””Dank u wel, voorzitter.Met maar liefst vijf bewindspersonen vandaag een debat over de opvangvan de Oekraiense vluchtelingen, waarvan wij van de PVV zeggen, dat datals de buurlanden van Oekraine het niet meer aankunnen, dan kunnen wijin Nederland tijdelijk en beperkt ruimte maken voor de opvang van deOekraiense vrouwen en kinderen door de instroom van al die buitenlandseindringers uit Afrika en dat donkere Midden-Oosten te stoppen.”
Het kabinet moet van de Tweede Kamer contact opnemen met Denemarken over het opzetten van asielzoekerscentra buiten de Europese Unie. Denemarken wil met bijvoorbeeld Rwanda een deal sluiten over het tegen betaling opvangen van asielzoekers. Het zoekt hiervoor naar partnerlanden.
Een meerderheid van oppositiepartijen PVV, FvD, SGP, BBB, Groep Van Haga, Omtzigt en JA21 (die de motie indiende) en regeringspartijen VVD en CDA denkt dat dit “veelbelovende kansen” biedt om de asielcrisis op te lossen. Niet alleen de opvang maar ook de procedure vindt dan buiten de EU plaats.
Het Deense parlement nam de wet in 2021 aan om het aantal asielverzoeken door de afschrikwekkende werking te verlagen. “Als je asiel aanvraagt in Denemarken, weet je dat je naar een land buiten Europa wordt gestuurd”, zegt een woordvoerder van de sociaaldemocratische regeringspartij. “Dus we hopen dat mensen stoppen met het aanvragen van asiel in Denemarken.”
Europees Hof voor de Rechten van de Mens
Het Verenigd Koninkrijk heeft hetzelfde plan en maakte al vergaande afspraken met Rwanda. In juni vorig jaar zou de eerste vlucht met asielzoekers die illegaal waren binnengekomen vertrekken. Tot woede van de Britse regering sprak het Europees Hof voor de Rechten van de Mens uit dat dat niet mocht. Een nieuwe vlucht is nog niet gepland.
VVD-staatssecretaris Van der Burg voor Asielzaken heeft eerder in een debat gezegd dat Nederland met de eventuele Deense samenwerking binnen de internationale afspraken en verdragen zal blijven.
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Het was best wel indrukwekkend, de manifestatie en demonstratie waar ik afgelopen middag – 18 juni 2023 – aan mee deed. ‘Bescherm mensen, geen grenzen’, luidde het motto’, en Migreat was de organisatie die die actie op poten zette.(1) De actie was een protest tegen de onmenselijke behandeling die mensen ten deel valt als ze proberen te ontkomen aan oorlog, vervolging en andere ellende. Ja, onder die onmenselijke behandeling valt ook het laten verzuipen van honderden migranten afgelopen week die in een wrakke boot de Middellandse Zee probeerden over te steken omdat veiliger opties om een veilig toevluchtsoord te bereiken door de EU en haar deelstaten niet worden geboden, zelfs onmogelijk worden gemaakt. Het was dan een demonstratie die deze afgelopen week extra urgentie en lading had gekregen.
Samen met enkele andere antiracisten uit de regio waar ik woon, was ik naar de Dam gegaan. Daar stonden al ettelijke honderden mensen. Even later begon er een programma met een vrij lange reeks spreker, relatief weinig muziek. Vaak klaag ik over zo’n programma: demonstranten worden er voorasl door in de te beperkte rol van toeschouwer gedrukt, en de speeches wekken vaak de indruk dat het er meer om gaat dat elke ondersteunende organisatie even in de picture mag komen dan dat het inhoudelijk echt nodig is.
Nu had ik dat totaal niet. Alle sprekers vertelden indrukwekkend over wat mensen op de vlucht te doorstaan hebben, over de noodzaak om voor zulke mensen op te komen, mdat ieder mens het recht heeft om waardig te kunnen wonen en leven waar men wil, en over de rol van Europese/ Westerse landen in het verkopen van wapens en het brengen van oorlog, precies het soort ellende waarvoor mensen vervolgens op de vlucht slaan. Flink wat aandacht kreeg bijvoorbeeld ook de huidige oorlogen in onder meer Soedan, hetgeen zich vertaalde in leuzen. Vanaf het podium werd het roepen daarvan aangejaagd. Zo riepen we op de Dam ook herhaaldelijk ‘No more Bhah b Blah Blah’. Geen ontwijkend geklets, gewoon grenzen open en mensen welkom heten die dat nodig hebben dus, zo viel die leus te verstaan.
Opvallend en goed was het feit dat vrijwel alle sprekers mensen van kleur waren, veelal vluchtelingen aren, of afkomstig uit gemeenschappen van migranten. Het aantal witte sprekers bedroeg precies een, als ik het goed heb gezien, en dat was ruimschoots genoeg. Opvallend was ook de inhoudelijke hardheid van de demonstratie, door spreker na spreker tot uiting gebracht: grenzen als zodanig deugen niet. Vrijheid van migratie is een fundamenteel mensenrecht, en daar stonden we samen voor op de Dam.
Een spreker wees er op dat dit de grootste demonstratie was die zich achter het doel van onbeperkte vrijheid van migratie stelde die er in Nederland ooit is gehouden. Of dat helemaal klopt weet ik niet. Maar het is zeer zeker zo dat grotere demonstraties uit solidariteit met vluchtelingen veel beperkter zijn wat de inhoud betreft: het verlenen van verblijfsvergunningen aan een specifieke groep ongedocumenteerde mensen, een pleidooi voor een minder hardvochtig overheidsbeleid jegens vluchtelingen. Deze demonstratie ging kwalitatief veel verder dan dat. Soortgelijke demonstraties met deze scherpte waren de afgelopen jaren – de afgelopen veel jaren! – inderdaad veel en veel kleiner. Het wrange is dan weer wel dat het de catastrofe in de Middellandse Zee waar ik al naar verwees, die ongetwijfeld aan de relatief hoge opkomst heeft bijgedragen.
