# How will the coronation of Charles III differ from that of Elizabeth II? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 28, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984 "2011-04-28T01:33:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/21 "2011-04-28T18:08:57Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > Is the concern that Charles may not be able to cut ribbons correctly? Or that while rubber-stamping parliamentary acts he may accidentally stamp himself in the thigh? > I’m not seeing the huge challenge of this job. As a challenge I would put it on about the same level as running a medium-sized branch of WH Smith. I think of it as like professional wrestling: No, it is not what it not-even-seriously purports to be; that does not mean you or I could do it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/22 "2011-04-28T21:42:46Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I have absolutely no doubt that the thing about a virginity test for Diana is pure UL. Her virginity was never legally required, just a matter of cultural expectations (if she had been a Catholic, **that** would have presented a legal problem). > > As for Kate, everybody knows she and William met in college, and have dated continuously with some interruptions/breakups/reconciliations ever since then, about 10 years, and absolutely nobody expects virginity of either of them at this point. That is not because Kate is not a princess or a peer’s daughter; it is because British culture has evolved to the point where the royals can, in at least this one regard, act more or less like ordinary Brits would (i.e., marry your college sweetheart, but only after a decent period of unmarried cohabitation; and perhaps after giving each other a bit of time and license to play the field and sow the oats and get all that out of his/her system before settling down). Understand, I’m speaking of middle-to-upper-class Brits, whom I am imagining to be more or less like middle-to-upper-class Americans in their relevant mores today. In the U.S., nowadays, the further you go up the socioeconomic scale, the longer you are likely to delay marriage; as for saving your virginity until marriage, that is a preoccupation of certain (now) minority religious-cultural sectors and as such cuts across the lines of social class. I presume it’s the same in the UK? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/23 "2011-04-28T22:09:53Z")
Didn’t Charles already say once that he planned to be George VII? Anyway, the biggest difference will be that Elizabeth was a vibrant young lady at her coronation, but Charles will be doddering and decrepit. His ceremony will be a good rehearsal, however, for that of King William III. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/24 "2011-04-28T22:49:38Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Didn’t Charles already say once that he planned to be George VII? > > Anyway, the biggest difference will be that Elizabeth was a vibrant young lady at her coronation, but Charles will be doddering and decrepit. His ceremony will be a good rehearsal, however, for that of King William III. Don’t you mean William V? William III died in 1702!😛 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/25 "2011-04-28T23:02:28Z")
Serves me right for not Wiki’ing. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/26 "2011-04-28T23:19:04Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Of course Kate can become Queen. One can still dream she won’t though. ---
**Author:** ![A.Gwilliam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@A.Gwilliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.Gwilliam)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/27 "2011-04-29T00:46:03Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I thought Charles gave up the right to be King when he took Camilla as his wife? Wasn’t there something about that? And I seem to remember the story of Diana having to submit to an gyn. exam before marrying Charles, proving no man had been there before. I haven’t heard of this for Kate. Perhaps, being a commoner, she’s not held to the same standard, but can she actually be queen? Being a commoner has nothing to do with it: Diana was one as well! ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/28 "2011-04-29T00:54:02Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > Is the concern that Charles may not be able to cut ribbons correctly? Or that while rubber-stamping parliamentary acts he may accidentally stamp himself in the thigh? > I’m not seeing the huge challenge of this job. As a challenge I would put it on about the same level as running a medium-sized branch of WH Smith. It’s a hell of a job. It’s sacrificing your entire life to your people, and smiling all the while. It’s something I would run away screaming from. The rewards are simply not worth it. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/29 "2011-04-29T01:42:56Z")
My assumption is that Will and Kate knew that when they got married, the pressure to produce an heir would be enormous. I presume they preferred to live together, on and off, until they felt themselves ready to have a kid. I expect they will get pregnant within a year of the wedding, more likely within six months. I wish them well. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/30 "2011-04-29T06:43:17Z")
> [@Savannah](#): > > It’s a hell of a job. It’s sacrificing your entire life to your people, and smiling all the while. > > It’s something I would run away screaming from. > > The rewards are simply not worth it. My heart bleeds for them. They will struggle for the rest of their lives, wondering whether they can turn on the heat when the weather gets cold. When they are sick they will fret as to the length of the waiting list for them to get treated. When they have children, they will worry if the school in their area has enough teachers, crayons or books. They have a miserable existence ahead of them and we should all feel sympathy. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/31 "2011-04-29T09:32:57Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I thought Charles gave up the right to be King when he took Camilla as his wife? Charles can’t give up the right to be King; it isn’t a right he controls. Parliament does, via the Act of Succession. Charles could violate that Act, and thus make himself ineligible (turning Catholic, say, or treasonably rebelling against his mother). Or he could abdicate after becoming King. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/32 "2011-04-29T13:36:35Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Charles can’t give up the right to be King; it isn’t a right he controls. Parliament does, via the Act of Succession. No, but Charles retains the right to refuse the crown. Or simply to abdicate immediately. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/33 "2011-04-29T15:19:00Z")
