The coronation carriage, isn't this a bit excessive?

[conniegirl]

@Cortez you are fortunate to live in a republic. Apparently all other European monarchs manage without a coronation.

Yes but none have the tourist draw of the British monarchy and that is due to the fact they don’t do anywhere near as much pomp as we do.

This weekend is forecasted to make the UK economy £1bn. Thats just one day. The amount they bring in throughout the year and the draw they have for overseas tourists shouldn’t be underestimated.

We have very little else to offer in terms of tourist attraction! Were a damp, foggy isle, where a holiday costs a fortune. (Its cheaper to go to spain all inclusive for 2 weeks than 1 week self catering in the cotswolds)

 

[Tracking_up]

Estimated at around 100 million.

and presumably a good proportion of that £100m will be paid to UK based companies/people and UK economy? that might be the figure it costs to put on, but it's being spent on people/stuff, even, eg the banners hanging from lamp posts? The 'cost' will go into the economy somehow, let along the increase in revenue form tourists etc as a result of the spectacle?

 

[Cortez]

@Cortez you are fortunate to live in a republic. Apparently all other European monarchs manage without a coronation.

Oh what a shame, major missed opportunity IMO. I always enjoy watching the King of Spain when he's out and about in his carriage with the mounted police on their beautiful horses, AND mounted band.

 

[dogatemysalad]

The shopkeepers in our market town have decorated their windows and hung flags at their own expense, unlike when the council buys rainbow flags and holds pride events at the taxpayers expense. Policing continual protests costs the taxpayer millions and takes away resources for tackling crime.
The cost of living argument rolled out by the left wing seems to be very selective. Councils and governments choose how to spend our taxes. We don't have a choice, but if we did, I don't think it would be the coronation that suffered a shortfall.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Right, but I still don't consider an unelected head of state to be democratic.

An unelected head of state who has NO power

 

[ycbm]

I love it that they will be using and wearing actual stuff from pictures painted of other monarchs centuries ago. Not stuff that looks the same, the actual one that was painted in 12 or 14 whatever. (I saw Starkey talking about it, I forget the actual years.) Amazing
.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

The shopkeepers in our market town have decorated their windows and hung flags at their own expense, unlike when the council buys rainbow flags and holds pride events at the taxpayers expense. Policing continual protests costs the taxpayer millions and takes away resources for tackling crime.
The cost of living argument rolled out by the left wing seems to be very selective. Councils and governments choose how to spend our taxes. We don't have a choice, but if we did, I don't think it would be the coronation that suffered a shortfall.

The left wing don't half get accused of some stuff on here!

 

[tristar]

That's kind of how tradition works.....

well lots of things are tradition, but does tradition never change , evolve in order to, say for example enable the monarchy to survive.

president higgins i believe is a uni professor, the future king does not have similar credentials, or education.

 

[Cortez]

The left wing don't half get accused of some stuff on here!

I presume the Left has more than one wing?

 

[ycbm]

An unelected head of state who has NO power

My husband keeps pointing out to me that he does have powers. I keep repeating that the day he actually uses them against the will of the people or against Parliament will be the day we become a Republic.
.

 

[ycbm]

I presume the Left has more than one wing?

Not from the way it flies round and round in circles. The right wing of course doing the same in the opposite direction.

 

[Cortez]

well lots of things are tradition, but does tradition never change , evolve in order to, say for example enable the monarchy to survive.

president higgins i believe is a uni professor, the future king does not have similar credentials, or education.

I believe King Charles is the first of his line to have gained a University degree? Michael D. is an academic and a poet, neither of which are of much credence for Presidenting. He gets slapped down fairly promptly whenever an opinion surfaces.

 

[tristar]

Insanely over the top the whole thing. Dont use a carriage, but hell dont use 8 horses worth - the risk of incident must be massive. I bet some protestor will chuck something at the horses, why risk that? Poor horses is all I can say, way too stressful for them. The expense is horrific in current times when so many are struggling. I get the UK is famous for its ponce but this is going to be ridiculous. Leave the horses out of it I say. Dont even want him king, he should have gracefully handed it straight down to William! Its boring having old farts as the top dogs, someone younger would be
better.

there was a controlled explosion by police last evening, near the palace.

keep the animals out of it i say

 

[reynold]

@tristar - I believe that the King does have a university degree (but I could be wrong). He also had a significant career in the military both navy and flying.

