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Original poster

Well, I hated the coronation…

1000 replies

TheColourofspring · 07/05/2023 06:02

I can see I am in the minority on here but I found yesterday to be distasteful on a gigantic scale. To watch the most privileged people travel in gold coaches & be decorated with diamonds and gold that is priceless in the face of millions of people struggling to eat/heat their homes just feels so wrong.

Our primary school has just opened a food bank. There are kids & families in crisis- children coming into school hungry & smelly as families can’t afford to wash clothes (I am not joking) - living in Dickensian conditions. Some of the teaching staff use the foodbank.

Yesterday was a display of obscene wealth. The royals didn’t even pay for it- we did. How can we find money for that absolute nonsense yet we can’t find money for large swathes of the population to feed themselves.

While Charles was sitting there in his gold costume holding these priceless items, plenty of families weren’t eating. It made me really angry.

I am tired of all the arguments for a royal family- how somehow these displays are quaint. Yesterday was an obscene display of wealth, inherited privilege and everything that’s wrong with this country. Seems a conversation about the royals is long overdue.

OP posts:
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Emotionalsupportviper · 07/05/2023 14:56

OMG12 · 07/05/2023 10:10

I really enjoyed it. I loved the ritual. I think many have lost the connection to ritual and that makes us that much poorer.

Having a head of state is expensive. Do you think the White House should be sold? Airforce one? The Beast?

its unlikely the net position of getting rid of the monarchy would improve the lot of poor children much.

my DH is a policeman. He has to deal with kids with nothing every shift, kids where there’s no food in the house, no beds. Quite often there’s neglectful parents in the house (I know not in every case). But the answer to child poverty doesn’t lie with selling the Crown Jewels, it lies with education, work opportunities, limiting reliance on the welfare state. With greater consequences and powers regarding child neglect. It lies with capping inflation of energy prices. Better training and powers of social workers. There needs to be less reliance on the welfare state, working needs to pay.

All of the above.

AllIeveknewonlyou · 07/05/2023 15:06

On a micro level, it was a chance to catch up with older relatives and watch something with them which didn't involve the usual shit and eat lots of food. I was quite interested to hear them talk about QE2 coronation. They were quite anti Camilla however! I spent £60 on food and don't regret it even though I'm poor as I caught up with people.

The monarchy is the system we have in place at present and one good thing about the coronation is seeing the skill of musicians, seamstresses, singers, forces people etc.

I always feel a little uncertain about historical UK as it's too gargantuan to take in.

Anyone could join taxpayers alliance if they think it would make a change although I'm not sure of their political leanings.

Neededanewuserhandle · 07/05/2023 15:09

You need to make that happen yourself

What a fucking stupid statement - how the fuck do you suggest I afford a gold carriage and a load of big fuck off palaces? By doing more hours I suppose?

CrunchyCarrot · 07/05/2023 15:11

TheOriginalEmu · 07/05/2023 12:45

Did you really just say that people objecting to tax payer money being spent on this shit when people are starving was upsetting, because it spoiled the FUN. Wow. I’ll tell you what’s exhausting, living in poverty. Not having to see other people’s distaste online.

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No I didn't. I said that even if the royals were abolished, it still wouldn't result in the poor being better off.

Emotionalsupportviper · 07/05/2023 15:30

ThinkAboutItTomorrow · 07/05/2023 10:34

The coronation was a net cost to the economy not a benefit.

As a minimum the windsors should pay inheritance tax. The queen left about £700m to Charles but he didn't pay a penny, because he's 'royalty'.

Instead he sits on £1.8bn of inherited wealth and we give him £86m a year.

But yeah, let's all feel good about a chance to get the bunting out.

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I am a strong monarchist, but I agree that they should be subject to the same taxes as the rest of us.

They would still remain massively wealthy.

Emotionalsupportviper · 07/05/2023 15:37

Spirographcity · 07/05/2023 11:29

I just find it weird that you're complaining about the Coronation which actually brings in revenue as well as costing money (£200 million assessed from tourism alone) when Covid cost £261 billion, much of which was wasted.

https://shorttermrentalz.com/news/coronation-king-charles-tourism-boost-uk/#:~:text=With%20an%20extra%2030%2C000%2B%20overseas,and%20short%2Dterm%20rental%20accommodation.

