This is Northumberland Calling 30.4.23

Coronation Countdown Special Edition

Because King Charles and Queen Camilla are crowned next Saturday, there may be a few of these as how often do Coronations of British monarchy happen? In fact you need to be significantly older than Joe Biden to have experienced two and about as old as Biden to really be able to remember Queen Elizabeth II’s in 1953.

Edward R Murrow and his wife Janet did the CBS commentary for the last coronation. I have no idea who is doing the US version as I shall be watching the BBC but hopefully you get my point. This set piece of British life is one of those times when you know history is being made.

The Church of England have released the liturgy for the service. Obviously it will be printed off for those are attending the service but in case people in the US want a copy of the service: 23-24132 Coronation Liturgy.pdf (churchofengland.org)

The Royal Parks are festooned with flags and bunting according to my eldest who is not going anywhere near the centre of London next Saturday but did go for a run around there yesterday.

And will DeSantis be running for the next US president? He did an interview with the Sunday Telegraph. Read the runes. I am pleased to see he is a fan of Kemi Badenoch’s. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/04/29/ron-desantis-interview-kemi-badenoch-war-on-wokery/  or https://archive.is/cBkZu

Dominic Lawson  editor of the Sunday Times and whose daughter has Downs (Princess Diana was her godmother)  wrote a very good op-ed in the Sunday Times about why Mattel’s Barbie with Downs is a tick box exercise and how he had to learn that people with Downs do not see themselves as different. “But there is a problem with this at a fundamental level, and one that will perhaps occur to only the more experienced parents of someone with Down’s. It is something that took me many years to recognise. The truth is that those with the condition don’t draw a distinction between themselves and “normal” people. They know that they have Down’s, but don’t perceive the physical distinctiveness in the way others do. I have never forgotten, when she was in her late teens and fancied a boy at the same college, my daughter Domenica asking my wife anxiously: “When should I tell him that I have Down’s syndrome?” It never occurred to her that it would have been obvious from the moment her (unrequited) crush first set eyes on her.” https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/barbies-maker-is-just-playing-at-inclusivity-fszhwk5tt  or https://archive.is/AY2ee