The lack of enthusiasm for the Coronation

[MamoruHisaishi]

I know this is shallow but I think part of the reason why people aren't enthusiastic about Charles’ coronation is that neither he nor Camilla have movie star good looks plus they're both in their 70s. I bet if both were in their 30s or even 40s, and Charles looked like Pierce Brosnan and Camilla looked like Angelina Jolie, they would have the world fawning over them and their Coronation.

@MayQueeen

Don’t bother. The people who hate the monarchy only see the empty spaces and not the people in between. It is pointless trying to get them to see reality. They live in their own weird ideology.

I see Republic only managed a few hundred- including one lady who was trying to intimidate one of the horses from the household Calvary (classy).

The excuse is that the rain put people off. Seems people with republican views (which they are welcome to hold) don’t hold them dearly enough to turn out in bad weather.

And the Guardian actually ran a live blog about the whole thing, despite insisting they are a Republican paper. Massive hypocrisy. They are happy to make money from the add revenue from blogging the event.

They arrested a crowd from Republic for fetching banners. Probably scared off some others from joining them.

Just because people didn't turn up and protest (to get arrested) it doesn't mean to say they all agree with this.

If I lived nearer and wasn't the age I am, I would've been there.

@Boudicasbeard Can you post a link proving Guardian are a Republican paper? I read that every day and have never seen this.

I would have been there but I can't run the risk of getting arrested. I have a disabled DD and can only get away for defined time slots. Being detained at a [police station would be a disaster for me.
And various protestors were arrested when travelling to the protest point with banners,

@AskMeMore

They have always been a Republican paper. They were a Republican paper from their foundation. I was a Guardian reader for decades and they are quite clear that they don’t support the monarchy (which is fine. Unlike some
people I actually think that media plurality is a good thing).

As for being arrested. Go and hold up a banner and they can’t arrest you. There were people there today freely protesting (as they have done for every public engagement the king has done for the last two months). What you read on social media isn’t real life- especially not in echo chambers full of ideologues who have something to gain fro making you fear the establishment.

I am astounded you could read it every day and not have picked up on this. But her you go - from a Guardian leader in 2000, but their stance has not changed:

“We declare our hand: we hope that in time we will move - by democratic consensus - to become a republic”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/dec/06/monarchy.guardianleaders

You are wrong. They are not a Republican paper, they simply are happy to publish critical articles about the Royals.
Do you not know what people have been arrested for? A lawyer was detained for holding up a blank piece of paper. Today a group of protestors walking to the protest with banners were arrested for no reason.

You are wrong. They are not a Republican paper, they simply are happy to publish critical articles about the Royals.

See the Leader I quoted above. They are an openly republican paper.

@Serenster have you actually read that? They are asking for a debate.

"Where should that debate go? It seems fruitless to begin by demanding the immediate advent of a republic in Britain: it ain't going to happen. We should begin instead by asking for a referendum about what sort of head of state we should have once the Queen dies. People ought to be able to say whether they would prefer to have an elected head of state or to continue with a monarchy. Do they want to be citizens or subjects?"

And this -

"We declare our hand: we hope that in time we will move - by democratic consensus - to become a republic. We are gradualists: we accept that it will not happen tomorrow. Let the Queen remain Queen for as long as she lives, or she wishes, or she remains able. But in the meantime there should be a long, vigorous and grown-up debate - both inside and outside parliament - as to who, or what, should succeed her."

And at the end they declare their hand, as I’ve quoted. Quite clearly!

They are calling for a debate about what replaces the Queen and a democratic process.

There is a really good thread on Reddit (which is hardly a monarchist space) that explains clearly why people were arrested today.

The Met tweeted that they were arrested for suspected breach of the peace. Today was a huge counter terrorism operation. Any commotion in the crowd would have had a huge ripple effect. There were tens of thousands( if not hundreds of thousands) of people moving through a small area of London. All it takes is one bad moment (one fracas between a royal supporter and a Republic member) to bring about a huge incident- this is how riots start.

So the police obviously took the decision to remove anyone who was aggressively protesting. There were many people with placards standing quietly who were left alone.

But the ones who were shouting and being intimidating were removed- see the woman who was having a go at the mounted Calvary guy. She had no support from the crowd. The police stepped on before it got ugly.

Managing people on this scale is very dicey. Republic were given space in Traflgar Square and some of them chose to try to get into the mall. Which could have led to altercations.

From the perspective that they hope to become a republic. As they clearly state.

In my book, someone stating they hope the country becomes a republic is a republican.

This is a good point, I used to go to a lot of big events when I lived in London and I have to say although they're far from perfect I was glad of police presence. This was the largest security op in memory so of course decisions had to be made that perhaps wouldn't be on a normal Saturday afternoon. There are some that ruin it for others, keen for the social media video with the nasty police being mean to further their cause.

Funny how there are valid reasons to justify why the turn out for Republic was low but these reasons don’t apply to crowds turning up in support?

if I lived closer, the weather was better I’d have gone to London to watch. So we can assume it works both ways.

Despite the crap weather, the turn out in support wasn’t as dreadful as some had predicted

Why is debate about the Monarchy so feared on here?

Don't understand it. Everything should be questioned if we are able to. The Monarchy are part of the fabric of our society but we don't vote for them. They are foisted on us whether we like it or not. Why can't we question that?

It's a bloody poor show if we just have to accept everything

@Kebabie Good point about the social
media videos. I’ve seen a few floating around online where the protester was obviously looking for a reaction and didn’t get one.

Protesting doesn’t have to be violent or agressive. The most successful ones aren’t either.

@Roussette No one is saying ‘don’t debate’. Have the debate. Questions are good. But debate with the objective facts rather than what people wish was true. Claiming that turnout was poor for today makes the person saying it look dishonest and stupid. Not a great position to be holding when you are trying to debate.

This can be an emotive topic. But everyone should get to have their opinion- in fact they do. Disagreement is often good for people.

@Boudicasbeard they were not aggressively protesting. They were moving banners to Trafalgar Square for the protest. They were arrested and the police would not tell them why.
They were arrested for being organisers of a protest. That is all.

Have you spoke to them @AskMeMore Do you know if what you are saying is factually true?

There is video footage. They were arrested for being organisers.
https://www.thenational.scot/news/23504851.republic-leader-arrested-coronation-protest-london/

To be fair the thread is far past debating the existence of the monarchy at this point!

For me with anything to do with the monarchy on here there's a sneering towards those who don't mind them as if they're close minded and stupid, when reality is everyone has different opinions. I can absolutely understand why lots of people don't like the institution and think its high time they were abolished, I don't judge anyone for thinking like that and find it interesting to debate. The same isn't always offered to the other side though, or there's a lot of bending and breaking to try and prove a point and when people dispute it people get defensive.