 

[sakura]

I wasn't going to reply again, but I will to those who quoted me out of respect.

1. Yes, I am aware it's not a new carriage. I am also aware that is a symbol of an empire that did more harm than good.

2. The royal family may not have any real power, but they are a powerful symbol. A symbol of a by gone era that I believe belongs in the past and have no desire to celebrate. I would rather my tax money be spent elsewhere. If you are happy with the cost, that's great!

3. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will make me feel at ease with an extravagant pomp and ceremony and golden carriage when the demand for food banks has never been higher. The two just cannot co-exist in my brain.

As I said, I will leave you all to enjoy the coronation and the royal family - but I will remain uncomfortable with the entire institution and won't be celebrating it. I felt the same for the jubilee and the funeral. I worked all the bank holidays out of choice.

I really am leaving this thread now though, because I don't like discussing a family who I don't personally like and find morally dubious at best.

Enjoy Saturday, and have a good day. The horses are beautiful and I wish them and their riders well.

 

[Sandstone1]

It would be interesting to know how much it all cost V the amount of money it will bring in via tourism. Im not a massive royalist but will watch as its a very historic event and will very likely be the last Coronation of its kind.

 

[teapot]

It would be interesting to know how much it all cost V the amount of money it will bring in via tourism. Im not a massive royalist but will watch as its a very historic event and will very likely be the last Coronation of its kind.

The Queen’s jubilee weekend last year apparently generated a figure into the billions so… it won’t be pennies for sure.

There’s also this element as well https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...tion-generates-a-princely-sum-for-uk-business

 

[Goldenstar]

well lots of things are tradition, but does tradition never change , evolve in order to, say for example enable the monarchy to survive.

president higgins i believe is a uni professor, the future king does not have similar credentials, or education.

Of course tradition changes this coronation will be different to the last and very different to those in the more distant past .
This is the first time the senior members of aristocracy won’t swear allegiance it’s much shorter ceremony but it is in essence a piece of medieval theatre .

 

[tristar]

Of course tradition changes this coronation will be different to the last and very different to those in the more distant past .
This is the first time the senior members of aristocracy won’t swear allegiance it’s much shorter ceremony but it is in essence a piece of medieval theatre .


well medieval theatre is a good way to describe it

 

[blitznbobs]

They are v sensible. Its busy, there are nutters out there and the carriage is essentially priceless… and all those people who work with those horses day in day out deserve their moment in the spot light/ history - so the more the merrier for me. Im not particularly for or against the monarchy and I am certainly more interested in what happens in badminton than central london but I like the fact we do the pomp and ceremony so well and it brings a lot of money into the country tol.

 

[Fransurrey]

Of course it's over the top (the whole golden carriage/prancy white horses/loads of lackeys thing), it's meant to be! You're crowning a king, not doing the weekly shop.

I'd pay good money to watch them stop off at the corner offie so Camilla could pick up a twirl and some fags.

 

[Fransurrey]

I don't think we really need a monarchy these days, but as has been pointed out, they cost less than £1.50 per year per tax payer, so on the basis they bring in a lot more revenue than they take, I accept it (and even enjoy the pomp). I'm more outraged to be honest by MPs claiming expenses and am disappointed by how little I see THAT protested against (in general - I appreciate that posters to this thread will be outraged by both!).

 

[AmyMay]

I don't think we really need a monarchy these days, but as has been pointed out, they cost less than £1.50 per year per tax payer, so on the basis they bring in a lot more revenue than they take, I accept it (and even enjoy the pomp). I'm more outraged to be honest by MPs claiming expenses and am disappointed by how little I see THAT protested against (in general - I appreciate that posters to this thread will be outraged by both!).

 

[criso]

My husband keeps pointing out to me that he does have powers. I keep repeating that the day he actually uses them against the will of the people or against Parliament will be the day we become a Republic.
.

That's the thing, people forget because they're not used. Apparently 1834 and William IV was the last time.

I can see the argument that given we already have a monarch, keeping it for purely ceremonial reasons and a head of state could be cost effective compared to a president but I would support removing any residual powers and this swearing allegiance nonsense.


I also wonder of where we would be if Andrew was the eldest and we'd be facing having a sexual predator on the throne and no option to reject or remove him.

