Previous Message

Well, for context, any economic difficulties Britain is experiencing at present are nothing compared to what they were going through in 1937 and 1953, the dates of the last two Coronations. I can see the case for shortening the ceremony, not least because of the age of the Monarch. If they were worried about George VI's stamina in 1937, when he was only 42, they've got to be even more concerned about a King who will be 75 by the time of the Coronation (although he showed remarkable physical and mental stamina throughout the many ceremonies of the recent funeral of the late Queen). I am not Anglican, but don't see any particular reason to de-Anglicanize the service, nor to depart from the beautiful language and music used in previous ceremonies. I definitely want to hear the Handel Coronation Anthems! Dropping things like the presentation of gold ingots and cutting back on the roles of the peers would be a better way to reduce the time and expense of the event. I would guess that the peers would be relieved not to have to spend three hours in the Abbey (and even more, as they would have to turn up early) wearing robes smelling of mothballs