A royal blessing

Today is the 65th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation, which is, of course, the only one to have been televised. As such, it defines what we think the event should be: spiritual, well-ordered, golden. It wasn’t always that way. In 1838, the Archbishop of Canterbury forced the coronation ring on the wrong finger and Queen Victoria had to soak her hand in iced water afterwards. In 1821, servants were employed to keep George IV’S estranged wife, Caroline, from entering the abbey and banquet. As for the king, he was observed throughout proceedings to wink and nod at his mistress, Lady Conyngham.

The monarchy has generally kept the peace and held the country together, but we should also count our blessings to have, in Elizabeth II, such a fine and noble lady on the throne.