Royalty: Rituals, Riches and Responsibility
JVL Introduction
This article was written a few days before the pomp, ceremony and circumstance of the Coronation took place. Britain certainly does spectacle “well” but the author argues that the messages within the rituals “are terrible. The system it preserves is steep class hierarchies, grotesque inequalities and planet-destroying plunder.” While the current King is not responsible for the heinous acts of many of his predecessors, he does carry the responsibility, not least to make amends. Meanwhile those who wanted to peacefully object to the Monarchy have been arrested under rushed through legislation to restrict our rights to protest.
Meanwhile, it is important to remember what the Monarchy is for; here in plain sight were the actual words declaring Charles King last September. The exact words were read by local Mayors in public squares the length and breadth of the UK (and possibly beyond into “the realms and territories”); the declaration does not include even one reference to service or duty by the King to the rest of us:
”Whereas it has pleased almighty God to call to his mercy our late Sovereign lady Queen Elizabeth II of blessed and glorious memory, by whose decease the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is solely and rightfully come to the Prince Charles Philip Arthur George.
“We, therefore, the lords spiritual and temporal of this realm, and members of the House of Commons, together with other members of Her late Majesty’s Privy Council, and representatives of the realms and territories, aldermen, and citizens of London and others, do now hereby, with one voice and consent of tongue and heart, publish and proclaim that the Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, is now, by the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory, become our only lawful and rightful liege lord, Charles III, by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, and of his other realms and territories, King, head of the Commonwealth, defender of the faith, to whom we do acknowledge all faith and obedience with humble affection, beseeching God, by whom kings and queens do reign, to bless His Majesty with long and happy years to reign over us.” (my emph)
Clive Lewis MP’s criticism of the Monarchy can be watched here.
This article was originally published by Open Democracy on Sun 30 Apr 2023. Read the original here.
In the coronation, Britain’s ruling class will cast its dark spell on millions
OPINION: Charles’ crowning as king will encourage millions to keep marching to the beat of Britain’s posh boys
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FIRST WORDS
Christ, that crown was heavy
And the ermine cloak
Not slick and sleek like Batman’s
Stinky, to be honest
No matter
Alleluia
You are all my subjects now
That’s me done
Until the funeral
Squeeze my toothpaste, peasant
My favourite line at today’s coronation was the instruction to the King to “prevent the growth of inequality” or something very similar. So, it seems, don’t decrease or abolish inequality, just keep it as it is.
As for the alleged inclusive multi-faith aspect, the display of subservience by representatives of various faiths was, for me, more embarrassing then inclusive.
“We need to oppose it, overthrow it, and replace it with rituals that really would help us build a better society.”
Hear, hear!
I thought we’d a British custom of beheading kings called Charles – apparently one tradition we’ve lost
One of the most important pieces I have read, schools should make this essential reading for all, especially the teachers. It is clear now why the German royals were given the crown.
A brilliant, witty analysis. Thank you.
Whatever the system Charles was born into and brought up in, one cannot deny that he is a good man and he has already done many good things. Not just for Britain and the British people, but for the world generally.
Our Charles has to bear in mind that his predecessor, Charles the First, got his head chopped off, in Whitehall, by politicians who wanted their own way. At the present time, there is a major conflict between people of goodwill, who care for others, and the insidious and corrosive effect of those who adhere to the religion of the market.
The real problem is that human beings, especially when they get into positions of power, can be thoroughly nasty and selfish as individuals. This aspect of human beings has led to crises, such as pollution, global warming and such-like.
This is leading to a situation like that existing at the time of Noah, when a flood covered the earth, and a fresh start was needed. Have people thought whether that is desirable?
You must admit that the British do the past well: however the present is beyond them and the future looks to be worse.
Good to see Camilla there; after all she did accompany him and Diana on their honeymoon
The monarchy is a grotesque example of the over privileged, wealthy parasites who are taking the piss out of all of us…So many of us are forced to use food banks, so many of us don’t have a roof over our heads,so many of us have committed suicide, so many of us are contemplating suicide, The NHS is being systematically destroyed, to allow in private healthcare companies, so that only the privileged few can access it…Whilst this tory criminal Cartel waste billions on this tax evading parasite!
Abolish the monarchy. The pinnacle of EVERYTHING wrong with Britain’s class system that’s deems one strata of the population of vastly more importance than all the others.. the continuation of the massive poverty gap and inequality..
The Coronation is a Christian Service.
