The Coronation has been a particularly divisive matter in recent years, sparking a discussion about the monarchy and its relevance in the modern world. Monarchs represent the worst of the old imperialist era, and many people have moved on to recognize them for what they indeed are: an expense. In an age when democracy and equality are highly cherished, the idea of having a hereditary monarch who acquires power and privilege just by birth appears anachronistic. It perpetuates social hierarchies and creates a class divide by allowing monarchs to live lives of luxury and right at taxpayers’ expense. At the same time, the majority of citizens struggle to make ends meet.
And the recent crowning has exposed a couple of the monarchy’s flaws. For one thing, it has demonstrated how ingrained the institution is, with people considering the coronation as a foregone conclusion. It maintains the royal family’s power and privilege, and the public is expected to celebrate the coronation despite just a few actual advantages coming to the general people. In many respects, spending millions of pounds on such an event is difficult to justify when so many critical societal concerns need to be addressed.
Furthermore, the coronation obscures many of the issues the royal family faces. While the monarchy may present a façade of stability and prosperity, the public is unaware of many problems behind the scenes. The coronation perpetuates the notion of a perfect royal family, effectively papering over all the issues that have arisen. It’s no secret that Prince Andrew had a significant connection to the now-deceased Jeffery Epstein. He was allowed to wear his royal regalia (supposed to symbolize his honor and chivalry) while Prince Harry was banned from wearing his military uniform; the shade is quite frankly unbelievable! All to see a 75-year-old man and his former mistress turned queen consort bejewel themselves in decadence and finery stolen from former colonies worldwide.
I won’t lie; having this exceedingly extravagant coronation while many across the United Kingdom had trouble heating their homes this past winter feels a bit sinister, but when you add on the request for every citizen, or peasant might be a better term, to ‘pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and your heirs and successors according to law,’ it gives medieval and something about that grinds my gears as an unintentional American.
We can’t judge Meghan for staying home to celebrate her son Archie’s 4th birthday. Im sure you, too, would rather be at a party than commemorating the passing of a colonialist’s title onto the next decrepit elder. The coronation had a strange vibe that was honestly deeply unappealing to the senses and didn’t even get me started on the faces made by the reggae choir that performed to honor King Charles. There were just so many things that were strange about this coronation.
