# The reign of King Charles III of the United Kingdom **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 8, 2022, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232 "2022-09-08T18:05:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 29
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/561 "2022-10-12T16:45:42Z")
> [@APB](#): > > But the late Queen didn’t wear it either the last few times she opened Parliament in person. She wore most of the full regalia for the [October 2019 State Opening of Parliament](https://royalwatcherblog.com/2019/10/14/state-opening-of-parliament-2019/) (she did opt for the George IV State Diadem rather than the Imperial State Crown, and used an elevator rather than the ceremonial stairs). The December 2019 State Opening just two months later (after a snap election) was a dressed-down affair: day dress and hat rather than ceremonial robes and diadem/crown, motor coach rather than carriages). There was no state opening in 2020, the 2021 affair was scaled back due to COVID, and she missed the 2022 event. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/562 "2022-10-12T17:03:18Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Does “fancy dress” still have a connotation of a costume party? Or has that gone out of fashion? A) Yes B) I don’t think so, though it’s a bit of s niche interest, perhaps: it’s difficult to find a theme that doesn’t offend someone - “Vicars and tarts” is out, [ethnic stereotypes likewise](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/oct/07/great-british-bake-off-accused-of-cultural-appropriation-over-mexican-episode)… “Tube stations” is probably OK, though. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/563 "2022-10-12T17:16:35Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Serious concern: if I were King or Queen and had to wear one of those heavy crowns and even walk with it, I’d be in constant dread that it would fall off my head. The Queen practiced at length walking around Buck House with the crown on her head before her 1953 coronation to get used to its weight and balance. I think that was even shown in S1 of _The Crown_. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/564 "2022-10-12T17:32:41Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > A) Yes > B) I don’t think so, though it’s a bit of s niche interest, perhaps: it’s difficult to find a theme that doesn’t offend someone - “Vicars and tarts” is out, [ethnic stereotypes likewise](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/oct/07/great-british-bake-off-accused-of-cultural-appropriation-over-mexican-episode)… “Tube stations” is probably OK, though. In the U.S., “costume party” can be a theme all by itself. Just let everyone choose whatever they want. That way, any offensive choices are the responsibility of the individual attendee, not the host. Anyway, if you do want a special theme then what’s way more common here is something like “1980s” or “toga party!” Or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/565 "2022-10-12T19:06:39Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > 1953 was more than a bit overblown. Don’t forget, WWII’s end was only a few years back. What better way to celebrate the end to over a decade of austerity and tightened belts than a installing a new Royal. > [@APB](#): > > Then they get given the really blingy stuff. "It’s _good_ to be the king. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/566 "2022-10-12T20:25:21Z")
Maybe they should skip the coronation ceremony and just get a watery tart to throw a sword at him. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/567 "2022-10-12T20:54:47Z")
They could dig a pond, next to the entrance of the cathedral . . . ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/568 "2022-10-12T22:45:37Z")
Oh in that case, the Thames is two blocks away. He can slightly reroute his arrival or departure. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2022, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/569 "2022-10-12T22:48:54Z")
There’s that Swedish girl who found that sword, maybe she’d like to reprise the role. > **[Girl, 8, pulls a 1,500-year-old sword from a lake in Sweden](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45753455)** > > Eight-year-old Saga Vanecek found a pre-Viking-era relic while playing in a lake in Sweden. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/570 "2022-10-13T19:59:51Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > Maybe they should skip the coronation ceremony and just get a watery tart to throw a sword at him. That’s no basis for a system of government. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/571 "2022-10-13T20:07:22Z")
How about a moistened bint with a scimitar? ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/572 "2022-10-13T20:11:13Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > Maybe they should skip the coronation ceremony and just get a watery tart to throw a sword at him. > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > That’s no basis for a system of government. Says the guy who won’t throw any sword away, even if it’s broken. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/573 "2022-10-13T20:40:33Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Too bad. As an American who isn’t responsible for paying for any of it, I really want to see a nice big parade and lots of pomp. Same here. As a generation X’er who grew up on video games like Final Fantasy, Dragon Warrior\*\* and various other JRPGs portraying royalty, I say the fancier the better. If they don’t bust out the fancy stuff for a coronation, then what would be an appropriate occasion for it? If the answer is “none” then they’re better off just getting rid of all that stuff. \*\* as it was called back in the day. And yes, I realize the irony that there are probably many Americans of my age who got their idea of what European royalty should be like from the Japanese 😜. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/574 "2022-10-13T20:49:23Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > > [@sciurophobic](#): > > > > Maybe they should skip the coronation ceremony and just get a watery tart to throw a sword at him. > > > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > > > That’s no basis for a system of government. > > Says the guy who won’t throw any sword away, even if it’s broken. Hey, you never know what those Elvish smiths might be able to do with it in a few thousand years… ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/575 "2022-10-13T21:53:32Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > If the answer is “none” then they’re better off just getting rid of all that stuff. Now I’m picturing a yard sale in front of Buckingham Palace except the price tags all have at least six figures. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2022, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/576 "2022-10-14T07:11:56Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Does “fancy dress” still have a connotation of a costume party? It’s still what we call it in South Africa, at any rate. > [@carrps](#): > > Or has that gone out of fashion? Not that I’ve noticed. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2022, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/577 "2022-10-14T22:10:49Z")
Eh, this sure feels like a snub to me. > **[Why King Charles' Coronation Date on Archie's Birthday Is Causing Drama](https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/why-king-charles-coronation-date-190000900.html)** > > Is it a "snub" to Harry and Meghan, though? 👀 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2022, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/578 "2022-10-14T22:33:48Z")
How on earth is it a snub? The best date coincidentally fell on one family member’s birthday. Do you think that they made it on that day to intentionally dis a four year old? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2022, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/579 "2022-10-15T02:37:59Z")
It’s a big family. Are they supposed to avoid everyone’s birthdays? Anyway, birthdays shouldn’t be treated as if they are all that special. Everyone has one every year and it’s not like it’s that much of an accomplishment to reach one. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2022, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/580 "2022-10-15T03:09:01Z")
It’s not even just birthdays they have to schedule around. The coronation will be a major security operation, so they’ll want it on a day when the London police aren’t juggling other major events (e.g., the FA Cup at Wembley on June 3). The Archbishop of Canterbury and other prelates need to be there, so their schedules need to be considered. The prime minister and other leaders are expected to attend, so it shouldn’t be scheduled during the G-7 summit (next May 19-21 in Japan). Westminster Abbey will need to be closed for however long they’ll need to get it ready; are there events on the calendar there that can’t or shouldn’t be postponed/canceled? Lots of military troops will be in the parade; are there NATO or other training exercises affecting their availability? Etc., etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232.md?page=28) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232.md?page=30)