The American journalist who lives in London takes us with her to watch the crowning of King Charles from a pub in Mayfair, complete with bubbly and ‘boos.’
Loved reading Britt’s essay. While I watched, I also thought about how the diversity and inclusion in the coronation ceremony seems to contradict Charles’ family relations. On a similar note, did anyone notice in the wide shot of Queen Camilla’s official coronation portrait the Blackamoor objects on the mantel above the fireplace?
Indeed. There was a lot of performative “diversity and inclusion” happening. But we know Charles has been sued by staff members for racial discrimination. We know he has used racial slurs, like calling someone on his polo team “sooty,” and referencing a Pakistani person as a “Paki.” He wrote that a black person on his staff terrified him because she was “so politically correct.” He chose to use diamonds in the coronation that were obtained from countries of color through colonialism and genocide. He failed/refused to do anything at all to combat the racism directed toward Meghan. And Christopher Andersen wrote in his book that it was Charles who worried aloud about the color of Archie’s skin. People can engage in performative acts of inclusion to benefit their brand, like inviting a black choir to sing, and still be racially biased.
Loved reading Britt’s essay. While I watched, I also thought about how the diversity and inclusion in the coronation ceremony seems to contradict Charles’ family relations. On a similar note, did anyone notice in the wide shot of Queen Camilla’s official coronation portrait the Blackamoor objects on the mantel above the fireplace?
Hi Ruth - those are not Blackamoor objects but rather a candelabra known as the "Weeping Women." More on them here: https://www.rct.uk/collection/2717/the-weeping-women-candelabra
Thanks for the correction, Elizabeth.
Indeed. There was a lot of performative “diversity and inclusion” happening. But we know Charles has been sued by staff members for racial discrimination. We know he has used racial slurs, like calling someone on his polo team “sooty,” and referencing a Pakistani person as a “Paki.” He wrote that a black person on his staff terrified him because she was “so politically correct.” He chose to use diamonds in the coronation that were obtained from countries of color through colonialism and genocide. He failed/refused to do anything at all to combat the racism directed toward Meghan. And Christopher Andersen wrote in his book that it was Charles who worried aloud about the color of Archie’s skin. People can engage in performative acts of inclusion to benefit their brand, like inviting a black choir to sing, and still be racially biased.