God Save The King
– By Ed Kociela –
Does anybody have a good recipe for scones and clotted cream?
Like many households around the world, mine is preparing for the television event of the year, the coronation of King Charles III, in a couple of weeks.
I have no British blood.
I’ve never been to Great Britain.
But, I always was – and remain – a Beatles fan. That qualifies me, right?
And, I have watched every episode of “The Crown” on Netflix at least twice, so I guess that gives me enough reason to have an interest in the royals and the coronation.
It’s a big deal, really, the last coronation coming in 1952 when his mum, Elizabeth II, received the crown. He takes the throne at the age of 74, a time when most politicians are being eyed suspiciously for their mental and physical abilities or lack thereof. Of course, he really has no major physical duties and his influence is slight. Still, as a figurehead for the nation, he does occupy a seat of importance on the national and global stages.
We don’t have much in the way of royalty in the United States.
Oh, there was this fantasy world wrapped around the Kennedy family and tied into Camelot that took hold, but really, the thread on that one was rather slim – a romantic notion egged on by the youthful president and his social butterfly wife who charmed the world with her wit, intelligence, and good looks. But the Kennedy family was hardly comparable with the royals. They were all politics and power while the royals were all about pomp, circumstance, and tradition, even when it did not serve them well.
Americans never took to other monarchies well and latched onto the royal family as their own in some weird, tabloid universe setting. They followed them through ups and downs and scandalous affairs and goings-on. And, of course, they were duped by the seemingly innocent but not really, Princess Diana who had some of the best PR and marketeers in the business cleaning up in her messy aftermath.
The thing is, it is difficult to not be drawn to the ceremonial countenance of the royals, the splendor of their history and traditions, the historical relevance of the various rulers, the seeming universal interest in this rather closeted family we know so little about.
So we have adopted them as our surrogate royal family.
As a result, we are making plans now to watch the coronation live on the television at the ungodly hour of about 3 a.m. on Saturday, May 6.
Now, my wife Cara and I have set the alarm clock for Dark O’Clock on numerous occasions. We did that to catch up with Michael Phelps as he swam in the 2012 Olympics from London. My wife is a former Colorado state champion swimmer and a big fan of Phelps so we got up well before the sun several times to watch him swim live instead of waiting for the late-night broadcast. It was, of course, worth it as Phelps put on an awesome display of athleticism and poise. I don’t think Charles III will offer much of either, but it will be noteworthy to watch his carriage roll down the street and deliver him at Westminster Abbey.
The thing is, Cara doesn’t do things in half measure, so that means finding proper attire to watch the event. A fitting ugly hat, wrap and outfit are being sought and a bestie or two has already sent an RSVP to attend. A bottle of champagne is already sitting in the fridge cooling for a celebratory toast to the new king.
I must admit that I have been very curious about how the Charles III reign would transpire. I think of all the royals he may be one that I have a lot of sympathy for because of the distant upbringing by his parents. I could not imagine what it must have been like for him as a child and a much younger man, the conflicting life lessons, the contradictory rules for the privileged, the desire to actually do something other than shake hands and smile. He was a man without much purpose, for the most part, other than to sit on the boards of some charitable organizations and hold his place in line until he succeeded his mother on the throne.
We will undoubtedly be inundated in the coming days with special reports and coverage from the tawdry to the charming about Charles III, is wife Camilla, and of course his two sons – William and Harry, who have been embroiled in a nasty family feud – not to mention his siblings Anne, Andrew, and Edward who will also probably have much muck raked in their direction.
I have been curious as to how Charles III would handle his job. He is, if I read it right, one of the more progressive members of a family that at times seemed more at ease racing horses and playing polo than reaching out to the people of Great Britain. Elizabeth was, from what I gather, a stodgy old fussbucket who found little joy in a life of “duty” to the crown. She seemed humorless, alienated from family for some very cold-natured decisions, and distant from her children and husband. Most importantly, she was out of touch with her people.
The monarchy could be hanging by a tiny thread and these folks may, some day, need to find real jobs if they do not burnish their images and buff up a sheen that seems dulled by years of neglect. Or they could just as easily chug along at a monotonous pace fueled only by boredom and the desire to feed at the public trough a bit longer.
Nonetheless, the curiosity factor is strong at play here and we will all want to be a part of living, breathing history as it takes place, which is always worth the time and effort.
So, until then?
The queen is dead, long live the king.
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