[ad_1]
As milestones in British life go, the two are hardly uncommon: Saturday’s coronation of King Charles III, the biggest of all royal spectacles, and two days earlier, general elections for mayors and other responsible officials. fixing holes and picking up trash.
But each of them, in their own way, confirmed that England was on the cusp of change.
The defeat of the Conservatives in the election on Thursday showed that the British ruling party could be removed from power in the general election that must be held by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in January 2025. The coronation of Charles definitively turns the page from 70 years. the reign of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and pushed the monarchy into an uncertain future.
Three years after Britain left the European Union, and nine months after Britons mourned the death of their queen amid political and economic upheaval, the country is still searching for its post-Brexit identity. But although its ultimate shape is unclear, England seems poised for a new era, both in politics and in monarchy.
“The country is in the waiting room,” said Simon Schama, British historian and author of “A History of Britain.” “People are saying, ‘Let’s give them a strange new king,’ when the prospect of an election can ease the frustration and anger that others will feel.”
Change is not guaranteed, of course. Charles, as a 74-year-old king, proved to be a more cautious figure than his biographers would have us believe. The coronation, with its medieval ritual – the king is anointed with holy oil from a silver spoon dated 1349 – is nothing if not constantly rehearsed.
Likewise, the Conservatives, depleted by the loss of more than 1,000 municipal seats, still managed to hold onto power. The leader pointed to poll forecasts, extrapolated from local election results, which would still leave the opposition Labor Party relying on the support of smaller rivals to govern.
But political scientists prefer to focus on long-term trends, and those running heavily against the Conservatives. The election has fueled anger and impatience with a party that critics say has scandalized the country, dividing it and confronting the ongoing economic costs of Brexit after 13 years in power.
The same pressure is building on the monarchy, which has ruled England longer than that. A new poll shows that many Britons, especially younger ones, see the royal family as irrelevant and question the need for it.
“The royal family needs to think about the future,” said Tony Travers, professor of politics at the London School of Economics. “Like other state and government organs, it’s less reliable than it used to be. You have two currents of change pushing in the same direction on the waterway.
“The gathering of the election and the coronation of the king should lead to national introspection,” Professor Travers said. “One hopes it won’t be a battle between boosters and declinists.”
As the parties draw up battle lines for the general election, there are signs that some of the cultural and social issues that have dominated British political debate since before the Brexit vote in 2016 are finally disappearing.
With the inflation rate in double digits and the economy on the brink of recession, local elections were conducted mainly on economic issues, not on immigration, sovereignty or the promise to “Get Brexit done,” which resulted in Boris Johnson, then prime minister. , for a landslide victory in the 2019 election.
“We are past the peak of Brexit,” said Timothy Garton Ash, professor of European studies at Oxford University. “The structural problems flowing from Brexit are still there, but this is the start of a long, slow and painful journey.”
Among the biggest questions is the shape of the UK’s relationship with the European Union in the future. This will shape the political debate, says Professor Garton Ash, but will not be answered for years, perhaps by the winner of the next general election.
Under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the government has taken steps to reset relations with the rest of Europe. Mr. Sunak eased tensions with President Emmanuel Macron of France, a guest at the coronation. Britain signed a deal to resolve the trade dispute in Northern Ireland with the European Union, which sent its three main leaders to the ceremony in Westminster Abbey.
The king played a symbolic, if scrutinized, role in the deal by inviting one of its leaders – the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen – to Windsor Castle shortly after he and Mr Sunak signed the agreement.
Critics say the monarch is being unfairly drawn into politics, an impression heightened by the fact that Downing Street refers to the agreement as the Windsor Framework. That is recommended to some who have put their imprimatur on it. Windsor is his family name, as is the castle west of London, on Sunday, Charles and his family celebrated the coronation with a star-studded concert.
Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and the British band Take That performed on the stage that made up the eastern facade of the castle. Fashion designer Stella McCartney praised Charles for his work on climate change. Tom Cruise appears in a video sequence, piloting a vintage fighter jet as he declares, “Your Highness, you can be my wingman anytime.”
Lights and lasers turned the palace into grounds for fluttering Union Jacks while a fleet of drones created images of blue whales twisting in the night sky.
For all the razzle-dazzle, the concert felt a little less starry than the one held last year for Queen Elizabeth on her platinum jubilee. It captures the challenges Charles faced in succeeding his mother, a beloved figure who reigned longer than any other ruler in English history. Elton John, who gave an affectionate performance of “Your Song” for the 96-year-old queen, was absent this time.
“He is a remarkable figure who speaks volumes about the second Elizabethan age,” Professor Garton Ash said. “Most kings of the 21st century will not have an age named after them.”
However, as an ambassador for British values, he said that Charles “was a good king.” On his first foreign trip, to Germany, he received praise for his speech to the Parliament, which switched seamlessly from England and Germany, and sent a strong expression of Western support for Ukraine.
On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Charles, and paid tribute to him, in a state of the nation address. Recalling a meeting with the king at Buckingham Palace in February, Mr. Zelensky said, “I remember a genuine emotion for Ukraine and Ukrainians.” He sent his wife, Olena Zelenska, and Ukraine’s prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, to represent him at the ceremony.
The importance of the king’s role at that time should not be underestimated, said the political scientist. At a time of domestic political and economic upheaval – volatile local elections and lavish royal spectacles – the monarch is a symbol of Britain’s identity and place in the world.
“All that,” said Professor Garton Ash, “gives the country, which is not very good or spirited, at least uncomfortable.”
Jeffrey Gettleman contributed reports from Dnipro, Ukraine.
[ad_2]
Source link