Vivat Rex Carolus

Nothing like brushing up on one's Latin whilst watching TV on a rainy Saturday morning. I was just 3 when Queen Elizabeth ll  was crowned so, of course, have no memory of that at all, but  whenever I have seen clips of the ceremony I have always been taken aback by the shouts of Vivat Regina. I thought the Vivats today were not as strident but the playing and singing of  Zadok the Priest was stunning. I found that part of the ceremony - the symbolism of clothing the King  in a plain linen shirt for his  anointing - rather moving. Of course  it is all very anachronistic and there are legitimate questions about retaining a monarch in a modern democracy, but the thought of an elected Head of State doesn't strike me as much of an alternative without major constitutional reform. All in all,  I enjoyed the occasion and thought the Windsor Greys, pictured in the extra photo taking Charles and Camilla to the Abbey, looked magnificent. Now, back to my Latin Primer.