TIM’S TOP TIPS

TIM'S TOP TIPS

TIM WILDERSPIN, LOCAL GARDENER, LOCAL HISTORIAN AND INEXHAUSTIBLE FOUNT OF FACTS, ANSWERS READERS’ QUERIES ON GARDENING AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT ARRIVES IN HIS POSTBAG. YOUR SAVINGS MAY BE AT RISK IF YOU FOLLOW HIS RACING SELECTIONS!

As a lover of all things historic and as a change from gardening tips for this publication I’m relaying a few interesting facts about The Coronation of King Charles III and Monarchs of the 20th Century.

I’m looking forward with excitement and fascination ahead of this historical and mystical Coronation of King Charles III, which for most of us will be a unique and exciting first.

We have been told many times by countless royal documentaries that our new King’s great great grandfather King Edward VII last mistress was the great grandmother of our new Queen Consort Camila. Her name was Mrs Alice Keppel but did you know this little known fact, that this years Coronation Day 6th May 2023 is exactly 113 years to the day that King Edward VII passed into eternity with guess who by his side? Yes it was none other than Mrs Alice Keppel who was there at the behest of Queen Alexandra. So now Alice’s great granddaughter will be at our King’s side as he takes up the heavy burden of monarchy in his 75th year and fulfils his destiny.

King Charles has been the longest heir apparent in history, waiting 70 years and by an added coincidence he took the record from King Edward VII who had to wait a mere 59 years to ascend the throne, coincidence or what! We can only hope that is where the similarities end and King Charles reigns longer than the 9 years of his great great grandfather.

It seems strange that this is the first Coronation in 70 years. In the last century 6 Monarchs have appeared on our coinage, Queen Victoria, Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII (uncrowned), George VI and Queen Elizabeth II with one standout year in 1936 when we had 3 kings in the space of 11 months.

How things have changed in that time.

In 1902 at the very last minute King Edward VII Coronation was postponed as the King went under the knife in Buckingham Palace in what was to be life saving surgery to remove a ruptured appendix. So impatient was he to be crowned after that long 59 year wait it was only the doctor’s harsh words that saved the King. The doctor remarked “the only way you Sir will be entering Westminster Abbey will be in a box unless you let us proceed with this operation” the operation went ahead and a rescheduled Coronation date was announced.

George V’s Coronation seemed to go without much ado but the Delhi Durbar of that same year 1911 was a different affair as their Imperial Majesties had to endure the blistering heat in full robes and heavy crowns while a multitude of Maharajahs paid homage.

By the time of King George’s death in January 1936, incidentally only 6 months after his Silver Jubilee Britain was changing and the new 42 year old Monarch King Edward VIII seemed to embody that change. In every way shape and form King Edward VIII was different from his father, he promised much but delivered very little.

The well documented affair with twice married American divorcee Wallace Simpson brought the crown almost to its knees however the British people only found out the magnitude of the situation shortly before the inevitable abdication, what a different world we live in now. So an uncrowned King departed into exile on 11 December 1936. Enter stage right Albert Duke of York. He would take his father’s name and reign as George VI. Reluctant, hesitant and with a debilitating stammer nearly completely overlooked as a suitable candidate for the throne he nonetheless did his duty and with the help of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother provided much needed continuity and with a steady hand settled into 15 years of Kingship. Blighted by World War II he presided over the transition of Empire to Commonwealth, he would be our last King Emperor.

Our late Queen Elizabeth II Coronation took place in the last year of rationing in 1953 adding a much needed splash of colour to what had been a drab few years the country having changed beyond recognition in the last half century. Enjoying an unprecedented 4 Jubilees, her Majesty was truly the embodiment of devotion and duty to the country she served without waver. It is strange to think we know so much about the Queen but the plain fact is she never once gave an interview unlike King Charles who has expressed his thoughts on numerous subject matter throughout his long apprenticeship.

So much has happened in the 70 years 7 months since Elizabeth became Queen and now we pass into a new era with the prospect of a thinned down Monarchy from a modern forward thinking King of our times.

So enjoy the Coronation, sit down and absorb the wonderment of this historic occasion, one which for many of us we may never see again in our lifetime. Raise a glass to King Charles III (his favourite is said to be a martini) as he becomes the latest sovereign to be crowned in Westminster Abbey the first being William the Conqueror in 1066.

God Save the King ■