Uiteindelijk gingen we lopen, in een levendige stoet, over het Rokin en verder, naar het Museumplein. Ik liep als anarchist weer eens lekker samen met anarcho/antifa kameraden, en hielp wat mee met het vasthouden van spandoek en dergelijke. Eerst vlak langs een groepje fanatieke aanhangers van Israël dat daar stond te manifesteren Apartheidsstaat Israël dus, verantwoordelijk voor het op de vlucht jagen van vele honderdduizenden van de oorspronkelijke bevolking in land waar Israël is gesticht, van Palestijnen dus. Dus riepen we ‘From the river to the sea – Palestine will be free!’ Daarna, toen de stoet op het Rokin en verder liep, Leuzen, zoals te doen gebruikelijk. ‘Say it loud, say it clear – refugees are welcome here!’ (ook gezongen), ‘IND, weg er mee!’ ,’Na borders, no natuions, stop deportations’ en de onvermijdelijke variant ‘No nations, no borders – fuck law and order!”, ‘Brick by brick, wall by wall, Fortress Europe’s gonna fall’, heel even ook ‘One solution – revolution’ , onmiddellijk gevolgd door ‘One direction – insurrection!’
Politiebusje reed voorop, want je weet maar nooit voor wanordelijkheden vijfhonderd tot duizend gemotiveerde demonstranten – met zoveel ware we naar mijn indruk uiteindelijk wel allemaal niet kunnen ontketenen. Toch? Misschien waren we niet onrustig genoeg voor de geüniformeerde gezagsdragers. Hoe dan ook, na enige tijd kwam er een politiebusje proberen om de stoet in te komen, op een van de rijbanen van de straat waar de demonstratie zich dus afspeelde. Toeval of niet, maar dat gebeurde dus precies vlak achter de plek waar die anarcho’s – herkenbaar aan zwartrode vlag en dergelijke – liepen. Ze wilden er natuurlijk alleen maar langs. We maakten echter geen ruimte, en ze dreven het verder niet op de spits. Even later zag ik het politiebusje een zijstraat in rijden. Het voelde toen het gaande was, als een provocatie van precies dat deel van de demonstratie waar de afkeer van de politie zeer bewust wordt beleefd en geuit.. En ook als ze er echt alleen maar langs wilden, is het logisch dat we er niet gerust op waren dat er niet meer achter zat. Maar als dat zo was, zette het niet door.
We vervolgden verder ongestoord onze tocht, waarbij nu ook een enkele keer ‘Politie, fascisten, staatsterroristen!’ weerklonk uit onze kelen. Vlak voordat we on der het Museumplein door liepen, stond daar ene groepje agenten. “Ik kan niks, ik wil niks, geef me een uniform!’ kregen ze van ons – nog steeds ons anarcho-groepje, niet de hele demonstratie – te horen. Onder het museum gebruikten we de galmende akoestiek natuurlijk voor extra veel lawaai. Ik zag trouwens aan vingers in de oren dat dit niet voor iedereen erg draaglijk was, en dan doel ik op mededemonstranten die er dus flink last van hadden. Iets om wel bij stil te staan, want ook dit heeft met de toegankelijkheid van demonstraties te maken. Ja, samen zulke herrie produceren is ook wel een morale booster. Masar lawaai produceren waar onze tegenstander amper last van heeft maar wijzelf wel, is misschien niet de allerbeste aanpak.
Kort hierna kwamen we aan op het Museumplein – en in de verte zagen we enkele omgekeerde Nederlandse vlaggen. Met wat mensen eromheen, dat bleek al snel. Een groepje fasco’s, duidelijk gekomen om onze solidariteitsdemonstratie te jennen. We liepen dus snel door met ons anarcho/antifagroepje – recht op dat groepje af, met ons spandoek ‘Make racists afraid again’, en de vlag met ‘Refugees welcome – Bring your families’, en tien tot vijftien mensen. Even later waren het er meer, en was ook het spandoek met ‘Geef haat geen stem – Platform Stop Racisme’ aan de antifa-frontlinie zichtbaar. Schreeuwen naar de fasco’s: ‘Nazi scum – Off our streets!’ en ook ‘Jullie kinderen worden net als wij!’ Een enkeling uit het fascistengroepje kwam vlak voor onze neus jennen. Enkele agenten, duidelijk beducht op ‘escalatie’, maakten een praatje met de fasco’s en hielden ze ook een beetje weg van ons. Kort erna: een politiebusje, een extra handvol agenten – en die maanden ons om naar de andere demonstranten te gaan en ons dus terug te trekken. We waren ook niet met genoeg om de politie effectief terug te dringen en de fasco’s zich nog wat ongemakkelijker te doen voelen. Ook de politie krege het weer te horen: ‘Tous le monde deteste la police!’
Omdat het er op leek dat de politie er weer eens niet vies van zou zijn om ons als antifascisten te isoleren en aan te pakken, besloten mensen het er verder bij te laten en ons bij de demonstratie te voegen, Die was inmiddels bezig zich te ontbinden: mensen gingen naar huis. We waren niet uit op heftig gedoe, met name ook niet voor mededemonstranten waaronder mogelijk mensen zonder verblijfspapieren. Ons punt hadden we evengoed wel gemaakt.
Ik had intussen mijn reisgenoten teruggevonden, en een half uurtje later zaten we samen met wat andere mededemonstranten in de tram. Het was gedaan. En al was het allemaal niet genoeg is het dat ooit, in deze angstaanjagende tijden? – het was goed dat we er samen stonden, liepen en onze leuzen riepen. We gaan een zomer in waar we weer meer van dit soort acties nodig hebben. Waar ‘onze’ regeerders mensen laten verzuipen in zee of verrekken in de modder van Ter Apel, daar is solidariteit van en met die mensen en felle strijd tegen de regerende onderdrukkers onmisbaar.
De opmaat voor een offensiefje van de bruinrechtse fracties in de Tweede Kamer, gisteren, die een debat over persvrijheid en persveiligheid probeerden te monopoliseren met hun schijnheilige gejank over Wierd Duk, die “fascist” en “nazi” wordt genoemd, “alléén omdat hij een andere mening heeft!”
Opgeblazen superego
De fascisten, ik noem ze fascisten, inderdaad, hebben heel wat op hun kerfstok wat het bedreigen van journalisten betreft. Het is de aanhang van de PVV, het FvD, BBB, Ja21 en die vastgoeddwaas die de afgelopen tijd NPO-journalisten en persfotografen bedreigden en belaagden, door met auto’s op ze in te rijden, ze te bestoken met molotov-cocktails en met een trekker de auto van een fotograaf in de sloot te duwen. Je hebt je kop met hondenpis gewassen als je, zoals Caroline van der Plas doet, probeert D66 in het nauw te drijven door die partij de schuld te geven van het kwetsen van het opgeblazen superego van Wierd Duk.
