13th September 2022
This is just a very short post to say two things about the new King:
One, monarchists may well be disappointed; and
Two, republicans may well be disappointed.
13th September 2022
This is just a very short post to say two things about the new King:
One, monarchists may well be disappointed; and
Two, republicans may well be disappointed.
Yes. And three, he’s a disappointing person in general. His obvious irritation at the flunky at the signing of the proclamation (or whatever it was) was so ungracious. And then there’s the butter pats which have to be stamped with his cipher, and the toothpaste which has to be applied to his toothbrush. All in all, this doesn’t suggest a great man, a great king. Just an elderly, exceptionally entitled man, – yes, with an interest in larger issues which he’s now going to ignore now he has the power to actually effect change.
He is an old man in a hurry (and he is no Gladstone).
Odds on, he will upset almost everybody.
A very clever post.
Possibly the best one ever.
You will not find me drinking in the King William tonight. I will be in the Plough.
We must all now pick our side and this is not said as a joke.
Dare I say that this is a ‘disappointing ‘ post?
At least it will be equal-opportunity disappointment, then.
Ah, the immortal quest for balance
I assure you my comment was made with tongue firmly planted in cheek :)
If only your TV stations, Sky and BBC, could be as brief on their reporting on the death of the monarch and the proceedings thereafter, as your post. Then even CNN has also taken a leaf from them. Their collective black mourning attire in an era of greater casualness in the 21st century seems somewhat out of place.
It seems everything else has had to be cancelled, and any anti-monarchist tendencies harshly dealt with by the police. Meanwhile, as gleamed from Twitter, the Ukraine has made the most incredible advances against Russia, with scare a mention by the media.
The single focus on the death of Elizabeth II and the associated and ongoing arcane pageantry, with no doubt associated huge costs in a country which up till then was almost totally focused on the rising cost of living and how the new regime will handle it, seems to have backfired with at least some individuals, who have had their long awaited and critical NHS appointments cancelled.
Certainly, from afar it is all hard to understand, but then we left the Commonwealth in 1961 and were only readmitted post 1994, so perhaps our links with the Royals, despite young Elizabeth’s dedication at the age of 21 in Cape Town to serve her people faithfully, whether her life be long or short, have faded. Then she only visited South Africa on two occasions.
I have been made aware of Zelensky’s advances by the New York Times, FT, BBC if lesser emphasis, Independent.
Apparently the funeral arrangements have been prepared for since 1962 and reviewed annually, with input by the Queen.
“Certainly, from afar it is all hard to understand”
Trust me John, it’s utterly baffling – and utterly offensive – to many of us who are neck deep in this nonsense too.
Well.
As a lifelong republican I’m used to disappointment.
Leo Rosten, in “The Joys of Yiddish” tells the story of two New York Jewish brothers who were discussing that language and its supposed limitations. One said that there was on Yiddish word for “disappointed”. The other insisted that surely there must be. Eventually they decided to consult their grandmother.
“Sure, there is!” she exclaimed.
“Well, could you give us an example?”
She thought for a few moments, then cried, “Oi! Bin ich disappointed!”
“on”? No.
One does wonder why the Queen held on to the very end …
To have the last laugh on Boris Johnson?
To deny him the pleasure of dancing, sorry, officiating at her funeral and overseeing the coronation of her successor?
I gather his speech in the House of Commons in memory of Elizabeth II had been prepared well before the time.
His chance to be the centre of attention on the world stage was lost to him by a mere matter of days.
I have to say the thought of meeting Boris Johnson and Liz Truss on the same day would make me hasten off too!
Simon Schama asked himself the same question. He replied, “Because she said she would”
I am in a third category ‘agnostic’. It is clear to me that the monarchy complicated constitutional reform and the ultimate objective of having a written constitution that is not subject to the vagaries of the political cycle and clarifies the respective powers and functions of the executive, legislature and judiciary. If it is possible to have a ceremonial/symbolic monarch, i.e. without a constitutional governance function, then I have no objection to retaining the monarchy. With creativity, this should be possible, particularly in the Age of Cake.
The new ‘Brexit’?
A few thoughts.
“monarchists may well be disappointed”
Is that all monarchists, the majority, or just some of them? Because, in my experience of monarchists, they’re a disparate lot, united by one belief (and often not much else). Given that today’s monarchists are still transitioning mentally from ERII to CRIII, and there were many detractors from the latter, you may be right. Yet we’re seeing prominent “CRIII detractors” rapidly revising their position and moving into the “supporter” camp. Which gives us an idea of how powerful this belief set is. So, my guess is that ‘blind faith’ will continue to sustain them.
“republicans may well be disappointed”
This is the easier bit. Republicans will always be disappointed while there is a monarch, so the uncertainty lies in whether/when the UK will move towards a Republic. Given that this is highly unlikely in our lifetimes, barring a revolution, I think, yes, they will be.
Realistically, I think all we can hope for is that Monarchy Mk.CRIII will endeavour to attune itself more to the 21st century, if only for its survival. In my personal view, this should allow for greater freedom to express our views of the Monarchy in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re seeing the reverse at this very moment – although I don’t lay the blame for this at the feet of the Monarch. CRIII would do well to distance himself from the current arrests.
What I’m finding particularly interesting, however, is that many fence-sitters are moving towards a republican position – not so much because of CRIII, but because they are becoming increasingly fed up with the behaviour of monarchists during this period of mourning.
Comment – in brief
Elaborate, pray.
About my previous comment… I really shouldn’t try and be clever. Lesson learnt. I didn’t realise the software that ‘ingests’ your comments, strips out all the formatting (linefeeds, carriage returns etc). I had put ‘Comment – in brief ‘as a heading, left a few blank lines, then put ‘Elaborate, pray.’ The post ingest reformatted version gives a slightly different slant. Feel free to ignore and delete both these comments (I’m now feeling like the person who has to explain a joke. The moment has passed, etc etc).
On a different note, thanks for the wonderful blog. Constitution, Law, the role of the State etc is way outside my normal zone. Thank you for giving interesting, accessible insights into many facets of these topics. Engrossing stuff. Thank you David.
Two wells too many
Or, as an old (slightly amended) joke would have it, two holes in a ground. ;)
Since most people have written of Charles before he even got there, I suspect that monarchists will either be pleasantly surprised – he is not EII but he has had 50 years practice and has supported “modern” causes – or not but disappointment suggests they hoped for great things. And they will be succored by the prospect of William. Hope springs eternal.
Plus ca change, I reckon…
He’ll doubtless be his own version of pointless, but he’ll be no less pointless than his old mam.