Re the tourism, I'm not sure how much is actually related to the monarch and how much is the historic buildings and trappings. Buckingham Palace with some people dressing up and horses will be a tourist attraction whatever the role and type of monarchy. The Tower of London although owned by the crown, doesn't play any current role, it's a tourist attraction which does nicely without any involvement.

The removal in vat free shopping is estimated to be costing 3 billion a year as US and middle east tourist go elsewhere suggesting that Chanel is as big a draw as Charles. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/busines...-britain-more-than-3bn-tourists-flock-france/

There are so many reasons people come to the UK and the history will still be there for those that want it.


And I mentioned on the other thread that while there will be people converging on London, I couldn't get a cheap flight to leave in the days running up to it suggesting that lots of people were leaving the UK too that week but I did the weeks after. I was looking any time in May. Airlines price by demand and there seemed to be high demand to get out this week.

Coronations don't happen that often so the cost in terms of the overall UK budget isn't a huge burden per year

Eta there's space for nuance and for something between never change anything because it's always been like this and put them up against the wall and replace buck house with a Tesco's.

 

[Burnttoast]

@tristar - I believe that the King does have a university degree (but I could be wrong). He also had a significant career in the military both navy and flying.

A 2.2 from Cambridge in a soft subject having entered Trinity with a B and a C at A level. So there was a place that might have gone to a gifted state-school applicant but didn't because..... it's not like he needed a degree for his career, unlike ordinary mortals

 

[scruffyponies]

The 'cost to the taxpayer thing seems to be a bit of a canard. The consensus seems to be approx £100m cost, ~£1bn benefit
...plus an extra bank holiday, which has to be worth something

 

[teapot]

That's the thing, people forget because they're not used. Apparently 1834 and William IV was the last time.

I can see the argument that given we already have a monarch, keeping it for purely ceremonial reasons and a head of state could be cost effective compared to a president but I would support removing any residual powers and this swearing allegiance nonsense.


I also wonder of where we would be if Andrew was the eldest and we'd be facing having a sexual predator on the throne and no option to reject or remove him.

Re the tourism, I'm not sure how much is actually related to the monarch and how much is the historic buildings and trappings. Buckingham Palace with some people dressing up and horses will be a tourist attraction whatever the role and type of monarchy. The Tower of London although owned by the crown, doesn't play any current role, it's a tourist attraction which does nicely without any involvement.

The removal in vat free shopping is estimated to be costing 3 billion a year as US and middle east tourist go elsewhere suggesting that Chanel is as big a draw as Charles. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/busines...-britain-more-than-3bn-tourists-flock-france/

There are so many reasons people come to the UK and the history will still be there for those that want it.


And I mentioned on the other thread that while there will be people converging on London, I couldn't get a cheap flight to leave in the days running up to it suggesting that lots of people were leaving the UK too that week but I did the weeks after. I was looking any time in May. Airlines price by demand and there seemed to be high demand to get out this week.

Coronations don't happen that often so the cost in terms of the overall UK budget isn't a huge burden per year

Eta there's space for nuance and for something between never change anything because it's always been like this and put them up against the wall and replace buck house with a Tesco's.

The Tower of London absolutely does play a role - it’s the gatekeeper to the safety of the crown, the orb and various other priceless objects. Far safer than any bank vault, and makes money in the process.

There’s a reason the ceremony of keys is still such a big thing, and as a royal palace continues to have an active guard duty 365 days of the year.

 

[ycbm]

suggesting that lots of people were leaving the UK too that week

So would I if I had a house in or near London that I could Airb'n'b for a fortune for the week

Seriously, though, why wouldn't you leave if the crowds aren't your thing? I'll bet tons of people leave that area of Devon while Glastonbury is on.

 

[criso]

So would I if I had a house in or near London that I could Airb'n'b for a fortune for the week

Seriously, though, why wouldn't you leave if the crowds aren't your thing? I'll bet tons of people leave that area of Devon while Glastonbury is on.

Glastonbury is in Somerset.

People flying out of Gatwick and Heathrow are from various parts of the UK not just London and Londoners could just go out of London not abroad.

Actually outside that bit of zone 1 you wouldn't be affected. I'll see more of coronation stuff in the village in Herts where i keep my horse that has a more royalist demographic, there'll be very little in my bit of north london, there was nothing for the jubilee or funeral.

I was just hoping for a cheap flight and wanted to go in may but had to go later than planned.

 

[ester]

No one leaves Somerset either we just don’t go anywhere the first or last days