I am indifferent to the Monarchy but AIBU to think it all feels very weird and drab?

[PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog]

Claire Balding's (love CB btw) is trying very hard to say how 'joyful' it feels and is a special day but it just doesn't seem like usual royal events to me. Just feels very flat. Maybe it's the greyish weather. AIBU?

I'm sure that's true and many shallow people with a poor attention span may have enjoyed it too! What's your point exactly?

I didn't watch it as I'm a republican but I have immense pride in our armed forces and what they do at these type of ceremonies. I'd happily watch them do their bits without the royal family.

So? I can read any thread I wish

It’s still my view on people spending huge amounts of time on it whilst claiming they have no interest

I think it’s a combination of drab weather, anti Royal sentiment on social media, tension with the Sussexes, the fact anything Royal no longer includes the Queen and that Charles never wanted this, he really does seem put out by the whole affair. Camilla also has a look of unease. The more we see of the King the more I miss his mother, she was in my opinion the pinnacle of poise and unwavering endurance, she never looked bored or inconvenienced whereas Charles is cut from a different cloth entirely.

One thing that looked off to me was the blue and gold carpeting, was it a tribute to Ukraine?

It's yellow, not gold. Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation also had blue and yellow carpets in 1953. Her personal flag with her initials on it is also blue and yellow.

So, no, it's not a tribute to Ukraine at all.

Some of the guests such as Jill Biden and her daughter (I think) wore blue and yellow each for Ukraine.

Gosh, aegist, sexist, unkind? Have you researched his military service? Pretty hair raising?
Have you researched his underlying medical conditions?
They're his private medical details, rightly so. Difficult to research, good.
Have you ever looked for some compassion in yourself or others? Have you witnessed his compassion for, and service to, so many disadvantaged, disenfranchised groups in the UK and worldwide?

Well ahead of all us re our steady destruction of our own planet if we don't act on all climate change and planet-saving initives?
Have you reflected on the absolute tragedy of his first marriage?
Have you thought about how many young people he has helped through his commitment to the Prince's, Trust, set up and funded by his navy pension?
Have you thought about his experiences as a parent to his two sons who list their mother so tragically young and young themselves?
Have you reflected on feelings he may have currently towards both his sons?

These are all rhetorical questions by tbe way so no need to answer as I'm unfollowing this MN thread topic now.

.

Queen Elizabeth II's personal flag.

But if it’s going to be on every single terrestrial channel & every single newspaper front page, people are forced to engage with it, whether they want to or not, aren’t they?

If there was less constant coverage, maybe there’d be more of a “well it’s not for me, but I’m glad some people enjoy it” attitude but it really is quite irritating to have it rammed down your throat so constantly. I think that’s why people who aren’t interested feel the need to vent.

Which you are very much entitled to. I have not spent huge amounts of time discussing the Coronation - I don't care enough about it but I do care enough about the right to discuss and be as negative as I chose about the recent events.

We went down to watch the flypast and had no trouble getting there as everyone seemed to be going the opposite way.

You mean lots of people left before the flypast but there was still this number staying to watch!

@Twentyfirstcenturymumma
"Have you thought about how many young people he has helped through his commitment to the Prince's Trust, set up and funded by his navy pension?"
That's what "the Firm" want people to think, that the now king funds (or funded) the Trust from his own pocket, but the money to help set up those businesses comes from the Duchy of Cornwall, which "belongs" to whoever the Prince of Wales is, now William. People who die intestate without leaving a will, that money goes to the Duchy, and is spent on the Princes Trust.

You cannot honestly believe that he didn't want to be king? I believe you are wrong. He could simply have passed the crown on to William, it would have been very straightforward.

A lot of us who are well over 40 feel the same, he's an irrelevance. His mother contributed to the country but I don't feel that he has - the Prince's Trust wasn't something open to very many people and most of us are not aware of anything else he has done.
When you compare his lack of contribution and the everyday hard work of the Princess Royal there is a stark difference.

They'd tucked him in behind the Princess Royal's red tufty hat!

I was hoping Penny Mordant might change sides and go for him with the sword! She had that exquisite Star Wars/ Middle Eastern air hostess outfit on and was the most poised person there.

Yes, lucky the children didn't run screaming from the balcony!

IN 2021 Charles had 351 UK appts and 34 foreign, whilst Anne had 378 UK and 9 foreign - for those who struggle with arithmetic - Anne wins by 2 appts....so "his lack of contribution" involves 2 whole appointments - and I'm quite sure the overseas appts are more time-consuming.

Nothing better to do than tell us that you do not support the Monarchy. Why dont you tell ud who should be President instead of having a King? Great examples in Biden, Trump and Macron?

I'm certainly very surprised by these figures, having see (and read about) the Princess Royal out and about on many occasions but rarely seeing or hearing about any visits anywhere by Charles. Perhaps he's visiting and supporting causes which are not of interest to many of us.

What papers do you normally read? That might give you a clue! I know two people who have met Charles - none who have met the Princess Royal I conclude nothing from that. Btw the two people who met him - they didn't know each other and neither were big Royal fans but were very surprised by how interested he was in their work - I'm sure he was well-practised in the art of meeting people but he came across as genuinely interested. They felt he came across much better in person. they really like him - and Camilla.

I was there (on the corner of Mall/Trafalgar Square). It was AWFUL.

Normal broadsheets. Yes, I like Camilla and have met her several times. She supports causes that interest more of us I think.

@WhiskersPete and others:

https://www.statista.com/statistics/863893/support-for-the-monarchy-in-britain-by-age/

Note the number don't knows in the stats breakdowns.

Elected heads of State... erm let's think: even recent history
i.e. WW2 onwards... Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Putin, Ethnic cleansing in Bosnia Herzegovina, Putin; less extreme but perhaps a tad unhinged: Trump, Johnson, Truss.... further East... hmm... where to begin ?9/11; Afghanistan, Ukraine, South Sudan.

By all accounts our unelected monarchs provide a good sounding board of checks and balances for many of our own former prime ministers' more outlandish ideas.

Worth reading some biographies and autobiographies of former pm's.

Interesting that the largest level of support for an elected head of state is amongst the youngest cohort in the stats, see link, some of whom may not even have great great, or great great great grandparents who lived or died during WW2 and who suffered countless losses of all sorts.

Memories are short, history teaching has changed...

That surprises me - I have little interest in the Royals and even I knew Charles worked as much as Anne especially recently - he has upped his game. Looks like a bloody awful job - can you imagine how many dull conversations they have to listen to. You couldn't pay me enough to endure it.

Really worth understanding the difference between head of government and head of state. And those who are both.

Trump was both. Hitler held a “referendum” in 1934 to merge chancellor (head of government) and president (head of state) hence title of “Fuhrer.”

Boris was head of government only. The head of state and sovereign in the UK is the monarch.

The best example of what a republic would look like for the U.K. is RoI
Head of government: Leo Varadkar, head of state: Michael Higgins.

I wouldn’t say memories were short so much as confused.