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

[Flame_]

I don't support the crowning of a king, so I resent my tax money going towards the extravagance

A lot of money circulating the system giving people jobs, giving horses comfortable lives and boosting the tourism industry. It's splendid and regarding all the safety protocols, anyone who's been around driving horses knows that when it goes wrong, the potential magnitude of the disaster it could lead to is limitless, especially when you're talking eight horses strapped to a carriage that size and weight surrounded by public. I've not read the whole thread yet but if it's not already up, check out the Budweiser horses' display incident for a super example of how to shut down a crisis before it escalates.

 

[Flame_]

But do we really think its sensible these days to have 8 horses pulling an extremely heavy coach in a highly stressful situation? They can practice as much as they like but nothing will prepare those horses for the actual experience on the day. If one horse freaked out or fell etc. then it'd be pretty embarrassing and dreadful to watch on TV all round the world so why risk it?

That's a pretty good point tbf. He could just go in a really flash, open top classic car and remove a lot of the safety hazards from this and stress for the horses. They've got all the army horses escorting.

 

[Cortez]

That's a pretty good point tbf. He could just go in a really flash, open top classic car and remove a lot of the safety hazards from this and stress for the horses. They've got all the army horses escorting.

BORING!

 

[fetlock]

That's a pretty good point tbf. He could just go in a really flash, open top classic car and remove a lot of the safety hazards from this and stress for the horses. They've got all the army horses escorting.

The open top car worked well for JFK.

 

[Goldenstar]

The open top car worked well for JFK.

Fair point

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

That's a pretty good point tbf. He could just go in a really flash, open top classic car and remove a lot of the safety hazards from this and stress for the horses. They've got all the army horses escorting.

But then you would climate protestors there kicking off about the use of a car.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I'm personally here nor there about the monarchy now the Queen is no longer. I won't be watching the whole shebang because I will be working but I do not resent nor begrudge the public their spectacle. Thats what the royal family is about. Pomp, ceremony and spectacle. The world watches us do it best and can they only ever wish to hope to emulate it in some very small way. They will never beat what Britain has to offer.

 

[teapot]

But then you would climate protestors there kicking off about the use of a car.

One of his personal cars runs on some form of biofuel…

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

One of his personal cars runs on some form of biofuel…

Is it an old Volvo Estate that you can run on the cooking oil from the chippies?!

 

[Penguin_Toes]

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.

I enjoy watching the King of Spain any time, silver fox that he is!

 

[ycbm]

Glastonbury is in Somerset

I never was good at geography

 

[ycbm]

Lots of people saying this will be the last ever full ceremonial coronation. I think they are probably right, depending on how long Charles reigns.

 

[ponynutz]

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.

I don’t think the cost of living is a left wing argument it’s just a fact

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I presume the Left has more than one wing?

I don't know its not mine

I don’t think the cost of living is a left wing argument it’s just a fact

And there certainly isn't a choice between funding a Coronation every 70 yrs (I know it won't be 70 yrs to the next one) and ensuring that no-one needs to use a foodbank! That is about the choices that this gvt has made over the last 12 yrs and the public money that they have wasted for no return to the taxpayer whatsoever. At least the Coronation will generate genuine funds for genuine businesses and tax to go into the public purse.

 

[teapot]

Is it an old Volvo Estate that you can run on the cooking oil from the chippies?!

Slightly nicer, an Aston

Prince Charles reveals his car runs on cheese and wine byproducts

Charles’s ‘quaint’ solution to decarbonise his Aston Martin using high blend of bioethanol is not scalable, experts say

www.theguardian.com

 

[SEL]

I'm personally here nor there about the monarchy now the Queen is no longer. I won't be watching the whole shebang because I will be working but I do not resent nor begrudge the public their spectacle. Thats what the royal family is about. Pomp, ceremony and spectacle. The world watches us do it best and can they only ever wish to hope to emulate it in some very small way. They will never beat what Britain has to offer.

Exactly.

And if I was Queen I'd want that carriage pulled by gold unicorns.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Exactly.

And if I was Queen I'd want that carriage pulled by gold unicorns.

Your downselling yourself! Only a fleet of Pegasi will do! Flying you down in from the sky like the Beauxbaton school did!

