The Kings Speech

Well I love all the pomp and majesty so sat and watched it on the BBC. They had a couple of historians who were able to make sense of the various parts of the ceremony and costumes. Very interesting to me. I'd read what was going to be in the King's Speech so didn't bother with that part at the time.

P.S The current 'fiction' was much more a case of reality 200 years ago

But no one has really addressed the point as why the PM doesn’t read his own speech out it wouldn’t make a jot of difference.

I agree that it wouldn't make any difference.

All it does is maintain the fiction that the monarch is the ultimate ruler of the country and their PM is chosen by the monarch because they have confidence in the chosen person's ability to govern the country properly on behalf of the monarch.

He probably went and washed his mouth out afterwards as I expect he disagreed with much of what he said!

Either that or a stiff drink!

Are we debating the Speech itself, or are we debating the institution of the monarchy?

For the first part, the Speech contained so little that Chris Bryant, an experienced MP, said that the whole lot of the proposed legislation could be done and dusted by Christmas! Possibly a bit of an exaggeration, but certainly a point picked out by other commentators...

As for the position of the monarchy, I think that the Kings, or previously, the Queen's, Speech is a very public demonstration of the complete lack of any power the monarch has in person.

Despite what Republicans say, the power rests with Parliament and, apart from a bit of well publicised power to exclude the monarchy from proposed legislation which may affect their private interests, the monarch has no influence on the direction that government takes.

The monarch may 'advise' the PM in their private weekly meetings, but the PM is under no obligation to take the 'advice'.

I understand the historical reasons, but this version of the ceremony is Victorian and not exactly medieval. But no one has really addressed the point as why the PM doesn’t read his own speech out it wouldn’t make a jot of difference. The House of Lords is a complete anachronism along with the monarchy, we have Bishops sitting in there, the only country other than Iran to have religious bodies automatically making our laws.

I think the king is weary, he certainly looked as if he was. The trip to Kenya, although successful, must have been tiring,but I think the constant vitriol coming from Monticito, this time over a birthday invitation and yet another tell all book by Omid ??, timed to come out any time now, must and I think does weigh heavily on HM. Will these two ever let up??!! The King is a good man, and it is sad that certain people choose to belittle and ridicule him on a personal level over things he has little or no control over. No, he won't abdicate, however tough it gets, and I for one would never wish him to. He reminds me of his grandfather George V1th , a slightly reluctant monarch, but not a quitter, not even in wartime.

Sorry, Shelflife

Shelflife

The king looked absolutely fed up and tired! I imagine his private thought were ' why is this happening"! he looked thoroughly fed up- so did Camilla.
I am certainly not anti royalists , I love our country and it's traditions but I must be honest The Kings Speech has made me think. Is he a reluctant monarch!?

No, I don't think he's a reluctant monarch Shekflife

It's more likely that it went against all his views to read some of the proposals!

The king looked absolutely fed up and tired! I imagine his private thought were ' why is this happening"! he looked thoroughly fed up- so did Camilla.
I am certainly not anti royalists , I love our country and it's traditions but I must be honest The Kings Speech has made me think. Is he a reluctant monarch!?

I rather like our ancient ceremonies, although there are aspects which I would like to see modernised.
I felt sorry for the King having to read out some of that with which he can't possibly agree. It showed in his voice, I thought.
I sometimes wonder if Camilla is enjoying her life now as Queen. Perhaps she would rather be sitting with her feet up at home, or enjoying her grandchildren.
I wouldn't blame them if they retired and let William take over this huge burden and responsibility.

DaisyAnneReturns

All ceremonies are "made up" but civilisation still seems to need them as the glue that identifies our "home" OP. Even those who belittle them are doing so because they are identified by them. To most people they are just the background to their everyday lives and they pay them little attention.

I think the point is to show the Head of State does not have any political power and to remind us (shutting the Commons door on Black Rod, etc) that we fought and won our democracy.

It's not a bad message.

I agree with you again.

Anyone who criticises the ceremony doesn't understand the historical reasons why.

Greta

Bread and circuses again. Ignore the mess we are in and what really matters because we apparently "do these ceremonies better than anywhere else".
I thought the King looked sad and fed up.

He probably went and washed his mouth out afterwards as I expect he disagreed with much of what he said!
His views the environment are well-known and I expect he disagreed with much of the speech and would have preferred to write a speech himself for the government!

Apart from that, I disagree with your vituperative posts, vegansrock and paddyann.

I do like a bit of ceremony in all the bleakness that is the world today. The cost is a tiny drop in the ocean.

Anniebach

William is in Singapore

Of course but his Earth Shot is being broadcast worldwide.

I have no objection to a bit of ceremonial .... but this one is beyond ridiculous.
The monarch is required to spout a load of nonsense ... and yes it was nonsense.
Tougher sentences for many .... with no mention of the fact that the underfunded and understaffed and undertrained prison system is crumbling courtesy of this government.

I haven't seen or read the speech, but they usually start "My government will . . . " which makes it clear that :-

1) His government made the decisions to do these things
and
2) He is reading out what the government (ie the PM of the day) has written.

Of course the man looks fed up. He has been Future-King for most of his life, not knowing when he will have to give up any other career at a moment's notice, and now that he has the position, at the age of 75 and in a country disenchanted with the monarchy and ready to criticise him whatever he does or says, he has to read out publicly a load of unacceptable twaddle from a party he probably dislikes and whose policies he probably detests and look as though he approves.

Wouldn't you look fed up?

Very little in the Speech to deal with things important to most people - the failing NHS, the cost of living, massive housing shortage, costs of care in old age. Just demonstrates how marginal this inadequate Tory government has become. The State Opening has a long history but in the present day with so much homelessness and poverty it's beginning to look out of place.

DaisyAnneReturns I agree with your post of 9.31.35

William is in Singapore

Smileless2012

I knew nothing about H's speech until I read your post Sparklefizz so if it was intended to take the attention off his father and brother, he appears to have failed.

I hope so, but maybe not in the US where William was promoting the Earth Shot.

All ceremonies are "made up" but civilisation still seems to need them as the glue that identifies our "home" OP. Even those who belittle them are doing so because they are identified by them. To most people they are just the background to their everyday lives and they pay them little attention.

I think the point is to show the Head of State does not have any political power and to remind us (shutting the Commons door on Black Rod, etc) that we fought and won our democracy.

It's not a bad message.

Much of what Charles read out would have been a complete anathema to him. No wonder he sounded completely pissed off.

Was it possible to be positive reading that speech ?

Queen Elizabeth had presence and was positive when speaking on those occasions but Charles looked bored and tired.

I knew nothing about H's speech until I read your post Sparklefizz so if it was intended to take the attention off his father and brother, he appears to have failed.