While the North American colonists, minus Canada, tossed off the British monarchy and declared independence nearly 250 years ago, Americans still maintain a fascination with the royal family of the United Kingdom.
Just like the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1952 and the wedding of (then) Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, millions of Americans will tune in to the “telly” today to watch the events in Westminster Abbey as Charles III is officially crowned king. His wife Camilla will be crowned queen consort.
According to National Geographic, Charles III, at age 74, is the oldest British monarch to be crowned, the first British monarch to be a certified jet fighter pilot and the only monarch, so far, to have obtained a college degree.
British historian and Augusta University Department of History, Anthropology and Philosophy Chair Ruth McClelland-Nugent says that while Charles III’s approval ratings have fluctuated with the British public over the years, he is still a fascinating person; but the American fascination with British royals predates the telly, the motor car and indoor lighting. It goes all the way back to the reign of Queen Victoria (1818 – 1901)
“Godey’s Lady’s Book, a 19th century magazine, which was found in almost every parlor, had a correspondent in England to cover Queen Victoria,” McClelland-Nugent said.
Most women of the time wore wedding dresses in many different colors, but when American women learned that Victoria wore a white dress to her marriage ceremony with Prince Albert, the white bridal dress became an American tradition that survives to this day.
However fascinating modern society may find the British royals in celebrity culture, McClelland-Nugent points out that the coronation is not only a somber ceremony in the wake of the death of the beloved Queen Elizabeth II, but it is also a ceremony rooted in the British constitution.
“As someone who teaches history, I have to remind my students that this (coronation) is a part of their (the UK) government; it is a historical event,” McClelland-Nugent said.
According to official Westminster Abbey records, William the Conqueror was the first British monarch to have an official coronation in 1066.
The monarchy and the coronation practice changed around the time of Charlemagne when it became a ceremony endorsed by the Roman Catholic church.
“It was all to reinforce the idea that the monarch is selected by God to have authority over people. That was a time of uncertainty, and so nobles had to wear robes and swear an oath to the king to prevent someone like a cousin taking the throne,” McClelland-Nugent said.
With first the signing of the Magna Carta and later the adoption of the British constitution, the royal institution has evolved from the concept of ruling by divine right to serving as head of state. Modern monarchs living in Buckingham Palace avoid and are even barred from participating in politics.
“I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice. But I can do something else. I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations,” Queen Elizabeth II once told her subjects in a speech.
The monarchy in the United Kingdom continues to evolve with Charles III. The coronation ceremony will be brief, and rather than nobles being required to wear robes and to swear an oath, all of the king’s subjects can voluntarily swear allegiance.
Also, the Church of England will not be the only religion represented, McClelland-Nugent says, as the service will be a true interfaith ceremony.
“For the first time, there will be participation from clergy of other faiths as well, since the king has invited clergy from the Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist faiths to participate, reflecting the great religious diversity in the U.K,” McClelland-Nugent said.
An interesting side note is that while Georgia is named for a British king and Augusta for a princess, the only future monarch from that country to ever visit the state of Georgia was Charles, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the throne when, in 1977, he attended a UGA football game with none other than the Godfather of Soul, James Brown.
So, the new king of the United Kingdom is a Dawg fan, and he has great taste in music.
…And that is something you may not have known.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Investigative Reporter and Editorial Page Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
