Ten months after the death of the beloved Elizabeth II, the ruler’s reception for the thanksgiving service at St. Giles’ Cathedral was noticeably lukewarm. The correspondent from the UK
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Only ten months and yet it feels like an eternity. The images brought back today from the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, convey a clear sense of the distance between Charles III. and his mother Elizabeth II in the hearts of the people of the UK’s most northerly country. In the Cathedral of St. Giles, where in September 2020 the first funeral service of the sovereign took place, with tens of thousands of people who wanted to be present for the last farewell, the thanksgiving mass was celebrated, the last rite closing the long side of the coronation of Charles III .
Charles III, King of Scotland
A passage of great symbolic value in which Scotland reclaims its history, its culture and, above all, its Church. Charles King of Scots, King of Scotland. And yet. At the same moments that royal commentators were emphasizing the ruler’s strong ties to this country (Mother’s Night was Scottish), the screams of protesters could clearly be heard in the background. And they saw each other too. There’s no avoiding framing the signs that say “Not my King”: too many. To be perfectly honest, such messages had also surfaced during the days of mourning, but the few protesters present – who certainly had displayed the wrong timing and methods – were dismissed without too many compliments, which outraged free speech defenders United Kingdom.
“Royal tiredness” or something more?
But it’s the images from above that are unforgiving. On a fine sunny day with mild temperatures, in a month when there are sure to be a lot of tourists, the line of people that normally winds its way from Holyrood Palace along the length of the Royal Mile to the Cathedral during the celebrations looked particularly slim. Is it some kind of “king fatigue” due to the many ceremonies that have taken place over these 10 months, or is there something deeper and deeper? Several things to say. First, Scottish independence and anti-monarchist sentiment in Scotland do not necessarily go hand in hand. A concept that has been repeated to me by more than one member or supporter of the Scottish National Party in recent years. Several have envisioned an independent Scotland with an English ruler as head of state.
deepening
GB, King Charles and Camilla in Scotland for the ‘second coronation’
The strong bond between Scotland and Elizabeth II
It is undeniable that the Empress who reigned for seventy years and for whom Balmoral – the place where she wanted to die – was the place of her heart was especially loved and respected on earth. Beyond Hadrian’s Wall, being “Elizabethan” did not necessarily mean being a monarchist. Finally, there are recent events that have upset local politics and somehow made today’s pictures more surprising.
The Troubles of the Scottish Nationalist Party
The resignation of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last February and her subsequent arrest – and immediate release – dealt a severe blow to pro-independence supporters.
Hundreds of thousands of pounds have disappeared from the coffers of the Scottish Nationalist Party, which was theoretically intended to fund a new referendum. A lot has happened in ten months, a lot and at an impressive speed. And it is also a reminder of the fact that at the beginning of the ceremony in St. Giles, First Minister Humza Yousaf, who is not a Catholic but a Muslim for the first time, spoke. An important wind of change is blowing behind Hadrian’s Wall. Which the monarchy, which has also opened the ceremony to other faiths, cannot and does not want to ignore. Neither does national politics, which is only hesitantly approaching the 2024 parliamentary elections.
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King Charles III and Camilla, the “Scottish Crowning” in Edinburgh. PHOTO
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It took place today in Edinburgh solemn ceremony at St. Giles Cathedralwhere they come from presented the King with the Honors of Scotland: Crown, Scepter and Sword of the Nation of United Kingdom. An event dubbed by the media as “the Scottish coronation” of Charles III. and his wife Camilla
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The event follows the coronation of Charles and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6th and will take place at Tradition of the British monarchy and its historical connection with Scotland. And it’s also being celebrated in memory of Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8 last year
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On this occasion Charles III. presented with one new sword named after his motheralso because the traditional 16th century is too fragile to be moved along with the crown jewels – is considered to be the oldest in the kingdom – kept in Edinburgh Castle
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