# 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:** 40
**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:** [April 1, 2023, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/784 "2023-04-01T13:01:02Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > The late Queen’s funeral was, AFAIK, the very first major state event in the UK that _was_ attended by the US president. The norm is not attending. Right. The invitations are diplomatic formalities, and the designation of a representative to attend in the name of the country is entirely normal and expected. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/785 "2023-04-01T14:38:46Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > WHY NOT? > This absolutely baffles me. > There will be lots of heads-of-state from all over the world attending the ceremony > > Why is Biden refusing to go? We fought a war so that we wouldn’t have to go to these stupid events. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2023, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/786 "2023-04-01T14:39:01Z")
In 1953, Eisenhower didn’t attend but sent a four-person special delegation. Likewise foreign royalties sent more junior representatives rather than their head of state, even close relatives. I think it might cause protocol issues as to precedence, etc. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/787 "2023-04-01T23:29:13Z")
'Zactly. You don’t want 50 other internationally co-equal heads of state to outnumber, if not upstage, the birthday boy. Instead everybody else sends their vice president, vice premier, whatever they call #2 or a delegation of #s 5-10. That way the main attraction, the cuase and reason for the ceremony, is the only person of that rank anywhere nearby. ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2023, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/788 "2023-04-02T06:52:09Z")
Actually, it’s the exact opposite reason that has always discouraged other heads of state from attending. It will be Charles’s big day and he will be literally the centre of attention. The whole point of the ceremony is to make visible in the most public manner possible that he’s more important than anyone else. Foreign representatives won’t even be spear carriers in the back row of the chorus, but merely members of the audience. It won’t even be much of a photo op for them. Since they’re bound to be overshadowed, they send someone less important instead. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2023, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/789 "2023-04-02T10:02:10Z")
Could well be. QEII was seated several rows back when she went to the funeral of Baudoin of Belgium, alongside other foreign royalties. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/790 "2023-04-03T21:06:11Z")
Ike didn’t go, neither did FDR. They’ll probably send the Veep; that’s what you have one for. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/791 "2023-04-04T23:46:27Z")
Jill Biden will be heading up the US delegation. > **[First lady Jill Biden will attend the coronation of King Charles III, White...](https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/04/politics/jill-biden-king-charles-iii-coronation/index.html)** > > First lady Dr. Jill Biden is set to travel to London next month for the coronation of King Charles III of the United Kingdom, leading the US delegation to the highly anticipated 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:** [April 5, 2023, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/792 "2023-04-05T10:09:06Z")
Dear oh dear, whatever shall we do? > **[A peal appeal: bellringer shortage as King Charles’s coronation looms](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/apr/04/bellringer-shortage-king-charles-coronation-looms)** > > New recruits being frantically trained up so as many church bells as possible can ring out on 6 May ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2023, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/793 "2023-04-10T15:13:07Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > Dear oh dear, whatever shall we do? Grab a sally and get ringing some Plain Bob Doubles. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2023, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/794 "2023-04-10T18:53:47Z")
I don’t know - maybe aspiring bellringers are put off by the conditions - here’s an example from one church: _But if you ring in spur or hat,_ _A pint of ale you’ll pay for that_ _And if a bell you overthrow,_ _Sixpence is due before you go_ ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/795 "2023-04-10T19:46:25Z")
Overthrowing a bell can have serious consequences. English church bells rotate on a frame. When not in use, they hang down, and to start ringing they have to be rotated to point up. A heavy bell may take two to get it swinging to the tipping point. After that, it only takes a gentle tug to swing it down and back up. Overthrowing would send it across the tipping point and wind the rope up, making it impossible to ring until someone goes up and untangles it. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2023, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/796 "2023-04-10T19:51:32Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > English church bells rotate on a frame. When not in use, they hang down, and to start ringing they have to be rotated to point up. A heavy bell may take two to get it swinging to the tipping point. Serious question, is that unique to English church bells? Or is that true generally? ---
**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 10, 2023, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/797 "2023-04-10T20:11:33Z")
Most bells that I have been around work the same way. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2023, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/798 "2023-04-10T20:35:06Z")
Are human bellringers really still the norm for English churches? Because here in Germany, the bells have long been automated in almost every church. You wouldn’t find the people to regularly ring them anymore anyway. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2023, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/799 "2023-04-10T22:44:04Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Serious question, is that unique to English church bells? Or is that true generally? Not unique, but they are not common elsewhere, and only in English-speaking countries. Most bells are simply rung by hitting them with a clapper. I believe bell ringers call that “chiming”. Yes, human bellringers are still the norm in English churches. I have a friend for whom ringing is a hobby. She tours around the region with fellow enthusiasts, ringing church bells. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLMiK-TMyPI&ab\_channel=Bellringingfilm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLMiK-TMyPI&ab_channel=Bellringingfilm) ---
**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:** [April 11, 2023, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/800 "2023-04-11T06:45:14Z")
Change-ringing involves some complicated (or tedious, or both) working out/memorising of changing sequences - for a whole team of ringers. It’s not like one person at a carillon keyboard or tolling one or two bells. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2023, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/801 "2023-04-11T07:24:22Z")
Maybe a hijack, but I was once in the carillon of Hart House, at the University of Toronto. It had a keyboard, much like a piano, but the “keys” weren’t like anything I have on my piano. Well, they kind of were, but they were wooden rods (oak for the white keys, ebony for the black keys), which the carilloneur would hit with his fists. It was fascinating, but I declined the chance to play. I’ve attended carillon concerts at Hart House. Their carilloneur is skilled, and it is wonderful music. [end hijack] ---
**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:** [April 11, 2023, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/802 "2023-04-11T10:28:47Z")
They each have their merits, but there is something especially joyous about a full peal of eight bells ringing the changes… for a while, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2023, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232/803 "2023-04-11T11:16:51Z")
A bit like bagpipes. Best appreciated from a distance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232.md?page=39) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reign-of-king-charles-iii-of-the-united-kingdom/971232.md?page=41)