Take two Tories who benefitted: Michelle Mone's company got £200 million in PPE contracts and she personally benefited from the deal to the tune of £29 million. That's one person! None of that would go back to the British economy as she is resident in the Isle of Man which has 0% tax on company profits. Even if the company isn't registered there, personal taxation is very low there and no taxation would benefit the UK in any case. The contracts were brokered in Hong Kong so nothing was manufactured here either, so again no benefit to the UK economy, unlike the Coronation where many businesses benefited.

Meanwhile Matt Hancock sister's company benefited from government contracts and he personally has a stake in that company while health Secretary.

Those are real scandals. Those are actually taking food from people's mouths. And only benefiting individuals, not the wider public.

You can of course complain about both but it seems disproportionate when so much more is wasted by this government every single day.

The Royal family do cost a lot of money, it's true, but they also do a lot of work that benefits many of the British public in terms of mental health charities, the Prince's Trust, the education charity, the Prince's foundation, Save the Children, military charities and countless others. What does Boris Johnson do or Jacob Rees Mogg that benefits the British public (the latter basing his company in Ireland to reduce his tax burden).

Taking the focus away from these things without balancing this with how the Royal Family benefits this country seems to miss the real point about what we really need to change to make things better for everyone.

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Those are real scandals. Those are actually taking food from people's mouths. And only benefiting individuals, not the wider public.

Indeed.

And the govt refuses to investigate/ claw any of the money back. I wonder why?

AllIeveknewonlyou · 07/05/2023 15:38

It did occur to me at the coronation that they're puppets which we wheel out and dress up, despite their huge privilege and whether they have the flu or are feeling stroppy or upset about something. I can't take to the David Icke theory about lizards ;)

Best thing to do would be to ask for greater transparency about how they operate, what benefit it is and what it costs the average person.

Emotionalsupportviper · 07/05/2023 15:38

KimberleyClark · 07/05/2023 12:26

If the King is claiming to be Defender of Faiths, shouldn’t the service have included readings from the Qur’an, Talmud, Hindu and Sikh scriptures by representatives of those faiths?

A Hindu doing a Bible reading was a bit bizarre.

No, because it's a CHRISTIAN service.

Leaders of other faiths (who have different beliefs) were present as part of the service and gave their own blessings at the end.

Emotionalsupportviper · 07/05/2023 15:43

Mirabai · 07/05/2023 13:39

If will be impossible to brush the RF’s involvement in the slave trade under the carpet forever. The Duke of York’s Royal African Company was set up in 1660 and traded slaves internationally until 1730.

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And King Leopold of Belgium colonised the Congo and enslaved people long after the British monarchy and government had stopped the slave trade.

Read "King Leopold's Ghost" - it's heartbreaking.

Emotionalsupportviper · 07/05/2023 15:45

Rednorth · 07/05/2023 14:33

Imagine how much long term financial gain could be had if they turned Buckingham Palace into a luxury hotel!

People would pay thousands per night to sleep in the same room as royals once did.

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a) Buckingham Palace is dropping to bits in places - it would require massive renovations

b) the fact that people would pay £000's/night to sleep in a room as royals once did tells you that they are of value to the country.

Coxspurplepippin · 07/05/2023 15:48

Emotionalsupportviper · 07/05/2023 15:45

a) Buckingham Palace is dropping to bits in places - it would require massive renovations

b) the fact that people would pay £000's/night to sleep in a room as royals once did tells you that they are of value to the country.

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Also, who would run this hotel to benefit the taxpayer? The government? Or would it be sold off a la Admiralty Arch so a private company reaps the rewards.

Also, if it's going to cost thousands to stay in this regal hotel, obviously most of us aren't going to be able to stay there so we still won't get a look in - hardly levelling the playing field.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 07/05/2023 16:32

It doesn't help the royalist cause that they can't muster an argument

In some ways I find that the most disappointing thing of all. You'd think there's be something, but it comes down to "But Trump" (avoidable) "They have no power" (probably untrue) and "We make a profit" (unquantifiable)

All that seems to be left is "I like having them" which is fair enough - but is it sufficient reason in 21st century Britain?

