaning does not need ostentation.

It should be slimmed down, like the rest of the Monarchy. I don't find it uplifting to look at the Monarchy and hangers-on displaying all that wealth in the knowledge that many are suffering in this country at present. I doubt they will be uplifted by this spectacle either. This doesn't mean I think that it shouldn't happen, all that Coronation commemorative paraphernalia will bring in the money for those who feel inclined to splash any cash they have.

Definitely slimmed down - better still abolished completely! The funeral was SO ostentatious and costly. "Ordinary mortals" funerals are being slimmed down - no more monuments in graveyards etc. She was just a woman born into immense privilege and unspeakable wealth!

At first I thought that would be a good idea, but the I thought of the gold carriage and all the regalia going to waste - they do draw visitors, and it’s a happy occasion, why not just do it

I watched the Queen’s coronation at our Village Hall and found it a wonderful experience. I think Charles should have the full works otherwise it will just seem cheapskate.

I think that 4 hours might be a touch too long. So in that area I'll go for a slimmer version

Definitely needs to be a slimmed-down celebration. We've seen enough recently of pomp and pageantry. There's only so often you want to see a load of people who look as if they have just raided the dressing-up box. I read recently that one "slimming down" measure could be that earls wouldn't have to wear their ermine cloaks. Splendid idea and while they are at it perhaps they would like to make a donation of their cloaks now to those who will struggle to keep warm this winter.

MaizieD

^Any major event in any city is going to raise money, isn't it?^

Of course it is, volver. And we can't afford to be too sniffy about what the event is. Unless, of course, it's harmful to us.

(Which I realise could start another debate...)

I heard yesterday on the tv that Liverpool is already cashing in on Eurovision with hotel costs increasing dramatically and people having existing bookings cancelled! No doubt the same would happen in London for the coronation. Hospitality was hit very hard by the pandemic and maybe an opportunity to make a quick buck is what they deserve. No-one is obliged to spend their money that way but those who choose to are welcome as far as I'm concerned. If a few businesses and jobs are saved I'm all in favour.

jocork

MaizieD

Any major event in any city is going to raise money, isn't it?

Of course it is, volver. And we can't afford to be too sniffy about what the event is. Unless, of course, it's harmful to us.

(Which I realise could start another debate...)

I heard yesterday on the tv that Liverpool is already cashing in on Eurovision with hotel costs increasing dramatically and people having existing bookings cancelled! No doubt the same would happen in London for the coronation. Hospitality was hit very hard by the pandemic and maybe an opportunity to make a quick buck is what they deserve. No-one is obliged to spend their money that way but those who choose to are welcome as far as I'm concerned. If a few businesses and jobs are saved I'm all in favour.

Of course, we can't know for sure this country won't be involved in the war by then.

Well I am surprised. Anything Royal on GN generally gets a huge seal of approval but the majority posting here think a slimmed down coronation best option and quite a few supporting a slimmed down RF too.
Has RF popularity declined with demise of the Queen or is it just the present economic climate?

I think it should be slimmed do . It’s not that he will be king for long given his age 20 years at the most . Yes the pomp and ceremony the brits excel at but the cost with the financial problems we have in the country and the tax payer paying for it there are better areas the money could be spent

Depends on the cost...do people who are struggling financially want to see a lavish expensive display of pomp and ceremony ?

Given the parlous state of this country and the inequality all too obvious in our society, the Coronation should be a simpler and more heartfelt event. The high emotion of the Queen’s funeral can never be recaptured and it’s probably not appropriate to celebrate the present incarnation of our ‘great country’, but nods to ancient traditions may well stir up a sentiment which encourages us AND our political class to build on what made this country unique in former years. Or am I being too fanciful? Btw, although I am not a fervent royalist, I do see the political expediency of the monarchist system. There’s been enough problems with the Conservative Party leadership election. How that would translate into voting for a President and the establishment of a republic, I dread to think!

Should be slimmed down but, a Coronation will be great for tourism so the splendid carriage (whatever it's called) would be an essential. Once the date is announced hotel bookings etc will rocket as for Eurovision, hopefully.

Why bother having one at all? It’s completely made up jumbo jumbo. He could get the crown plonked on his head and a few prayers by the Archbishop in his private chapel. Totally unnecessary to have a massive ceremony . The military get paid anyway, but less overtime for the police maybe, so less cost to the taxpayer. Maybe the Chinese manufacturers of tea towels, mugs and associated tat would lose business. Shame.

Swedish king apparently thought coronations were out of date. In 1873.

Re coronations: @MartynPercy reminds us that the UK is the only European monarchy to have one. ?? not since 1849; ?? dropped it in 1873; ?? 1906. ???? and modern?? never had one.

Backward Britain.

Cost of funera,l now cost of coronation ? Do monarchy every pay for anything?

All geared to the rich don't matter about anyone else especially the conservative governments of past 12 years.

I'm looking forward to whatever the King decides is best for the coronation and I shall certainly watch it. The number of people we saw on the streets in the past few weeks demonstrate how popular royal events are. Celebrations like these do bring communities together and many businesses will have had a boost in income this year as a result of both the jubilee and the funeral.
I was on the village jubilee committee (and no doubt will be on the village coronation committee) and even in our small community a considerable amount of money (our own, none of it 'tax payer's money') was spent. Those who came along enjoyed the events and in many cases got to know their neighbours better. These are celebrations of ourselves, as communities and as a nation and we would be the poorer without them.
Those who don't want these things to happen are very vocal but the vast majority will be looking forward to the celebrations.

I think it's not about how much is spent or how much grandiosity is or isn't on show so much as understanding what the royal family actually represents and the beliefs and behaviours it perpetuates.

These people are in privileged positions today because in the past their ancestors used power to oppress others, were extremely callous and cruel and also stole wealth.. ie took things that didn't belong to them.

Obviously they are here now and it's no fault of their own at this point but purely an accident of birth. And as individuals I only wish them good health and much happiness but let them now step down from their ill gotten ivory towers and live lives like others.

Philippa111

I think it's not about how much is spent or how much grandiosity is or isn't on show so much as understanding what the royal family actually represents and the beliefs and behaviours it perpetuates.

These people are in privileged positions today because in the past their ancestors used power to oppress others, were extremely callous and cruel and also stole wealth.. ie took things that didn't belong to them.

Obviously they are here now and it's no fault of their own at this point but purely an accident of birth. And as individuals I only wish them good health and much happiness but let them now step down from their ill gotten ivory towers and live lives like ot

I have to agree with this.

An extremely sli med down coronation would be appropriate