in the midst of a social crisis, the British celebrate the coronation of Charles III

2023-05-06 10:26:00

It is an exceptional day for the British. The last dates back to June 2, 1953. Seventy years following his mother, Elizabeth II, who died on September 8, it was Charles III’s turn to accede to the throne. This Saturday takes place the coronation of the new king and Queen Camilla, during a very solemn religious ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

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And despite the rain, the crowd is large to celebrate this event in which 2,300 guests participate. Among them are around a hundred Heads of State, including the French Head of State accompanied by his wife, as well as the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, representatives from foreign royal families, from the Commonwealth, but also from deserving members of civil society.

All will attend the Anglican religious ceremony, the millennial rite, during which Charles III, 74, is acclaimed, takes the oath on the Bible, receives the anointing and is crowned, dressed in heavy ancestral coats of silk and gold. Camilla, 75, his second wife, is also blessed and crowned. The royal couple then leave the abbey in a spectacular military procession, aboard the particularly uncomfortable golden carriage used for all coronations since 1831. Finally, neighborhood meals and a concert in Windsor are planned for Sunday and Monday is holiday.

Inflation still above 10%

A coronation of several tens of millions of euros, largely paid for by the taxpayer while inflation still exceeds 10% in the United Kingdom and has led, for almost a year, to a cascade of social movements to demand increases wages, both in public services and in the private sector. Hospital staff are particularly mobilized, starting with nurses. A strike movement which would last until Christmas is, moreover, envisaged within this profession as announced in mid-April by the head of the main union. Engaged since December in a strike movement unprecedented since the creation of their union, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), more than a century ago, the nurses had rejected the salary increase proposed by the government shortly before: 5 % increase and an exceptional single payment of at least 1,250 pounds, or 1,425 euros.

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In order not to see social anger turn once morest the royal family, the palace wanted to balance these expenses and “huge boost” economics of a historical event generating “huge global interest”. However, it seems that the social crisis that the United Kingdom is going through is tarnishing the festive atmosphere. According to a YouGov poll, 72% of Britons have, in fact, indicated that they do not intend to participate in the festivities of this long weekend.

Unemployment on the rise once more

For its part, the British government must now also be concerned regarding employment since, for the first time since last October, the unemployment rate has started to rise once more. Over the three months to February, it climbed to 3.8%, once morest 3.7% over the previous period, according to the National Statistics Office (ONS).

And if the country managed to avoid recession in 2022 thanks to the growth in the fourth quarter of 0.1% of GDP, the British economy is still under pressure. Indeed, while it had progressed in January, its GDP stagnated last February, contrary to what economists expected. In question, the numerous strike movements which weigh on the economic activity of the country.

(With AFP)