Puzzledandpissedoff · 07/05/2023 16:42

Buckingham Palace is dropping to bits in places - it would require massive renovations

Personally I don't favour "turn it into a hotel" - a museum or similar would do - but I'm not sure if you've noticed it's already being renovated

That's what the massive uplift in the Sovereign Grant's about - supposedly to be reduced when it's finished, but we'll see - and if they still claim it's dropping to bits after that some of us will be asking where the money went

Not that we'd get a rational answer of course ...

Outofthepark · 07/05/2023 16:53

chopc · 07/05/2023 06:17

Yesterday was a moment in British history. The royal family are a part of British culture. I loved the traditions.

Please stop resenting other's wealth. Even if those individuals have less doesn't automatically mean you will have more . You need to make that happen yourself

It's not the wealth most people resent but the history of colonizing and slavery that it is unashamedly tied to😄
I just read that Mark Smith of The Cure turned down an MBE a few years back as he couldn't believe a bunch of unelected, hereditarily titled people felt they had the right to bestow an honour on him! Cool guy. And he can't stand the coronation. He reposted a very witty cartoon the other day about it.

Anyway my point is you're not alone, loads of us are depressed by it! But loads of people will passively aggressively insult you for not liking it.

Btw apologies for the smiling emoji above, I chose the wrong one and it won't go when I try to delete it!

AP5Diva · 07/05/2023 17:10

It's not the wealth most people resent but the history of colonizing and slavery that it is unashamedly tied to

They’re tied to it, but not unashamedly. Not for the past two hundred years.

LiveAHappyLifeBePositive · 07/05/2023 17:45

Not sure why people choose to watch something they know from the outset they don’t want to.

Roussette · 07/05/2023 17:52

LiveAHappyLifeBePositive · 07/05/2023 17:45

Not sure why people choose to watch something they know from the outset they don’t want to.

I wanted to watch some of it. I want to be able to talk about the Monarchy which is woven into the fabric of our society, and I could hardly comment on it, could I, if I hadn't even seen any of it.

DarrellRiversCriminalBehaviourOrder · 07/05/2023 17:52

It's not the wealth most people resent but the history of colonizing and slavery that it is unashamedly tied to

Arguably everyone in Britain is tied to colonisation and slavery. They may not have happened in our lifetimes, or we might be new arrivals to Britain, but all the benefits of living here arguably come from them.

LiveAHappyLifeBePositive · 07/05/2023 17:54

DarrellRiversCriminalBehaviourOrder · 07/05/2023 17:52

It's not the wealth most people resent but the history of colonizing and slavery that it is unashamedly tied to

Arguably everyone in Britain is tied to colonisation and slavery. They may not have happened in our lifetimes, or we might be new arrivals to Britain, but all the benefits of living here arguably come from them.

I don’t agree.
I think it’s just the wealth that people don’t like in the main.

Neededanewuserhandle · 07/05/2023 18:34

ThankmelaterOkay · 07/05/2023 08:00

Lucky tourists.

Once in a lifetime event, we won’t see this for another 70 years!

Er - Charles is going to live to be 140+ ?

Mimilamore · 07/05/2023 18:56

Bonkers isn't it... I think that people just see the glitter and not the bigger picture. Plus ... our "glory' days are long gone, thank goodness and I think this keeps the masses in their place...

verabarbleen · 07/05/2023 18:57

My three year old said the kings party was a bit boring . We asked what was boring about it? And he said the king! 🙈

RocketIceLollie · 07/05/2023 18:58

The people moaning about the monarchy would probably be the very same people moaning if they don't get the politician they vote for as head of state.

Mimilamore · 07/05/2023 19:01

Also many boomers are racist, they'll deny it but when in a group they feel they can share derogatory comments with everyone there. I am a boomer and do NOT share their entitled opinions, different times you say.. well not too late to reflect is it?

thesnailandthewhale · 07/05/2023 19:02

At least they help charities and set up the Princes Trust. If we were a republic what do you honestly believe President Sunak or President Johnson would have contributed to the less well off in this country? 🤷🏼‍♀️

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