Kijk dan, onbeschaamde aso:
Niet alleen moet Van der Plas afstand doen van het racisme en fascisme van Wierd Duk, ook haar eigen achterban is niet voor de poes. Die achterban zet ze, precies zoals Duk doet, veelvuldig in om critici te intimideren nadat ze die heeft geframed. Ze deed het ook bij Hassnae, toen die in NRC een pittige column over extreemrechts schreef.
Hitleriaanse tirades
En deze racistische fascist dan, die met leugens niet alleen probeert Piet Lekkerkerk, Sidney Smeets en mij kapot te maken, maar zo vooral probeert D66 te pakken, want Smeets is D66-lid en Lekkerkerk en ik zouden op de eerste rij hebben gezeten bij een D66-bijeenkomst:
Stel, je bent het grootste schorem van Nederland en de op één na grootste schreeuwlelijk van de fascistische, racistische partij die bij elke gelegenheid Hitleriaanse tirades staat af te draaien over hyena’s uit achterlijke zandbaklanden en dergelijke, in de fucking Tweede Kamer, je bent in hoge mate mede-verantwoordelijk voor de grimmige sfeer in Nederland, waardoor journalisten niet eens meer herkenbaar op straat durven en bi-culturele Nederlanders, moslims en vluchtelingen worden aangevallen en mishandeld door het gajes dat jouw aanhang vormt, en je hebt het onbeschaamde gore lef om te wijzen naar ons, ongeveer de laatsten die openlijk stelling durven te nemen tegen een extreemrechtse agitator die zijn podium in De Telegraaf en tal van andere media gebruikt om pure, onversneden, racistische, fascistische haat te verspreiden.
Wat een fascistische goorlap ben je dán.
Open riool
En dat dit mógelijk is in de Kamer, dat ze daar fascisten leugens laten verspreiden over mensen die zich er niet tegen kunnen verdedigen, leugens die worden overgenomen door de media, waardoor wij weer meer worden geïntimideerd, meer bedreigingen te verstouwen krijgen, en we mogen dat dan geeneens fascisme noemen.
Wat een open riool is dat parlement geworden, zeg.
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De Duitse staat verklaart klimaatactievoerders de oorlog. Vandaag deden politieagenten op vijftien plaatsen invallen ‘in Hessen, Hamburg, Saksen-Anhalt, Beieren, Berlijn en Sleeswijk-Holstein’, aldus de NOS. Het ging om ‘huizen van klimaatactivisten’ van actiegroep Letzte Generation. ‘Ook de website is uit de lucht gehaald’, voegt de NOS toe.(1) Het was niet de eerste reeks invallen bij deze klimaatactiegroep. Het is een oorlogsverklaring van de Duitse staat aan de klimaatactiebeweging, een oorlogsverklaring die ene snoeihard antwoord verdient, ook van klimaatactivisten en hun bondgenoten in Nederland.
En het is niet voor het eerst. Op 13 december 2022 gebeurde al iets dergelijks. Toen viel de politie ‘op elf plaatsen invallen gedaan’. Toen noemde een aanklager de groep een ‘criminele organisatie’ wegens sabotage bij een olieraffinaderij in Oost-Duitsland waarmee de groep in verband werd gebracht. Toen werden er zeker elf mensen opgepakt. Bij de invallen vandaag zijn geen arrestaties gemeld, het onderzoek richtte zich volgens berichtgeving op de financiën van de groep.
Dit is dus een kwaadaardige aanval op klimaatactivisten, vergelijkbaar met de arrestaties in januari 2023 in Nederland van mensen die tot de A12-blokkade van XR opriepen. Letzte Generation haalt herhaaldelijk het nieuws doordat actievoerders van die groep op de weg gaan zitten uit burgerlijk ongehoorzaam protest tegen de aanfluiting die ook in Duitsland voor klimaatbeleid door moet gaan. Volslagen vreedzame acties dus van mensen die soms worden weggevoerd door agenten, maar af en toe ook ruw worden weggesleept door boze automobilisten. Wat je ook van de tactiek denkt, de politieaanval op deze groep is een aanval op de actievrijheid en op de klimaatbeweging.
Wie hiertegen in brengt dat mensen dan maar niet illegaal op straat moeten gaan zitten, mag opzouten, of terugkomen met een actievoorstel dat sneller en effectiever aandacht voor de klimaatcrisis oproept, het gevoel van urgentie beter uitdrukt, het fossiele kapitaal effectiever onder druk zet. Puur legale demonstraties hebben dat effect niet, en petities nog veel minder. Wachten op de volgende verkiezingen? Dat betekent wachten terwijl de ramp zich voltrekt. Disruptie is noodzaak, en meer dan dat. En hoe dat zit met die sabotage van die olieraffinaderij weet ik niet. Maar het Ekosabotage-boek van Andreas Malm is niet perse nodig om toch voorstander van dat type klimaatactie te zijn.
Serieuze kritiek op de tactiek van straatblokkades is denkbaar, maar dan van een andere kant! De druk is niet stevig genoeg, niet doelgericht genoeg ook. Ik had liever dat het fossiele kapitaal zelf er veel meer rechtstreeks last van had. Niet alleen disruptieve actie, zoals het soort burgerlijk ongehoorzame blokkades waar Extinction Rebellion (XR) in uitblinkt – aanstaande zaterdag weer op de A12 in Den Haag,(3) ik roep bij deze maar weer vrolijk ertoe op – , maar vooral ook directe acties. Ja, dan denk ik aan sabotage van pijpleidingen en andere faciliteiten van het fossiele kapitaal zijn uitstekend, het beargumenteerd leeg laten lopen van SUV-autobanden zoals herhaaldelijk is gedaan, is een prima actiemiddel. In Hengelo werd op 7 september 2022 bijvoorbeeld melding gemaakt van zo’n actie, opgeëist door actiegroep Fire Extinguishers.(4) Een mooie reportage over zo’n soort actie, maar dan in de VS, lees je via The Guardian.(5) Meer van zoiets, graag!
