Britain's King Charles III walks wearing St Edward's Crown during the Coronation Ceremony inside Westminster Abbey in central London on May 6, 2023. PHOTO| AFP
Summary
· With deep roots in Africa from the colonial era, political and diplomatic experts differed in opinion over the relevance of the British monarchy in modern times as King Charles III was
crowned to his new role on May 6Dar es Salaam. Political leaders and experts in diplomacy varied
yesterday on the relevance of monarchy as UK King Charles III was crowned to
officially undertake new tasks.
They spoke out after news broke that
UK police had arrested key members of an anti-monarchy group planning a protest
along the path of King Charles III’s coronation procession.
“They’ve arrested six of our
organisers and seized hundreds of placards; they won’t tell us why they’ve
arrested them or where they’re being held,” a Republic activist said in London
yesterday.
Republic chief executive Graham
Smith was one of those arrested before the group had a chance to wave placards
declaring, “Not My King.”
However, speaking to The Citizen
yesterday, political and diplomacy experts differed in opinion, with some of
them saying the monarchy was a historical sign of prestige while others
believed the system was outdated.
A lecturer at the University of
Dodoma (Udom), Dr Paul Loisulie, said monarchy was a historical symbol of
prestige harboured by the UK.
He said issues of democracy and good
governance are being observed by the government, and accountability has led to
the resignation of several Prime Ministers.
“For the sake of protecting the
country and the world’s history, there is no problem with the existence of the
system in the UK,” he said over the phone.
“The King has no role in the UK
government. Probably some people could be jealous over the reasons for one
family enjoying the best of the land,” he added.
Dr Loisulie was seconded by his
University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) counterpart, Prof Bakari Mohamed, who said
the UK monarchy was related to the country’s historical background.
He said struggles that started in
the 11th century are now dividing citizens, noting that people who prefer the
system are those with political powers.
According to him, transformations
should introduce conditions that ensure those assuming power have pre-requisite
and acceptable qualifications.
“The system has some challenges in
different areas, including accountability. Internal struggles should stimulate
changes in the system,” he said.
Furthermore, the UDSM don said it is
difficult for global struggles to bring about the changes because monarchies
are historical systems that are part of tradition in practised countries.
However, Prof Watengere Kitojo of
the Tanzania Centre for Diplomacy (TCD) said a comprehensive debate was
required on the system due to the global shift and advocacy for democracy and
human rights.
“The system is completely outdated
because it allows leaders to assume roles through inheritance in the clan
instead of elections,” he said.
“People lacking leadership powers
and abilities could be crowned just because there are rights bestowed on them,”
he added.
He said the system contravenes
today’s demands for the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and human
rights.
According to him, in today’s world,
people should assume leadership roles based on their merits instead of birth
privileges, calling the decision outdated and being harboured by developed
countries.
“It is actually a shame upon them
for harbouring a meaningless system, despite their role in promoting democracy
and human rights,” he said in a phone interview.
According to him, despite
considering the monarchy a figurative status, those assuming such positions get
national respect in their respective countries.
However, he said there were positive
signs of change ahead due to an increasing number of people who consider the
system unsuitable.
Yesterday, the UK High Commission to
Tanzania said the coronation was an historic event for the United Kingdom and
the Commonwealth, illustrating and reflecting King Charles III’s constitutional
position as Head of State of the UK, the 14 Realms, the UK Overseas
Territories, and the Crown Dependencies, and his position as Head of the
Commonwealth.
“The event shows how the monarchy
can inspire by giving expression to traditions and history in the context of
both a modern, diverse, multi-faith United Kingdom and a Commonwealth that is
an expanding alliance united behind values of democracy, human rights and
sovereignty,” reads part of response through email.
“In an increasingly geopolitical
world, where sovereignty is being challenged, the Commonwealth is an important
network of prospering free nations,” according to another part of the response.
Charles III crowned
However, Charles III finally met his
destiny after a lifetime as the heir to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, as
he was officially crowned king in the first coronation in Britain since 1953.
At 12:02 pm exactly (1102 GMT), the
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed the solid gold St
Edward’s crown on Charles’s head as
a sacred and ancient symbol of the monarch’s authority.
Cries of “God Save the King” rang
out from the 2,300-strong congregation at Westminster Abbey and trumpet
fanfares sounded at the climax of the solemn religious confirmation of his
accession.
Outside, ceremonial gun salutes
blasted out across land and sea while bells pealed in celebration at churches
across the country.
The build-up to the Christian
ceremony of prayer and praise, steeped in 1,000 years of British history and
tradition, with sumptuous robes and priceless regalia, has been mostly
celebratory.
But even before Charles, 74, and
Queen Camilla, 75, left Buckingham Palace for a rainy procession to the abbey,
police arrested dozens of protesters using new powers rushed onto the statute
book to crack down on direct action groups.
Being the first coronation in 70 years, it was the first of a king since 1937. It was only the second to be televised and the first in colour and streamed online.
Changes
Much of the two-hour Anglican
service, in which Charles pledged “I come not to be served but to serve”, would
have been recognisable to the 39 other monarchs crowned at Westminster Abbey
since 1066.
But while many of the intricate
rituals and ceremonies to recognise Charles as his people’s “undoubted king”
remained, the king sought to bring other aspects of the service up to date.
Women bishops participated for the
first time, as did leaders of Britain’s non-Christian faiths, while its Celtic
languages—Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic—featured prominently.
A gospel choir sang for the first
time at a coronation while a Greek choir intoned a psalm in tribute to
Charles’s late father, Prince Philip, who was born on the island of Corfu.
As king, Charles is supreme governor
of the Church of England and has described himself as a “committed Anglican
Christian.”
But he heads a more religiously and
ethnically diverse country than the one his mother inherited in the shadow of
World War II.
As such, he sought to make the
congregation more reflective of British society by inviting ordinary members of
the public to sit alongside heads of state and global royalty.
In another change, the coronation
themes mirrored his lifelong interest in biodiversity and sustainability.
Seasonal flowers and foliage were
brought, from the wind-battered Isle of Skye in northwest Scotland to Cornwall
at the tip of England’s southwest coast to fill the abbey.
Ceremonial vestments from previous
coronations were reused, and the anointing oil, created from olives in groves
on the Mount of Olives and perfumed with essential oils, was vegan.
Charles was anointed out of sight of
the congregation behind a three-sided screen in front of the High Altar to the
strains of Handel’s soaring anthem “Zadok the Priest,” sung at every coronation
since 1727.
Opposition
Rishi Sunak -- Britain’s first prime
minister of colour, who gave a reading from the Bible at the service, has
described the coronation as “a proud expression of our history, culture and
traditions”.
But not everyone is convinced;
polling indicates waning support for the monarchy, particularly among younger
people.
Charles’s eldest brother, Prince
Andrew, who was sidelined due to his friendship with the late convicted
paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, was booed as he headed to the abbey.
Another royal exile, Prince Harry,
who has criticised the family since leaving for the United States in 2020,
attended the coronation on his own.
Overseas, Charles’s position as the
hereditary monarch and head of state of 14 Commonwealth countries looks
increasingly fragile. Jamaica and Belize both signalled this week that they are
moving towards becoming republics, while Australia, Canada and others may
eventually follow suit.
Britons struggling with the soaring
cost of living have meanwhile questioned why taxpayers should stump up for the
coronation, with the bill estimated to be over £100 million ($126 million).
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