I’m not much of a monarchist – it seems archaic and antiquated, and to my Canadian eyes, the idea of one person or one family being ‘better’ than others simply due to bloodline is elitist, and classist, and, dare I say it, stupid. Having said that, I wouldn’t miss the Coronation for the world. My mother was a royalist, and the Reid women have braved time differences and gotten up before 5 a.m. for every wedding, funeral, and jubilee since Princess Anne got married (the first time). I love the pomp, the pageantry, the parades – I can’t wait for tomorrow’s coronation. Yes, yes, I know I’m a hypocrite, so sue me.
My parents met at a coronation ball 70 years ago. Dad was in the actual queen’s parade, representing his regiment, and as soon as the parade ended, he hotfooted it to the train station and was back in Bellshill in time for the local coronation dance, where he met Norma. So coronations hold a soft spot in mine and my sisters’ hearts.
I have it all mapped out (of course you do, Lainey, of course you do). I will have BBC live on the telly in the front room, with a wee tech & food station set up around me on the sofa: laptop for when I’m bored (those hymns can go on forever), numerous cups of tea, lunch, and on the other half of the couch: Scout’s blanket for her to sit beside me. And because I still have my old laptop and I will have to go into the kitchen from time to time, I have set it up on the kitchen counter, open to BBC iPlayer, so I won’t miss a moment. No, that’s not OTT, so there.
Seventy years ago a British chef was asked to come up with a dish to celebrate the big event, and ‘Coronation Chicken’ was born: chicken with a curry mayo and either mango or apricots. This time around it’s to be Coronation Quiche, made with spinach, broad beans, and tarragon. I’m not the world’s biggest broad bean fan, and there’s asparagus and tomatoes in the fridge, so I will make a cheddar, asparagus, and tomato quiche, from scratch. Oh, and there’s Orkney gin and Italian Prosecco in the fridge.
Right then, I’m all set, let’s get this show on the road!
Loved this blog! I could have been sitting next to you!
Wish you had been – watching events like this is definitely more fun with someone. But, still a good day nonetheless – hot water, heat, new king.