Maar wat de beperkingen ook mogen zijn van die nog veel te keurige straatblokkades van de dappere Letzte Generation-mensen, het is honderd keer beter dan passief blijven, en vele tientallen keren beter dan je bij voorbaat beperken tot wettelijk voorgeschreven actievormen. Die zijn namelijk wettelijk goedgekeurd vooral ook omdat ze de orde – een klimaatdestructieve, asociale orde – niet in gevaar brengen.
Disruptie is dus niet misplaatst, opkomen voor de disruptief actieve Letzte Generation is dat ook. Discussie over actiemiddelen, tactieken en strategie is intussen nodig. Die discussie vergt vrijheid, ook actievrijheid, al was het maar om tactieken uit te kunnen proberen en te evalueren. Alles was die vrijheid inbreuk doet, schaadt de klimaatstrijd, de strijd voor overleven van en op deze planeet. Het is dus zaak luidruchtig en stevig te protesteren tegen de aanvallen van de Duitse staat op de goede, dappere mensen van Letzte Generation. Jazeker, hun strijd is onze strijd.
O ja, die website van Letzte Generation die uit de lucht is gehaald? De groepering is gelukkig alweer terug online! Kijk maar.(6)
Fig 3: The north-transept façade of the Abbey offered the most direct connection between the Palace and the Abbey. The reconstruction of the nave continued into the 15th century. Westminster Abbey photographed for Country Life magazine by Paul Highnam.
WESTMINSTER ABBEY, THE CROWNING PLACE OF ENGLISH KINGS
CORONATION OF KING CHARLES III/”I COME NOT TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE”
CORONATION OATH OF KING CHARLES III
The King stands and the Archbishop says:
”Our Majesty, the Church established by law, whose settlement you will swear to maintain, is committed to the true profession of the Gospel, and, in so doing, will seek to foster an environment in which people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely. The Coronation Oath has stood for centuries and is enshrined in law.
Are you willing to take the Oath?
The King replies
I am willing.
The King places his hand on the Bible, and the Archbishop administers the Oath
Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the Peoples of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, your other Realms and the Territories to any of them belonging or pertaining, according to their respective laws and customs?
The King replies
I solemnly promise so to do.
The Archbishop says
Will you to your power cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your judgements?
The King replies
I will.
The King kneels at the Chair of Estate. The Archbishop says
Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel? Will you to the utmost of your power maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law? Will you maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established in England?
And will you preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy of England, and to the Churches there committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges as by law do or shall appertain to them or any of them?
The King replies
All this I promise to do.
The King places his hand on the Bible and says
The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep. So help me God.
The King kisses the Bible. The Archbishop says
Your Majesty, are you willing to make, subscribe, and declare to the statutory Accession Declaration Oath?
The King replies
I am willing.
I Charles do solemnly and sincerely in the presence of God profess, testify, and declare that I am a faithful Protestant, and that I will, according to the true intent of the enactments which secure the Protestant succession to the Throne, uphold and maintain the said enactments to the best of my powers according to law.
The King signs copies of the Oaths, presented by the Lord Chamberlain,whilst the choir sings
Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy name, and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
God of compassion and mercy whose Son was sent not to be served but to serve, give grace that I may find in thy service perfect freedom and in that freedom knowledge of thy truth. Grant that I may be a blessing to all thy children, of every faith and belief, that together we may discover the ways of gentleness and be led into the paths of peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
On 6 May 2023, the Coronation of Charles III, King of the United Kingdom and
the Commonwealth Realms, took place. [1]
Actually, he acceded the throne on 8 september 2022, upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II [2]
At the age of 73, he became the oldest person to accede to the British throne, after having been the longest heir apparent and Prince of Wales in British history [3]
His coronation took place at Westminster Abbey, where traditionally
the English monarchs are crowned, [4]
Simultaneously, his wife, Queen Camilla, was also crowned [5],
as is usually the case [6]
ANCIENT MONARCHY/ANCIENT TRADITIONS
A QUICK WALK WITH ASTRID ESSED THROUGH HISTORY!
What I love about this Coronation [and those before] are
the old traditions, which is logically, since the English kings
stand in an impressive tradition of more than thousand years!
The eldest Royal House I can recall is the House of Wessex, in
899 to begin with, under king Alfred the Great! [7]
Before the House of Wessex under Alfred the Great, there was the
”old” House of Wessex, founded by Cerdic of the Gewisse [The West Saxon dynasty], but in those times England was not united, but
consisted of different kingdoms [8]’
[By the way, The House of Wessex was by times interrupted
by the House of Denmark, when England was under Danish control] [9]
It was under Alfred the Great, the first to call himself
”King of the Anglo Saxons [instead of just the West Saxons], that the first steps were
taken to unify England, which was completed by Alfred the Great’s
descendants. [10] The last king from the House of Wessex was king Edward the Confessor [11]I will refer to him later in this Coronation article, with respect to the St Edward’s Crown”…….You will see, o Readers.
And the present English monarchy descents from William the Conqueror,the Duke of Normandy, who conquered England in the Battleof Hastings in 1066, defeating king Harold II [brother in lawof Edward the Confessor], the last Anglo Saxon king [12]
FASCINATING, when you realize, that the Dutch Monarchy only
exists since 1813, being one of the youngest monarchies in
Europe! [13]
I
THE CORONATION CEREMONY
A SACRED CEREMONY
The Coronation Ceremony is firstly a spiritual and sacred one.
But also one of traditional symbols.
Sacred are of course the Oath and the Anointing with the Holy Oil:
THE OATH
ANOINTING THE OIL [Behind Curtains]
THE OATH
The Coronation Ceremony of King Charles III was, like those of
his predecessors, firstly a SACRED Ceremony, which is seen, not only as performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, but in the Kings’ Oath:[The Archbishop]”
Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel? Will you to the utmost of your power maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law?”
[The King]
”All this I promise to do”
[And the King, placing his hand on the Bible]
”The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep. So help me God.” [14]
Now this Holy Oath has everything to do with the fact, that
king Charles III is Head of the Anglican Church [the Church of England] [15], which is tradition since king Henry VIII, who broke with thePope and subsequently the old Catholic Church [called
”Holy Church” in Medieval England] [16]
Yet apart from that breach with the Holy Church, Coronation Ceremonies were always sacred:
See a part from the Oath that king Edward II, one of the forefathers
of king Charles III, took at his Coronation in 1308:[English translation from the original French text]”
Sire, will you in all your judgments, so far as in you lies, preserve to God and Holy Church, and to the people and clergy, entire peace and concord before God?
