The Kingdom of King Charles

THIS WEEKEND, a great deal of news coverage, particularly on TV, will be dominated by the corona­tion of King Charles III of the UK.

It is certain to be a grand affair. Great Britain may not be all that great any longer, but there is little doubt that when it comes to pageantry, few can excel the British Establishment, moth-eaten though it may be. In recent times, we saw glimpses of this during the Queen Mother’s funeral, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and, last year, the emotional funeral of an understated monarch who was the longest-serving monarch of the realm.

Of course, the realm isn’t what it used to be. In 1953, when Queen Elizabeth II was crowned—and it was the first time there was live TV coverage of the ceremony at Westminster Abbey—Britain had emerged bruised but triumphant from an ugly war with Germany and Japan. It was a war that saw the grittiness and determination of the people, but the sense of exhaustion and the rising tide of Afro-Asian nationalism began the process of the unravelling of the Empire. The Empire would linger for another 20 years, shrinking each year, but the process of decolonisation had effectively begun from the day the Indian Tricolour was hoisted over the Viceroy’s House in August 1947. After India exited, the Empire went into ICU. It took its time dying but the end was imminent and widely expected.

The differences between the coronations of Charles and his mother won’t be discerned from the pageantry. The spectacle on May 6 will be no less impressive than the one 70 years ago. In fact, it may well be better. It will also attract a large number of eyeballs and actual tourists. The Americans, in particular, have a certain fondness for the British monarchy that bears no relation to their unflinching dedication to their republican traditions. The monarchy is Britain’s greatest tourist attraction and the sale of royalist memorabilia must count as one of Britain’s big commercial earning.

This earning extends to Indians too. In 1953, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru attended the coronation in person. He wasn’t exactly a royalist, but in the context of Britain, he wasn’t an anti-royalist either. He was a plain, old-fashioned Anglophile who liked a few days break in Blighty to catch up with old school and college friends, not to mention others who were certain to arrange a good time in one of the country houses within motorable distance.

In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi didn’t even consider going and instead, is sending Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar to represent the largest country in the Commonwealth. This isn’t merely because most people realise that the UK’s membership of the P-5 is an anachronism. Global power equations apart, Britain’s cultural influence within India, while still considerable, is on the path of unending shrinkage. The numbers of Indian students attending British universities is probably at an all-time high, but don’t confuse a British degree with British cultural influence or Anglophilia. British universities in fact seem to be more anxious negating Britain’s inheritance and cultural traditions than disseminating it as soft power. Indeed, there is a growing detachment between the attractiveness of Britain and the appeal of British culture and traditions.

What is intriguing is the extent to which the British political parties—both Conservative and Labour—have colluded in the demise of Britain as an idea. Since 1950, the kingdoms witnessed a steady demographic transformation whose results were mixed. The British Asians—mainly Hindus and Sikhs from India and East Africa— have energised the economy and are also loyal to British institutions. They will be among the most fervent cheerleaders for the new King during the coronation celebrations, along with the elderly members of the Afro-Caribbean community.

Unfortunately, there will be a large chunk of first and second-generation Britons who will be largely indifferent or even hostile. This section is growing and it can be said they dominate a big chunk of the media and higher education. They seek a Britain devoid of national particularities and open access for all, not to mention a large welfare state that is a drag on the treasury. Indeed, if you look at the opinion pieces of the quality newspapers of Britain, you will be struck by the number of occasions the problems of a dysfunctional society are addressed.

This, alas, is the kingdom King Charles, after an inordinately long wait, has inherited.

British imperialismBritish royal familycoronationKing CharlesQueen Elizabeth