Hülya Özkoyuncu
A MAGNIFICENT CORONATION…
JUST LIKE IN FAIRY TALES
HÜLYA ÖZKOYUNCU
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Or me, witnessing King Charles’ coronation must have been a reality beyond dreams.
I have traveled to many count- ries and attended many events, but the Queen’s birthday event impressed me the most.
The great old British weather might not have been on side, but it didn’t appear to dampen Brits spirits this weekend as we celebrated the coronation.
Watching the pageantry left me in no doubt that the coronation of His Majesty the King marks the start of a new chapter in Bri- tish history.
Opinionsmayvary,butIenjoyed every moment…
Coronations have been held at Westminster Abbey for more than 900 years. Indeed, the co- ronation of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953 was considered groundbreaking at the time as it was the first to be televised. As a joyous celebration in the after- math of World War II, the coro- nation lifted Britain’s post-war gloom and marked the emer- gence from wartime austerity.
Fast-forward just one month short of 70 years to the corona- tion of Charles III and this wee- kend was a momentous British royal ceremony watched by mil- lions throughout the world. Will it also prove to mark another important moment in time, sy- mbolising the start of the end of the last few difficult years?
Certainly the multicultural and diverse nature of the coronati- on ceremony brought family, friends and communities toget- her at a time when so many are struggling post-Covid with the cost-of-living crisis and the effe- cts of the war in Ukraine…
We are told that King Charles wanted a particular focus on youth, community, diversity and sustainability as a reflection of a modern monarchy.
It was good to see an element of continuity from his time as the Prince of Wales. A modest 2,000 made the guest list compared to the 8,000 who attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, with King Charles III making it clear that times are changing.
Queen Elizabeth II was a remar- kable icon of female leadership but King Charles III (and Prince William) know that the monar- chy’s real power is only as strong as the trust and belief of the pe- ople. Change is happening and the monarchy certainly looks and feels very different than it did when the late Queen began her reign in 1952.
While rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry, this coronation has given us an op- portunity to look to the future and move forward with respect for all as we continue to champi- on diversity and inclusivity. They are the basic building blocks of a fair and inclusive nation that promotes and protects the righ- ts of all.
Whatever our background or our place in society, the rapid pace of social change and eco- nomic transformation means we all have a responsibility to be bold and transparent in our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
I very much hope our newly crowned King continues to lead the way for the Royal Family and society at large.
While watching these magnifi- cent celebrations, I thought of Princess Diana.
Diana was the fairy tale princess of my childhood…
Was she watching these mo- ments too?
Finally, I must admit that after witnessing these magnificent celebrations, my admiration for the Royal family grows exponentially…