[Edward II]
I will preserve them.[17] HOWEVER:Oaths, based on the Church of England or on the Catholic Holy Church or not, those Sacred Customs were all based on the concept ofSacred Kingship, or in Western history: the concept of theDivine Right of Kings [18], which also has a pre Christian tradition [19] and is a universal concept from Old Historian Times. [20] Because in old Times [and perhaps the divine right of kingsis based upon that] there was that concept of a king, who wasalso high priest [21]
II ANOINTING THE OIL [SPIRITUAL] The English Coronation Ceremonies are ancient, very ancient,and main elements of
the coronation service and the earliest form of oath can be traced to the ceremony devised by Saint Dunstan for King Edgar’s coronation in 973 AD at Bath Abbey.
It drew on ceremonies used by the kings of the Franks and those used in the ordination of bishops.[22]
But that was then.
Through the centuries, there were different versions of coronation
services [23], but untill the Reformation, based on catholic traditions [24]
With the Reformation, there were changes [25], but some things,
especially regarding the Place of Coronation, the Holy Oil Anointing,
the Crown, the Chair and other traditions, remained largely unchanged.
I refer to those in a moment, a five minutes reading!
ANOINTING THE OILA MOST SACRED CEREMONY, STEMMING FROM THE BIBLE!
The anointing is the most sacred part of the coronation ceremony, and takes place before the crowning.
The Archbishop pours holy oil from the Ampulla (or vessel) into the spoon, and anoints the sovereign on the hands, breast and head [26]
And this Anointing Tradition is based on
the Old Days, especially Biblical Ones!
I refer to the Old Testimony, Book ”Kings”
and quote about the Coronation of King Salomon:
”Then Zadok the priest took a horn of
oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. And they blew the horn, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!”
[Book ”Kings” 1:39] [27]
Anointing was one of the medieval holy sacraments and it emphasised the spiritual status of the sovereign. Until the seventeenth century the sovereign was considered to be appointed directly by God and this was confirmed by the ceremony of anointing. Although the monarch is no longer considered divine in the same way, the ceremony of Coronation also confirms the monarch as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. [28]
BEHIND CURTAINS
And since the anointing is considered as that holy
and sacred, it is NOT for others to see, but hidden for public view.
To hide the anointing for public, king Charles III’s
mother, Queen Elizabeth II, used a canopy, while
king Charles III kicked things up a notch with a full-blown screen [29]
Like I said before, the Coronation Ceremony
is firstly a sacred and religious One and emphasizing
the Divine Right of Kings [although that Divine Right Concept is ancient
and historical], the anointing has to be done in private!
See for important facts and events about the Coronation Ceremonies of English kings since the
Anglo Saxon king Edgar [Reign, 959-975] [30], under note 31!Exciting, isn’t it!
THE ANOINTING OILCHANGED TIMES….. Although the Anointing Ceremony of king Charles IIIwas largerly the same as his predecessors, there were some changes, especially in the use of the AnointingOil:
The holy oil that was traditionally used for coronations past contained civet oil, from the glands of the small mammals, and ambergris from whale intestines. The formula was used at Queen Elizabeth’s ceremony and is hundreds of years old. [32]
However, the holy oil that will be used at Charles’ coronation is vegan-friendly, in order to reflect modern anti-animal cruelty sentiments. It is made with olive oil, pressed just outside Bethlehem, and perfumed with essential oils such as sesame, rose, jasmine, cinnamon, neroli, benzoin and amber and orange blossom. [33]A 21st Century Monarch, Changed timesBut the Essentials of the Coronation are still maintained, despite different personal touchs ofkings throughout the centuries [and sometimes memorable things happened at Coronations] [34] and the change fromthe old Holy Church to the present, protestant Church of England. [35]
III WESTMINSTER ABBEY Interesting historical tradition is, that sincethe ancestor of all English kings [after his conquest ofEngland in 1066], William the Conqueror, allEnglish kings have been crowned at WestminsterAbbey [36] [although according to some sources, the lastAnglo Saxon king, Harold II, who was defeated byWilliam the Conqueror, was also crowned at Westminster Abbey [37]Although…[and forgive me Readers, that my historicalheart takes it over again….] there were apart crowning ceremonies….Because king Henry III, father of the more famous king Edward I and [I mean king Henry III] the son of king John I [alsomentioned ”Lackland”, a brother of kingRichard Coeur de Lion and a greatgreatgrandsonof William the Conqueror] [38], that king Henry III was crowned twice!Firstly at Gloucester Cathedral in 1216 and only in 122o at Westminster Abbey! [39]REASON?When Henry’s father, king John died [Henry was only nine years old], there was stilla rising of noblemen against his father’s government, ”the War with the Barons”, which by the way resulted in the Magna Charta [40]And to make things worse, there was a French invasionalso See for more information, note 41So Henry III was hastily crowned in Gloucester Cathedral in 1216, since at that moment the French occupied London and after more stable times, in 122oin Westminster Abbey! [42]And to make it more fascinating than it already was…..When king Henry had been crowned for the first time,THERE WAS NO ROYAL CROWN!Because during the Baron’s War the Crown had been lost, probably lost as king John crossed oneof the tidal estuaries which empties into the Walsh,being sucked in by quicksand and whirpools…[43]So at his first Coronation, Henry had no Crown andtherefore was crowned with a golden Corolla[headdress] [44], belonging to his mother Isabella ofAngouleme! [45]Interesting, isn’t it? IV ST EDWARD’S CROWN!We’ll stay in the king Henry III times awhile! Because when he was crowned at the second time,and now in Westminster Abbey [See above], he neededa real crown, since his father John’s crown was lost during the Baron’s War.And since king Henry III was a great admirer of Edward the Confessor, one of the last Anglo Saxon kings [the direct predecessor of King Harold, the king who was defeated by William the Conqueror in 1066], he calledthe crown, that was made for him ”St Edward’s Crown”[46]According to some sources it really WAS the crownof Edward the Confessor, but that is open todiscussion I think [47]HOWEVER, the crown with which king Charles III iscrowned, is called ”St Edward’s Crown, but not theoriginal, since a new Crown was made for king Charles II, since after the deposition and executionof his father King Charles I most of the British CrownJewels, the Crown included, were destroyed, broken upor sold off. [48]So the Crown, that is used by the Coronationof king Charles III is the crown of king Charles II from the 17th Century! [49] V CORONATION SPEECH IN ENGLISH! What I found really exciting to learn was this:KingHenry IV, who by the way usurped the thronefrom his cousin Richard II [50] which eventually would cause the Wars of the Roses [51], was the firstEnglish king, who at his Coronation made a speechin English! [52]
Before this, the official language of the court was French, ever since William I conquered England [53]
VI
MORE TRADITIONS AND SYMBOLS AT THE CORONATION
CEREMONY/THE SPOON, THE ANCIENT SPOON!