I personally would stride in all on my tod on an alicorn. Much more of a statement grabber

 

[fetlock]

If I was Queen I’d have mine pulled by this lot (excuse the expression…)

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

If I was Queen I’d have mine pulled by this lot (excuse the expression…)

I'd want them in the carriage with me

 

[J&S]

The thing is, it's not just about here and now, its History! (or will be). I was alive when Queen Elizabeth 11 was crowned, we all went to the only house in the street that had a telly. I am going to watch this coronation, I may not be alive to watch the next one, what ever form it may take. I just hope it goes smoothly, no humans or horses hurt, or worse.

 

[cobgoblin]

I'd watch if the carriage was pulled by dragons
Might sort out any JSO or ER protesters too.

 

[Nudibranch]

As I said on the other thread, I'm not particularly a royal fan. But I find it staggering that so many people are so angry about the coronation/idea of a monarchy/etc etc, while apparently accepting an at best incompetent, at worst criminal, elected government that have systematically driven the UK into the ground. The coronation is excellent value in light of the disgraceful abuse of public finances over the last decade.

 

[Annagain]

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!).

There’s a huge difference between MPs claiming expenses and fraudulently over claiming which has been the issue in the media over the last few years.

They have jobs which require them to work in two different locations (their constituency and Westminster) and maintain two offices (a lot of the expenses will be for offices rather than personal residences). It is entirely proper for someone working in two places to claim expenses, and for their staff to be paid properly and work in suitable accommodation that the public can safely visit. Would you stay overnight in London for a work meeting and pay for it all yourself or pay your assistant out of your salary?

Democracy is expensive and it’s not perfect but it’s the best system we’ve got. You have to pay people to ensure the HoC (HoL is totally different and I won’t get into that) reflects the society it represents. If you don’t remunerate MPs properly (including expenses) you get people who are either rich enough not to need a salary or those who are prepared to die in a ditch for their principles. Neither is healthy.

Obviously fraudulently over claiming is wrong but that doesn’t mean MPs shouldn’t receive any expenses.

 

[wills_91]

Your such a kill joy it's a once in a lifetime thing and part of our history, of course its going to be over the top.



not really. Plenty of folk around who will have seen the Queen's coronation and now Charles. Reckon my kids will see atleast 3 in their lifetime

 

[Pearlsasinger]

The Queen's Coronation was in 1953. It was just before my parents' wedding. They both died before HMTQ. In fact there is no-one in my family now who saw the Coronation, or was alive when it happened. There really aren't that many people who are over 75, which they would realistically need to be to remember it.

 

[ponynutz]

RE the government... regional elections tomorrow!

 

[SO1]

I expect a lot of the 100 million is going to be wages of those working as part of the ceremony or buying things made by companies.

Those wages support those individuals and some of the wages will be going straight back into the coffers as tax.

It is not like you are giving 100 million to the Royal Family it is being given to tax payers in the form of salaries. They spend some of what they have earned and it is redistributed throughout the economy.

A lot of the civil servants involved will not get paid extra for any work they do for this as it is part of their day job. If there was no coronation they would still be recieving a salary. I don't know how they have costed the coronation but I would not be surprised if a lot of those costs would still be happening without the coronation. If you take the horses as an example they still need to eat and need the services of grooms and to be exercised and there are costs associated with that even if they are not being used for ceremonial duties.

I am not a Royalist but if the coronation didn't happen there would not suddenly be 100 million available to give to nurses or the homeless instead.

I agree the impact on the economy will be massive and not just from standard bank holiday activities but also all the souvenirs.

Estmated at around 100 million. But will generate far, far more than that in income. Everything from street parties to pubs staying open longer, to every hotel in London being full, to tourism to souvenirs and coronation merch, to sales of TV rights around the world. I genuinely don't care about the Momarchy and have little interest in them but there is no denying they are big business.

 

[Pinkvboots]

The Queen's Coronation was in 1953. It was just before my parents' wedding. They both died before HMTQ. In fact there is no-one in my family now who saw the Coronation, or was alive when it happened. There really aren't that many people who are over 75, which they would realistically need to be to remember it.

I don't know many people that remember it most were kids at the time.

 

[ycbm]

Age UK says over 5 million people in the UK are over 75, so a fair few to have seen two coronations. Those who saw the first are also quite likely, I would have thought, to be really invested emotionally in seeing the second.
.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

RE the government... regional elections tomorrow!

Everyone needs photo ID, please remember to take yours.

But don't get your hopes up, these are local elections to vote for the councillors who make decisions about spending in your local area. I am pretty sure that a lot of Tory seats will go but afraid that the only effect on national gvt will be to push the GE as late as possible, so that these unscrupulous, money-grabbers can hang onto their seats for as long as possible.