> [@villa](#): > > My heart bleeds for them. They will struggle for the rest of their lives, wondering whether they can turn on the heat when the weather gets cold. When they are sick they will fret as to the length of the waiting list for them to get treated. When they have children, they will worry if the school in their area has enough teachers, crayons or books. They have a miserable existence ahead of them and we should all feel sympathy. I think the point wasn’t somehow that they’re not handsomely compensated, but that the job’s a fairly awful one in many ways, despite the creature comforts, and one that they’re born to, so it’s not like William could just decide he wanted to be plain old Billy Windsor and get a job as a shopkeeper, without a huge amount of controversy and expectations that he still perform royal duties. Sort of a golden handcuffs situation of the worst sort, if you ask me. I’ve always felt that I’d prefer Harry’s job to William’s- he’s a Prince, rich, young, and has none of the pressure to be King someday, save if William dies without issue. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/34 "2011-04-29T17:38:41Z")
One wonders just what a king can get away with nowadays – not in exercise of royal duties or constitutional powers, but in such private (or, at least, non-state) life as a king can have. For instance: IRL, Prince William’s non-royal career has been in the military, an entirely respectable and traditional calling for a royal, and I have never heard of his having any other aspirations. But, suppose William had always been stage-struck, and majored in theater at St. Andrews, and even republicans had to concede he performed brilliantly in many productions, real next-Olivier (or whatever the theatrical byword would be in the UK today) material. So far, I suppose, little to no controversy – a theater major is obviously appropriate preparation for a king’s role. (What, he should major in history or PolySci or public administration, and get to thinking he can give the PM advice and shit?) But, could he, after graduation, act professionally? Or even as an amateur? Supposing he could, would he have to drop it as king? Is acting inconsistent with royal dignity? What about other art forms, performing or creative? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/35 "2011-04-29T18:03:11Z")
The times were different, but if I recall, Henry VIII was quite a respectable musician and composer in his time. Of course, affairs of state and ruling the kingdom came first, but he certainly found time for his hobby and likely could have been a professional musician if he hadn’t been king. I would suspect that if a modern royal heir expressed an interest or talent for the arts he or she could “indulge” in the profession so long as it didn’t interfere with duties imposed by the monarch. Given that many British exports these days are in the arts (music, TV, etc.) it might even be encouraged as a way to represent the nation. But I assume the heir would be expected to give up the profession upon assuming the throne. It’s a different nation and culture, but the current Japanese Emperor had a career in marine biology while waiting for the throne, and has been published in several highly regarded peer-reviewed journals. It certainly wasn’t a hobby for him, but a real career. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/36 "2011-04-29T18:16:41Z")
It’s not like the money spent on a coronation leave the country. Think of it as a small stimulus package for the economy. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/37 "2011-04-29T19:15:46Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > It’s a different nation and culture, but the current Japanese Emperor had a career in marine biology while waiting for the throne, and has been published in several highly regarded peer-reviewed journals. It certainly wasn’t a hobby for him, but a real career. I think a British king could get away with that too, had he the talent/interest and could he find the time. In either culture, science is a **gentlemanly** occupation. (Now, that is; as recently in the 19th Century, I suppose a young British gentleman who “read” (majored in) a science at Oxbridge would at least be . . . talked about. Focus on classics and table manners, please; gentlemen do not go to school to develop their minds.) ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/38 "2011-04-29T19:56:43Z")
from what i understand charles was not the first to have known camilla in a biblical sense. i think they may have gotten around that, but charles wanted to do his military time without a wife, and camilla did not want to wait to marry. smart of charles as that really didn’t work well in fergie and andy’s case. kate did have boyfriends before william, however it wasn’t known if she knew them biblically. she may have only known william in a biblical sense and that would be grudgingly okay. those waiting for the big job to come their way can do things while waiting as long as it is in service to the country. most prefer the military as that tends to put them on an even footing with those around them. not to mention the nifty uniforms. the queen enjoyed her service during wwii. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/39 "2011-04-29T20:25:55Z")
> [@villa](#): > > One can still dream she won’t though. Are you hoping the Brits dump the idea of Royalty before then? It’s up to them–I’m an American. I _do_ hope you aren’t intimating that Kate isn’t “good enough” to be Queen… ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984/40 "2011-04-29T21:08:11Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Are you hoping the Brits dump the idea of Royalty before then? It’s up to them–I’m an American. > > I _do_ hope you aren’t intimating that Kate isn’t “good enough” to be Queen… I hope every day that this outdated, idiotic institution is abolished. I am finding it incredibly amusing that everyone appears up in arms at the possibility there may be classism involved in the monarchy. Perish the thought! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-coronation-of-charles-iii-differ-from-that-of-elizabeth-ii/579984.md?page=3)