The loudest crowd reaction I have ever witnessed came as a wave of boos directed at Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner, during his introduction at the 2019 draft. Nice? Not in the slightest. Powerful? There’s no doubt. Well, Roger – or rather the draft crowd – recently lost its place atop my list of booming audiences. As King Charles III was crowned, the communal roar of ‘God Save The King’ engulfed me while I stood in Hyde Park on Saturday, May 6. The noise of our crowd and the echoes of surrounding clusters silenced any noise coming from the wind, birds, and rain. Yet as I communicated my unique experience to friends back home, they quickly reminded me that Coronation Day also welcomed many protests. While I stood in a crowd of supporters I was sure that a differing national perspective hit the streets as well, and I wondered how their interaction with the heavy police presence differed from mine. While police lined tight passageways for civilians and celebrities to move throughout the city, they also clashed with protesters along the way. Bright yellow signs were one way to identify protestors; the color easily contrasted the supportive and native blue, red, and white, and messages like “Not My King” and “Abolish the Monarchy” spoke for themselves. Posters covered the streets in the days leading up to the Coronation as well, with many questioning the use of taxpayer funds – well over 100 million pounds – to pay for the ceremony. Discussions regarding royal gems, headlined by India’s call for the return of the Kohinoor diamond, represented a larger debate over British imperialism.
Simply put, the Crown’s relationship with its constituents is far more complex than I had imagined. While I doubt I will ever see another Coronation, I am unsure whether opposition will gain enough steam to fully dismantle the monarchy. I certainly won’t forget the goosebumps that rang through my body as “G-D Save The King” was chanted amidst opposing voices calling out, adding complexity and depth to my interpretation of the Royal family, past, present, and future.
*Two posters that stood out to me during my time in London, showing two differing responses to the Coronation.