The coronation was an act of magic for a country scared the spell might break

Tanya Gold is a freelance journalist.

A coronation creates a god out of a man: It is magic. This is odd, which is why the world’s eyes have been upon us — few nations apply magic publicly as of late. But it stays our default safety in a trendy age.

Of course, we can’t focus on this overtly, as a result of it’s absurd, and since we’re solely dimly conscious of it, which is one other sort of self-protection: denial serving denial. Monarchy appeals to the unconscious, to youngsters afraid of the night time. (Whatever we feared, Elizabeth II was in her palace, by no means altering, like the queen in “The BFG” who battled flesh-eating giants.)

Monarchy is a fairy story, it’s true: the darker components. And so, the commentary at the coronation had an odd dissonance, as if we have been talking round one thing, as a result of the core of it was one thing we have been afraid to say out loud. If you say you don’t imagine in Tinkerbell, she dies.

That lack of confidence in the magic spell was apparent at breakfast time. As the congregation spooled into Westminster Abbey, with actors at the entrance — kings have a tendency to love actors, as they’ve the similar job — the head of the anti-monarchist stress group Republic, Graham Smith, was arrested close to Trafalgar Square with 5 different republican leaders. The peaceable protest, he instructed me final week, was organized with the approval of the Metropolitan Police. They arrested him anyway, confiscated the placards, and blamed the string which tied the placards collectively for breaking the guidelines. (Apparently they might have used it to “lock” onto buildings.) Just a few hours later the king swore to serve us, which implies serving our democracy. So he has already failed.

The protest went on in Trafalgar Square, however the BBC reduce away as the cavalcade handed. Screens have been erected in entrance of the protest, as if our eyes — and the king’s — have been too delicate to be allowed to see it. We have been instructed the police operation handed off with out incident. The Duke of York was booed as he left Buckingham Palace, however that too was not reported on. The BBC was in the hagiography enterprise at this coronation, and it was fervent and vapid. This is presumably tactical — they concern what an unpopular nativist authorities will do to their funding mannequin — however it additionally signifies a nation afraid of itself. A deputy chairman of the Conservative Party urged all republicans to migrate. They have been all afraid the spell might break.

Then got here the pomp: the fantastical costumes, the militarism, the uneasy horses, one of which panicked and backed into the crowd. Another marched sideways. It was pretty to have a look at, however it’s the fumes of Empire, which of course is why the Mall was full. A person in a bowler hat mentioned “tradition” when requested why he was right here: He was communing together with his ancestors. The ladies at the entrance have been dressed as flags, and held extra flags for emphasis. Empire is gone, however the costume stays, and once in a while we strive it on, trying to summon what we have now misplaced.

Sky News performed the kind of inspirational music you hear on adverts for life insurance coverage. Their reporter confused Lionel Ritchie with Michael Gove, who nodded at the digicam as if it have been a pal, and a former ambassador to the U.S. with Lord Rothschild. Gordon Brown’s face was thunderous, however then he at the least is aware of actuality. Tony Blair, whose seventieth birthday it was, appeared like nothing might ever attain him once more. Boris Johnson didn’t bow to the king as he handed, however he was by no means going to. He thought it needs to be him.

The costumes have been magnificent, and wanted to be, as a result of they assist to will the spell into being. The Princess of Wales and Penny Mordaunt have been dressed as medieval queens. Another visitor was dressed as a tulip; one other as a ghost. Most have been dressed for a backyard get together in rain, although Princess Anne had come ready for some Napoleonic-era confrontation with an enemy solely she might see. I mourned for the senior duke who had requested to return in his carriage with a web page, however was denied. A quasi-democratic flourish for the plenty.

The king appeared each scared and thrilled: an ageing debutante about to change into a god. Unlike Elizabeth II, you may by no means untangle Charles from his vulnerability, and so the spell is difficult to solid. It likes a clean canvas, and he isn’t one: The media uncovered him 30 years in the past. Once you’re identified, you can’t be unknown.

Still, they tried. He was poked and prodded, dressed and undressed, and sacred objects have been positioned on and close to him by a succession of holy males who appeared like they might struggle to the loss of life for the alternative to play what somebody on Twitter described as Buckaroo. He appeared finest in his nightshirt, as a result of it indicated the humility he doesn’t have. The Coronation Chair is roofed with graffiti: an historic republican protest which went unpunished — you may’t arrest ghosts.

Camilla appeared fearful and wretched: I was reminded that on her marriage ceremony day she wouldn’t stand up till her sister threatened to marry Charles in her place. “Best friends and soulmates,” mentioned the ballroom dancer Anton du Beke on the BBC information, including that he “welled-up” at the spectacle. Then they began speaking about costume once more, and India Hicks, a bridesmaid at Charles’ first marriage ceremony, talked about Diana by mistake. This was the finish of their private journey. When the crown was positioned on Camilla’s head it appeared like a punishment: this, then, is yours.

Millions of folks appeared on, and as with all magic mirrors, noticed what they needed to see. Some noticed a tepid model of an imagined previous, which they clung to. Others noticed a victory for the visibility of older ladies, as if we didn’t just lately bury a 96-year-old queen, and happiness eventually. Others noticed a victory for range, as folks of shade and non-Christian faiths, and girls, have been allowed to carry out homage — and close to the entrance, too, near the god. I noticed a protecting spell summoned in an abbey, far older than Christianity. It’s definitely dramatic. I give it that.