THE SPOON
What makes the Coronation so fascinating, are,
as I said before, the ancient traditions.
Like the use of the Coronation Spoon, dated from the 12th century and probably made for either king
Henry II or his son king Richard Coeur de Lion
[respectively the father and brother of king John, alsonamed ”Lackland”, from whom all present Englishkings descent] It is also the only
piece of royal goldsmiths’ work to survive from the 12th century! [54]
So unique!
The spoon is first recorded in 1349 as preserved among St Edward’s Regalia in Westminster Abbey. Already at this date it is described as a spoon of ‘antique forme’ [55]
About the role of the Coronation Spoon:
The Archbishop pours holy oil from the Ampulla (or vessel) [the ampulla was made for the
Coronation of king Charles II] into the spoon, and anoints the sovereign on the hands, breast and head. [56]
Interesting is, that the Spoon may originally have been used for mixing wine and water in a chalice, but it was certainly used for anointing the sovereign during the coronation of James I in 1603, son of the executed Mary, Queen of Scots, successor
of Queen Elizabeth I and the first Sovereign from the House of
Stuart and a unified England and Scotland, and at every subsequent coronation. [57]
VII
THE CHAIR/THE CORONATION CHAIR!
Also a very ancient and fascinating symbol
is the 700 years old Coronation Chair!
The Coronation Chair was made by order of Edward I [58] to enclose the famous Stone of Scone [59], which he brought [stole, remark bij Astrid Essed see note 60] from Scotland to the Abbey in 1296, where he placed it in the care of the Abbot of Westminster.
The Stone of Scone had been used by Scottish kings for centuries to sit upon when they were crowned! [61]
The Chair has been in use at the coronation ceremony since 1308 although opinion is divided as to when it was actually used for the crowning, but this was certainly the case from 1399 when
Henry IV was crowned in the Chair. [62]And after king Henry IV, nearly all English kings were crownedin that Chair [63] Just fascinating, when you think that the present king Charles III is crowned in a Chair, that his ancestor king Edward I has ordered to make at the beginning of the 14th century! [64]
VIII AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST:THE KING’S CHAMPION! I described some fascinating symbols and aspects ofthe Coronation, which is [see above] a Sacred CeremonySee about yet more details, note 65 However, the last fascinating aspect I want to share with you,o Readers, is ….”The King’s Champion!”……. which is atypically Medieval symbol! [66] As far as my investigation reaches, King’s Championtraditions stems from William the Conqueror, that Duke of Normandy, who conquered England in 1066 and laid the foundation of the present British Monarchy [all subsequent kingsare his descendants] [67] This is how it went and how the King’s Champion tradition took shape:
When William, the Conqueror seized the English throne in 1066, he asked his friend Robert Marmion to act as his Champion. Marmion’s role was to literally throw down the gauntlet, openly challenging anyone doubting the new king’s legitimacy, to prove their case through armed combat. [68]
This was not a formality or a mere ceremony in the Middle Ages, but,
given the violent times then, a real Danger……
To make a long story short, out of gratitude for risking his life, Marmion was given an estate at Scrivelsby, in
Lincolnshire.
The grant for this sets out that:
”The manor of Scrivelsby is holden … the service of finding on the day of Coronation, an armed knight who shall prove by his body, if need be, that the King is true and rightful heir to the kingdom.” [69]
Interesting is, that over the centuries, not only
the tradition of ”The King’s Champion” survived, but
that the role of King’s Champion remained with
Marmion’s descendants, who, since 1350, have been
the Dymoke Family [70]
Their family motto is the Latin phrase ”Pro Rege Dimico”
a play on their name, implying ”I contend for the King” [71]
See under note 72 the role of the Dymoke Family at theCoronation of King Edward IV [during the Wars of the Roses, with the Astrid Essed remark, that the PlantagenetBranch of the House of Edward IV, the House of York,had a superior claim to the English throne [73] THE KING’S CHAMPION IN ACTION! I already referred to the violent ancient times in whichthe role of the King’s Champion was notjust a ceremony.The last time however, the King’s Champion reallyperformed the ancient role of throwing down the gauntletwas at the coronation of King George IV! [74] THE KING’S CHAMPIONMODERN TIMES We are living in modern times now and F
rancis Dymoke won’t ride into King Charles III’s coronation on horseback and challenge any pretender to the throne to single combat as his ancestor did in 1066, but he will carry the Royal Standard into Westminster Abbey. [75]
Dymoke, a 67-year-old farmer from eastern England, will be the King’s Champion at the coronation, fulfilling a role performed by members of his family since William the Conqueror was crowned nearly 1,000 years ago……
An old tradition, anyway, although not so ”romantic” anymore
like in the ancient times……
Although I like Dymoke’s comment on his ceremonial
role as ”King’s Champion”
”“This is the one moment in my life that really matters,” ,
as he had told the Daily Telegraph [76]
Apart from the modern times we live in, one of
the reasons the King’s Champion doesn’t fullfill his
original role is this:
The King’s Champion originally rode into the coronation banquet on horseback, threw down a gauntlet and challenged anyone who doubted the king or queen’s right to rule.
