The Coronation Weekend.

[curiouswombat]

Like so many others I sat entranced in front of the TV from fairly early morning until a late lunchtime on Saturday. A coronation really is a momentous occasion, and this was the first UK one in my lifetime.

This is not a minute by minute, blow by blow, account - just some of the things that struck me and that I want to remember.

Comments

[wiseheart]

I wish my English were good enough to watch the whole thing on BBC, but understanding the spoken language is still a challenge I can't master very well. A shame, as the commentaries appear to be highly interesting. I watched it on 3 German-speaking channels simultaneously, switching to the other one when the commentaries were too stupid to bear or when Hazbeen was discussed at any length. I completely agree with you about him and the shrew he married.

Also, thank you for identifying the lady for me who carried the sword, etc. The German "experts" never cared to tell anything about her, or about the other possibly significant persons. Plus, sometimes the dubbing was bad, that one couldn't understand the original English under the German speaker, but it was so loud that one couldn't really understand the dubbing, either. So, whenever the Archbishop of Canterbury opened his mouth, I switched to BBC. At least he speaks clearly enough for an ignorant foreigner to understand

[curiouswombat]

The commentaries were really interesting - such a shame they were less so for you.

Penny Mordaunt ran for the Conservative party leadership when Liz Truss was chosen (and would certainly have done a better job of it as she could not have been worse). Liz Truss made her 'Leader of the House of Commons' which is a position with a lot of history, but little political power.

Except it also made her officially 'Lord President of the Privy Council' - which is, historically, one of the 4 great offices of state - and the one whose job it is to be there, right in the middle of things, carrying the sword of state, at coronations!

That moment between William and his father was a lovely one.

[kazzy_cee]

Yes all that was great fun. Trimming Charles eyebrows would have made it perfect. Lol! Also I thought the crown looked quite awkward in his head (unlike Queen Elizabeth) maybe it’s quite small …

[curiouswombat]

I hadn't really noticed his eye-brows - until I saw you mention them and I went back and looked at the pictures :)

I was amused by thee way the archbishop carefully put it onto his head, then shuggied it around a bit and applied a bit more pressure and even asked if it was in place. I'm guessing his mother's hair was specially arranged on the day to help keep the crown in place.

[gillo]

Camilla clearly had trouble with the fur trim on hers - itchy, I expect.

[curiouswombat]

Yes - I imagine it might have been itchy. Or it could just have been that it was pushing her hair down into her eyes.

[seaivy]

i do remember Elizabeth 2 coronation

it was filmed and the film rushed to a waiting plane

we got to see it all about 3 hours later

i woke just as Charles and Camilla got to the Abbey

stayed for it all but was amused that the channel i was watching got in their commercials

regrettably, we didn't have the horse commentary

as an american i have a different opinion of Harry

he's one of us now

as the king's son he should have been show a little more respect

as a serving veteran he should be able to wear his uniform

our tradition is once a military veteran you are part of the service for life the Marines are particularly strong on this and send officers to funerals.

Good for Anne to opt for a horse!

i had no idea who the lady in the green dress was.

as growing up RC i did think that what was needed was some incense it makes everything so special

But Harry got home for his son's birthday party

very special!!! Daddy should be there

i hope Charles and Camilla got some rest.

hope the horses pulling that gold coach got some rest

maybe

[curiouswombat]

To be honest you are welcome to him - to whinge the way he does about how badly he's done to when you compare his life with 99.99% of other men his age shows a distinct lack of empathy

[seaivy]

thank you for the information on Penny Mordaunt

a very important role It was good to see so many women and girls having a part of the ceremony

also i did not know Camilla's women were personal for her - that's good too!

as to Harry and Meghan we thought they just wanted to have a smaller role and were kicked out

but imo it's better they are out of it

much more opportunity here

but sad that there seems to be a "family problem" - but also not an unusual thing

here we make the actual birthday a very big thing - when children are small the day is celebrated in school by their teacher and classmates

so, for us it was important for Daddy to be there

our Memorial Day is the last monday of May

many communities have parades or other celebrations

Old Soldiers wear their uniforms - the oldest usually ride in a convertible

it's always "interesting" to see how many can still fit into it - some just wear their cap - but always proud to have had a part in history

[curiouswombat]

here we make the actual birthday a very big thing - when children are small the day is celebrated in school by their teacher and classmates - ah but he is too young to be in school and so would not have noticed at all if his parents had told him it would be his birthday two days before the actual date :)

Someone suggested that he could have had a party in London with all his similar aged cousins and second cousins, but as his parents have made sure he doesn't know them it would not have been much fun for him when they all know each other.

And it is probably for the best if his parents want to be nothing more than private individuals* that he is not part of the big extended family.

*Not that they seem to be very successful at that.

[shirebound]

Thank you for sharing those coronation snippets. I watched most of it, but (not being British) there were a lot of details and symbolism that flew past me.

I had to Google Eton Mess, and it looks DELICIOUS.

[curiouswombat]

We are lucky as the commentators explained a lot as well as some of the traditional stuff simply being the sort of thing you absorb through the years.

Eton Mess does not sound as if it should be a favourite dessert all through the UK - until you know what it is :) I have to admit to buying the meringues ready made, so just had to break them up, slice the strawberries and whip the cream, so it is also a very easy dessert to make!

[ylla]

My favourite fact came from one of the concert interludes - that the king always shakes the 'hand' of every tree he plants. I knew he talked to plants, but shaking their hand to wish them well is sweet in a different way!

I also liked seeing some of Queen Elizabeth's cousins there - there was this thing earlier in the year about sorting out counsellors of state, and it occurred to me on Saturday that some of her Kent and Gloucester cousins must have played that role for the queen in the early days, and really would have been closely involved. There's a nice photo on the BBC website today of the 'working royals', with Edward and Sophie apparently more or less holding up a delighted Princess Alexandra :D

[curiouswombat]

Oh I missed the bit about him 'shaking their hand' to wish them well.

Yes I was pleased to see the Kents and the Gloucesters there, too, especially Princess Alexandra - and have just nipped over to the BBC site and seen that photo; it is a lovely one.