I have mixed feelings about this Coronation marlarkey.
I'm not a Royalist, and the fuss and public expense of the thing, (which has apparently cost us around £100M) at a time when record numbers of people are relying on foodbanks, the NHS is on its knees, and with all the other issues we have, grates somewhat, as does the sycophantic approach of the media and the assumption that this is something we are all excited about or united by.
I happened to be on London the weekend before the coronation, and the displays seems a bit excessive and slightly embarrassing.
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| View from Piccadilly Circus along Piccadilly |
That said, my tolerance for small, locally sourced events is rather higher. Partly, I think, because it mostly (At least where I live) to be small scale and to be things which local people have organised, rather than anything imposed from outside, and they have a slightly endearing amateur flavour.
I like that it is giving people the opportunity to make their own art and celebrations - we have a group in the village who make knitted / crocheted displays for the bridge over the stream, and while I liked the little crocheted chicks they did at easter best, they have clearly enjoyed themselves with their coronation display!
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| Cardboard and crochet fence decoration |
Equally, I don't begrudge the fact that the Parish Council has spent a little money on some bunting (and hideous banners featuring poor choices of font and and a more-than-usually unflattering photograph of the king) - there seem to be a fair number of people who want to go to the coronation picnic, even if they would probably be equally happy to go to a non-coronation picnic with bouncy castles and cream teas. I don't have the slightest desire to join in, but I don't mind others doing so!
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Not excessive at all, obviously...
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I was visiting my parents, and we did watch most of the ceremony. I have to admit, the sheer ridiculous theatricality of the actual ceremony, and the history of it, is quite interesting. It hadn't occurred to me that he would actually sign the coronation oath, for instance, and the solemn presentation and return of things such as the spurs, the swords and so on was quite bizarre. (Apparently no one knows, any longer, what the origin of the armills (bracelets) is, and although they were remade for Charles II's coronation as (like most of the regalia, the originals were lost after the civil war) they weren't actually used then, or at any further coronations until now, although they are apparently mentioned in the traditional service!)
It's all totally bonkers.
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| Man in hat sits on chair |
My parents continue to be active bellringers, and I do it for special events like family weddings. As with the Queen's funeral, there was an intention to have as many churches as possible have ringing for the Coronation, and as, unlike the funeral, there was time to plan, the Central Council of Church Bellringers ran a campaign 'Ring for the King' to try to attract new ringers for the event, so lots of people have been learning to ring for the first time.
In my parents village, the ringing was scheduled to be at 3 p.m., partly as the church had been set up with a big screen so that those who wanted could watch the coronation there, with refreshments, and partly as at least one of the regular ringers wanted to join in but had to work. Which worked out quite well, as it meant that we had plenty of time to watch the show, have lunch and then amble down to the church.
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| Decorations outside the church |
The church and church hall had been decorated (I think there was going to be street party, and the regular pop-up pub, on the Sunday, hence all the bunting) - I particularly liked the efforts made in the church by the flower arrangers!
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| Flowery crown! |
We rang Rounds and Call Changes - including the 'Coronation Peal' (Not an actual peal, but a specific set of calls designed for the coronation)
After which , we went back home and, a little later, enjoyed some home made scones and cream, purely on the basis that a member of the family commented on FB that they'd done so, and it seemed like a good idea!
My parents, both of whom are old enough to have been around for the last coronation (and had comments to make about the commentators wittering on about 'once in a lifetime' events) did have a few comments to make about their memories - both were pretty young - my dad remembers going to a neighbour's house to watch it on television, (And the television, rather than the event, being the exciting part!) and then being taken to the cinema to watch it in colour a few weeks later. He also did rather well on the souvenir front, being bought a die-cast model of the coach and horses (it apparently came in different sizes and prices, depending on how deep the pockets of your friends or family were - his was the smallest size, and is now rather battered, having been played with over the years!) and also a souvenir commemorative coin, with a rather less flattering portrait than the one on the real currency!
My mother was given a souvenir bible, although whether these were given to all children, or if it was through her local church or Sunday School, isn't entirely clear. It was certainly presented, rather than being bought as a souvenir like the things my dad has, as it's definitely not the kind of thing which my grandparents would have bought for her!
All together, a rather odd day, to say the least!
It was a very nice weekend. 
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