BUT:
there hasn’t been a coronation banquet since 1821, so Champions now perform other roles, usually bearing a flag or standard, the palace said. [77]
MODERN TIMES…..END You and I, readers, have watched the Coronation ofthe new English king, Charles III [78], followedthe symbols and traditions.Travelled through the Ages in which the Coronationstook shape, with the fascinating history of the CrownJewels, the 12th century Coronation Spoon, the 700years old Coronation Chair, the St Edward’s Crown,the King’s Champion, all those ancient andmeaningful traditions, from the Middle Ages untillModern Times. Much is changed, yet the tradition and the Bond with History remains.I will end with the words, king Charles III uttered at his Coronation:”I come not to be served, but to serve” [79] Readers, it was nice to travel with you to history againand….end in those modern times! Hope you enjoyed it [I CERTAINLY DID!] See to my next article Then I travel with you to the Middle Ages againThe Time of the Wars of the Roses! My next article will be about Richard Neville, the 16th Earl of Warwick, the Kingmaker! [80] See you then ASTRID ESSED NOTES NOTES 1 AND 2
Britain’s King Charles III has been crowned in a once-in-a-generation royal eventwitnessed by hundreds of high-profile guests inside Westminster Abbey, as well as tens of thousands of well-wishers who gathered in central London despite the rain.
While Charles became King on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II last September, the coronation on Saturday was the formal crowning of the monarch.
The service was a profoundly religious affair, reflecting the fact that aside from being head of state of the United Kingdom and 14 other countries, Charles is also the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
In the most significant moment of the day, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed the 360-year-old St. Edward’s Crown on Charles’ head. The spiritual leader of the Anglican Church then declared: “God Save the King.”
The intricateservice lasted just over two hours – about an hour shorter than Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 – and followed a traditional template that has stayed much the same for more than 1,000 years.
However, it has been modernized in certain key ways. The archbishop acknowledged the multiple faiths observed in the UK during the ceremony, saying the Church of England “will seek to foster an environment in which people of all faiths may live freely.”
The King took the Coronation Oath and became the first monarch to pray aloud at his coronation. In his prayer he asked to “be a blessing” to people “of every faith and conviction.”
In what is considered the most sacred part of the ceremony, the King was anointed with holy oil by the Archbishop of Canterbury. He was also presented with the coronation regalia, including the royal Robe and Stole, in what is known as the investiture part of the service.
Then, for the first time in coronation history, the archbishop invited the British public, as well as those from “other Realms,” to recite a pledge of allegiance to the newly crowned monarch and his “heirs and successors.”
Ahead of the event, some parts of the British media and public interpreted the invitation as a command, reporting that people had been “asked” and “called” to swear allegiance to the King. In the face of such criticism, the Church of England revised the text of the liturgy so that members of the public would be given a choice between saying simply “God save King Charles” or reciting the full pledge of allegiance.
The ceremony also included a reading from the Bible by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and, in another coronation first, gospel music.
Once the King was crowned, his wife, Queen Camilla, was crowned in her own, shorter ceremony with Queen Mary’s Crown – marking the first time in recent history that a new crown wasn’t made specifically for this occasion.
Music played a central part in the proceedings, and five new compositions were commissioned for the main part of the service, including an anthem by Lloyd Webber, who is better known for West End musicals.
Charles and Camilla arrived at Westminster Abbey in a splendid coach drawn by six horses, accompanied by the Household Cavalry.
After the ceremony, the newly crowned King and Queen rode back to Buckingham Palace in a much larger parade, featuring 4,000 members of the armed forces, 250 horses and 19 military bands.
The pomp and pageantry concluded with a royal salute and the customary balcony appearance by the King and family members.They and the crowds below watched a flypast of military aircraft, slimmed down because of the poor weather.
Star-studded guest list
Some royal fans spent several days camping along the 1.3-mile (2km) route from Buckingham Palace, the British monarchy’s official London residence, to Westminster Abbey, the nation’s coronation church since 1066, in order to secure the best vantage point.
By early Saturday, the London Metropolitan Police Service announced that all viewing areas along the procession route were full and closed off to new arrivals.
The congregation, while including some 2,300 people, was much smaller than it was in 1953 when temporary structures had to be erected within the abbey to accommodate the more than 8,000 people on the guest list.
The doors to the abbey opened just before 8 a.m. local time and quickly started to fill up. Many of the guests, including top British officials, faith leaders and international representatives, were expected to take their seats more than an hour before the ceremony started – reflecting the huge logistical challenges presented by an event attended by hundreds of VIPs.
The guest list was a Who’s Who of British public life and politics: All Sunak’s living predecessors as prime minister were there: Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, UK opposition leader Keir Starmer and Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt were also in attendance.
Approximately 100 of heads of states from around the world and dozens of members of foreign royal families traveled to London for the occasion.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel all attended the service, as did French President Emmanuel Macron.
US President Joe Biden did not travel to London. Instead US first lady Jill Biden led the American delegation, sitting next to Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska.
Plenty of celebrities also made an appearance, including singers Lionel Richie and Katy Perry, musician Nick Cave, actresses Emma Thompson, Maggie Smith, Joanna Lumley and Judi Dench, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and broadcaster Stephen Fry.
Last to arrive, just before the King and Queen, were the most senior members of King Charles’ family, his siblings and children, including Prince Harry who traveled to the UK from the US without his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex and their two young children. Saturday is also Prince Archie’s 4th birthday.
Following the ceremony, Prince Harry did not appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony with his father and selected members of the family. CNN understands that the prince, who is no longer a working royal, did not receive an invitation to join the family for this moment.
The King’s younger brother Prince Andrew was also missing from the traditional balcony appearance. Andrew stepped back from royal duties in 2019 over his ties to disgraced financier and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. In January 2022, Andrew was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages after a judge ruled a sexual abuse civil lawsuit filed against him by Virginia Giuffre could proceed. The prince repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and the case was later settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.
Controversies ahead of the big day
Despite the splendor of the occasion, it has not been without controversy. Some have objected to millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money being spent on a lavish ceremony at a time when millions of Britons are suffering a severe cost-of-living crisis.
Security is by far the most costly element of large events and the Met said ahead of time that Saturday would be the largest one-day policing operation in decades, with more than 11,500 officers on duty in London.
The coronation has also attracted anti-monarchy demonstrations, with a small number of protesters arrested in central London on Saturday morning before the event began.
Republic, a campaign group that calls for the abolition of the monarchy, said the idea of the “homage of the people” was “offensive, tone deaf and a gesture that holds the people in contempt.”
Some eyebrows were also raised earlier this week when a controversial and widely criticized UK public order bill came into force.
Since the death of Queen Elizabeth II last year, there have been a number of instances of anti-monarchists turning up at royal engagements to voice their grievances against the institution.
The new rules, signed into law by the King on Tuesday, just days before the coronation, empower the police to take stronger action against peaceful protesters.
