Off Topic The Coronation Countdown Calendar, cut out and keep souvenir edition

Nearly half time and the Royals are well on top. The Republicans are going to have to pull something special out the hat in the second half to win this one.

 

Monarchists 1 Republicans 0

 

Beat me to it. I was busy planting out my dwarf French beans. Not to many potholes here in Zuid Holland plenty of uneven cobblestones to trip the unwary.

 

Just said the Oath to the TV. Standing to attention obviously.

 

Your second paragraph is where I am. The pageantry, regalia, traditional clothing and the military's role, it's a brilliant spectacle. These events are an asset to this country that unfortunately is not appreciated by all who live here. I'm not at all religious, but Westminster Abbey is a magnificent building (as most cathedrals and abbeys in this country are).

 

I've got this one on now.

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When did he get his ears pinned back? Behold the royal wingnut.

 

It's where the elastic is tied on

 

The stewards are out walking around the pitch. Always a good sign to the team in front.

 

They think it's all over, it is now!

Charlie Windsor's first half goal the difference between the two teams

God save the King.

 

.... but wait! - there`s a VAR check on who paid the American woman off to keep the 8th heir to the throne out of jail. The Republican`s are fighting back!

 

Queen Consort Camilla almost let one in the last minute by holding on to her new hat. The bouffant hair piece saves the day!

 

Found this on Twitter



Mods feel free to delete if it offends anyone.

 

What`s this! - the 4th official has advised the Archbishop that the K&Q have broken the solemn oaths and promises that they have just made because they are both adulterers according to the 10 commandments. This isn`t looking good......

 

Is that a VAR (very anti royal) decision?

 

People fighting over umbrellas just to see some old bint drive past you 10 seconds is comical

 

And it`s all over ! - the monarchy has gone into administration due to financial fair play breeches. They`ve been found guilty of tax dodging and taking bungs for centuries.

 

Ask Morgan’s Bit OTS to add the finishing touches

 

I am not a monarchist but have found this morning's events fascinating and have enjoyed reading this thread. For me, the coronation throws up all sorts of conflicting scenarios. I totally understand the comment about history and heritage (even though I think the claim made earlier about "traditions going back 1000s of years" is wildly exgerated with the notion of constitutional monarchy as celebrated today is only something which goes as far back as the Restoration 1660s) and I have been quite fascinated by reading foreign news feeds like Rappler which, although broadly "liberal" in their outlook, have commented favourably. It is fascinating to see just to see how much kudos a country like the Philippines is getting from Marcos' invite. Reading some of the newspapers from Manila on line, the invite to the coronation has been seen as hugely positive for the country and there is more than a little pride that they have been incuded in this ceremony . It is clear to me that there are other countries which do not have a monarchy where our Royal family is held in respect. I would argue that their standing is, by contrast, very much diminished in the developed world whether we are talk about former colonies like Australia, Canada or even the US.

I feel that pagentry is hugely impressive yet another side of me sees it as all rather ridiculous. The oaths that have been made strike my as belonging to our medieval past. It was a surprise and shock just how quickly the anti-royal protests were taken down this morning. I remain to be convinced they had wipespread public support yet I still find this very ominous. That said, I find this form of pagentry an improvement on something like we see om TV as happening in countries like North Korea.

The idea of replacing the monarchy with a President makes sense of paper and I would be 100% for a more democratic form of head of state. However. as someone pointed out in the press yesterday, this would have resulted in a President Johnson . We have all witnessed how a supposedly democratic country like the US can get things so wrong in electing Donald Trump.

Concerning Charles himself, I think his relationship with Diana had previously soured his reputation. I would add here that I detested Diana who rather than being a victim of the media, played them really well. She reaped what she sowed. I had no sympathy for her. By contrast, I feel that Charles' stock with the British public took a hit and the perception has been that he would be a disappointment after Elizabeth. Elizabeth's best attribute was that she was somewhat anodyne. I think that Charles will prove to be a very liberal and transformative King who, ultimately, will pave the way for a far diminished role for the Royal family. It would not surprise me in the least if this led to William having an less significant role in the future.

The other issue, raised in the edittorial in the Morning Star this morning was that no political party in the UK has pursued a republican agenda. Even Corbyn's Labour Party, the most "authentic" socialist party in mainstream British politics, did not pursue this agenda. I do not believe that the SNP had an answer to this.

I suppose what I am trying to say is that the Royal family is mass of contradictions. I am not a fan and do not find them to be at all demoratic and what we have seen this morning is effectively the last vestiges of our medieval past. However, I am prepared to take a broad-minded view in that rhe arguments for a Republican constitution in the UK (assuming that this continues to exist) remains something that is still substantially in flux. I do not believe that the anti-monarchists have properly addressed all the concerns and tend to forget that removing the monarchy would not neessarily result in a more equitabe and liberal form of government as it would not mitigate against against having extremists like Johnson and Truss becoming our heads of state.