When there is a discussion in the Church of England about single sex marriage, Christian Conservatives say I should look at my bible.
But when it comes to the much more explicit condemnation of extreme wealth and the need to care for the homeless and hungry the Jewish Rabbi Jesus is very explicit in telling us what we ought to do. But strangely, Christian Conservatives seem perfectly able to ignore THAT part of the bible.
King Charles claims to be a committed Christian so why is he content to occupy a huge number of palaces (with all the environmental impact that that entails) while his “subjects” are forced to use food banks and sleep on the streets ?
Advocates of Royalty claim that this provides a sure foundation for our national life.
I think it suggests exactly the reverse. I think institutional hypocrisy and the use of a religion that preaches equality to justify increasing inequality and obscene wealth is a very shaky and insecure foundation for our political future together.
Being a Catholic I’m so pleased that British law actively legislates against my religion and then reminds us on our coins that the Monarch is the DF defender of the faith, which in turn provides authority from God to judge the common people in courts of law. How can I swear allegiance?
I feel this article is out of date, and the monarchy is no longer of interest to many people. Yesterday I was in Hackney and there was not a flag to be seen on the whole journey, and on arrival everyone just enjoying themselves in the park and local cafes . I noticed this particularly, because we were just round the corner from where I’d practically got lynched for cutting down a giant union jack when the late queen’s silver jubilee cavalcade was passing in 1977!
This spreading indifference is preferable to rage imo, because emotions can project onto fantasies (ie Diana Spencer or Meghan Markle) instead of us all trying to be citizens.
The two worst things about the British monarchy are surely 1. its entanglement with the armed forces and 2.its secretive offshore and onshore finances. It would be interesting to know if other more economical European monarchies still have these two fatal flaws. Also, looking at neighbouring republican models, it might be good to focus on Ireland rather than France. The RoI has had some presidents of real stature in recent decades imo.
Does anyone really take it seriously? The coronation is a circus, like the Oscars – enjoy it if you wish and move on to the real world afterwards, or turn it off. It’s a feel good for millions of citizens and for billions worldwide, it doesn’t do harm per se and benefits Britain economically. I think that Charles will genuinely strive to create a positive legacy as will William after him. He’s certainly been very positive towards Jews all his life. The Monarchy is anachronistic but its abolition and seizure of its assets will not solve society’s problems. A republic is certainly no magic wand.
Looking at the pictures, it’s pure Pantomime without the laughs
As a Republican my heart still went out to the two boys being forced to walk behind there mothers coffin
Institutional cruelty
When Elizabeth died Charles became king almost immediately; his constitutional role and other powers were his within hours of his mother’s death. The coronation event and related flummery is entirely unnecessary from any perspective other than that set out in Adam Ramsey’s interesting piece. Other European monarchs hold significant constitutional roles and perform them as required but without the immense tidal wave of class propaganda which constitutes the British coronation event.
By the way, while it is true that Ireland has had some very impressive presidents over the years (as Amanda Sebestyen above notes) this is in part because the Irish constitution gives the President a role similar to that of a monarch in a constitutional monarchy but not the executive powers of a French or indeed an American president. The big difference between a constitutional monarch and a constitutional president is, of course that, as with the Irish, a president gets elected.
What an excoriating dissection of the UK monarchy and how it is used to keep the hoi polloi in their place. I particularly like the map showing the royals’ ‘pied-a-terres.
This goes back a long time; an old somewhat frivolous English rural song in which a village blacksmith refers to King Charles II at a time when the memory of what happened to his father was still fresh. There might be an omen in there somewhere, though it is extremely unlikely a chopping-block will make a fresh appearance in Whitehall. Thankfully, there are gentler ways of making the point:
1. Here’s a health to the jolly blacksmith, the best of all fellows,
Who works at his anvil while the boy blows the bellows.
Which makes my bright hammer to rise and to fall,
Here’s to old Cole and to young Cole and to old Cole of all.
Twankydillo, twankydillo, twankydillo, dillo, dillo, dillo,
A roaring pair of bagpipes made of the green willow.
______________________
3. Here’s a health to King Charlie and likewise his queen,
And to all the royal little ones where’er they are seen,
Which makes my bright hammer to rise and to fall,
Here’s to old Cole and to young Cole and to old Cole of all.
Twankydillo etc.
Who would be better than the King of the Protestants
Peter Kay
Lucia Scalisi
Stormzy
Alice Plunkett
Tyson Fury
Olivia Colman
Any salt of the earth Community activist