Republic said it was expecting between 1,500 and 2,000 people to join an anti-monarchy protest at Trafalgar Square, just south of the royal procession route. On Saturday morning, Republic said on Twitter that organizers of the protest had been arrested shortly after the demonstration started – including the group’s leader, Graham Smith.
The Metropolitan Police tweeted: “Earlier today we arrested four people in the area of St Martin’s Lane. They were held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance.”
A further three people were arrested “on suspicion of possessing articles to cause criminal damage,” the force added. And “a number of arrests” have been made of people suspected of breaching the peace.
Despite the pomp of Saturday’s events, the King is facing significant challenges. A CNN poll has found that Britons are more likely to say their views of the monarchy have worsened than improved over the past decade.
The results of the survey, conducted for CNN by the polling company Savanta in March, show Charles’ heir Prince William is viewed with greater affection than his father.
Despite their cooler attitude towards the King, most Britons say they plan to take part in at least one event related to the coronation this weekend, the poll found, with many communities planning street parties and lunches.
Artists Perry, Richie and Take That will headline the “Coronation Concert” at Windsor Castle on Sunday evening and people have also been encouraged to use Monday, the final day of the long weekend, to volunteer in their communities.
King Charles III has officially delivered his first speech as British monarch. In an address recorded in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace earlier this afternoon, Charles spoke of his beloved mother, who he said always saw the best in people, and promised his lifelong service.
“I shall endeavor to serve you with loyalty, respect, and love,” he said.
Here, read King Charles
Here, read King Charles III’s first speech in full:
I speak to you today with feelings of profound sorrow. Throughout her life, Her Majesty The Queen – my beloved Mother – was an inspiration and example to me and to all my family, and we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family can owe to their mother; for her love, affection, guidance, understanding and example. Queen Elizabeth was a life well lived; a promise with destiny kept and she is mourned most deeply in her passing. That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today.
Alongside the personal grief that all my family are feeling, we also share with so many of you in the United Kingdom, in all the countries where The Queen was Head of State, in the Commonwealth and across the world, a deep sense of gratitude for the more than seventy years in which my Mother, as Queen, served the people of so many nations.
In 1947, on her twenty-first birthday, she pledged in a broadcast from Cape Town to the Commonwealth to devote her life, whether it be short or long, to the service of her peoples. That was more than a promise: it was a profound personal commitment which defined her whole life. She made sacrifices for duty. Her dedication and devotion as Sovereign never wavered, through times of change and progress, through times of joy and celebration, and through times of sadness and loss. In her life of service we saw that abiding love of tradition, together with that fearless embrace of progress, which make us great as Nations. The affection, admiration and respect she inspired became the hallmark of her reign. And, as every member of my family can testify, she combined these qualities with warmth, humour and an unerring ability always to see the best in people.
I pay tribute to my Mother’s memory and I honour her life of service. I know that her death brings great sadness to so many of you and I share that sense of loss, beyond measure, with you all. When The Queen came to the throne, Britain and the world were still coping with the privations and aftermath of the Second World War, and still living by the conventions of earlier times. In the course of the last seventy years we have seen our society become one of many cultures and many faiths. The institutions of the State have changed in turn. But, through all changes and challenges, our nation and the wider family of Realms – of whose talents, traditions and achievements I am so inexpressibly proud – have prospered and flourished. Our values have remained, and must remain, constant.
The role and the duties of Monarchy also remain, as does the Sovereign’s particular relationship and responsibility towards the Church of England – the Church in which my own faith is so deeply rooted. In that faith, and the values it inspires, I have been brought up to cherish a sense of duty to others, and to hold in the greatest respect the precious traditions, freedoms and responsibilities of our unique history and our system of parliamentary government. As The Queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself, throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the Constitutional principles at the heart of our nation. And wherever you may live in the United Kingdom, or in the Realms and territories across the world, and whatever may be your background or beliefs, I shall endeavour to serve you with loyalty, respect and love, as I have throughout my life.
My life will of course change as I take up my new responsibilities. It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply. But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others. This is also a time of change for my family. I count on the loving help of my darling wife, Camilla. In recognition of her own loyal public service since our marriage seventeen years ago, she becomes my Queen Consort. I know she will bring to the demands of her new role the steadfast devotion to duty on which I have come to rely so much.
As my Heir, William now assumes the Scottish titles which have meant so much to me. He succeeds me as Duke of Cornwall and takes on the responsibilities for the Duchy of Cornwall which I have undertaken for more than five decades. Today, I am proud to create him Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the country whose title I have been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty. With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given. I want also to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas.
In a little over a week’s time we will come together as a nation, as a Commonwealth and indeed a global community, to lay my beloved mother to rest. In our sorrow, let us remember and draw strength from the light of her example. On behalf of all my family, I can only offer the most sincere and heartfelt thanks for your condolences and support. They mean more to me than I can ever possibly express.
And to my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this: thank you. Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years. May “flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest”..
”At the age of 73, he became the oldest person to accede to the British throne, after having been the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales in British history”
”Once the King was crowned, his wife, Queen Camilla, was crowned in her own, shorter ceremony with Queen Mary’s Crown – marking the first time in recent history that a new crown wasn’t made specifically for this occasion.”
CNN
KING CHARLES IS CROWNED IN ONCE IN A GENERATION CEREMONY
”Following that, the monarch is anointed with holy oil, invested with regalia, and crowned, before receiving the homage of their subjects. Consorts of kings are then anointed and crowned as queens”
”After ascending the throne, Alfred spent several years fighting Viking invasions. He won a decisive victory in the Battle of Edington in 878 and made an agreement with the Vikings, dividing England between Anglo-Saxon territory and the Viking-ruled Danelaw, composed of Scandinavian York, the north-east Midlands and East Anglia. Alfred also oversaw the conversion of Viking leader Guthrum to Christianity. He defended his kingdom against the Viking attempt at conquest, becoming the dominant ruler in England.[3] Alfred began styling himself as “King of the Anglo-Saxons” after reoccupying London from the Vikings. Details of his life are described in a work by 9th-century Welsh scholar and bishop Asser.”
IMAGE SOURCE,PA MEDIA
Fig 3: The north-transept façade of the Abbey offered the most direct connection between the Palace and the Abbey. The reconstruction of the nave continued into the 15th century. Westminster Abbey photographed for Country Life magazine by Paul Highnam.