Who shall carry the regalia? Thank you ChrisinUSA for taking the initiative?
I appreciate His Grace the Duke of Norfolk retains his seat in the Lords and is thus still justifiably regarded with some respect as Earl Marshal....but really......how could we possibly accept Lord Archer's participation in such procceedings! I know in days gone by, other less than 'noble' peers were by right able to participate in the coronation but, IM humble opinion, the scene of Archer in the abbey makes me cringe!!!!
On the point of hereditary peers, I cannot see justifiably how the present Duke of Manchester (presently a resident of California) would merit the right to attend a future coronation where he would be obliged to make homage!!! It would make a complete mockery of what Mr Blair has done to change the face of Britain's status quo!! What acceptable right would His Grace of Manchester have to attend over say, Sir Tim Berners Lee OM. Sticky point indeed!!!
Sorry but I do like my exclamation marks! Anyway, the whole point of peers attending a coronation was to pay homage to the incumbent monarch, by 'cousins' in order to maintain the symbolic balance of power between Crown and Commoners. A concept now long dormant! The font of all honours was thus honoured in return with 'sacred' homage and loyalty before 'an' altar of God. Without the hereditary peerage, the monarchy looks rather out of place IM humble opinion, at least where the concept of a future coronation is concerned at least!
Perhaps the Palace will come up with a new concept.....Sir David Attenborough bearing th orb and Lord Winston (Of test tube baby fame) the Sceptre with Cross, therefore bringing in a meritous flavour to procceedings! But to have Lord Archer and the like attending by right of their elevation to Lords alone, emits a dreadful odour from which I for one would turn away with a grimace!!
