Royalty is like wrestling

Charles III is crowned today King of the United Kingdom, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, 14 Commonwealth realms, namely Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. As well as being Supreme Governor of the Church of England. It is big. In a C.V., it looks good. Better than an internship at Burger King.

This is why millions and millions of people, all over the planet, are presently following this historic ceremony. However, Charles III does not have the power to add a cycle path in any of the territories of which he is the head of state. Even less to build a third link.

The carriage, the procession, the throne, the anointing with oil, the scepter, the crown, all these symbols of power are only vestiges of the past. On October 13, 1399, when Henry IV was crowned in Westminster Abbey, with much the same fla-fla, minus the spinach quiche, the absolute master of his subjects was glorified. He was the boss. The Supreme Sovereign. He didn’t like your face, sent to the dungeon! He decided everything. Now the king decides nothing. He pretends. He acts as if.

The constitutional monarchy is to politics what wrestling is to sport.

Roman Reigns is the Universal Champion of WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). It has the golden belt set with diamonds. He too received the anointing with oil, but he was oiled much more than Charles III. Roman Reigns still has his family by his side, dubbed The Bloodline. He commands complete respect from all other wrestling superstars.

Yet, if Roman Reigns reigns over WWE, it’s because WWE has decided so. All of his victories were scripted by the big organization. Like everything the King of England promulgates is drafted by the democratically elected government.

The coronation of Charles III is like the WWE Royal Rumble, to appreciate it, you have to accept the convention.

Wrestling fans know it’s all settled, rivals have been told whether to lose or win, but they’ve decided to believe it’s all true. That the good ones are really good. That the bad guys are really bad. And that the good guys really beat the bad guys. That’s why they shout, they applaud, they boo. Because they get into the game. And it makes them feel good. Good for them.

The royalty fans know that everything is fixed, that His Majesty can lie in bed for the next ten years, his kingdom won’t even realize it, but they have decided to believe that the king is a real king. That he is the most important being there is. And watch over them. That’s why today, they shout, they applaud, they are moved. Because they get into the game. And it makes them feel good. Good for them.

Wrestling is a reassuring activity. We know that after all the fighting, all the suffering, all the frustrations, the end will be happy. Our favorite will win. Which is not always the case in other sports. Fans of the CH and the Bruins, you understand.

Royalty is a reassuring institution. We know that among all the ambitious, hot-headed, enlightened politicians who want to change everything, there is a good gentleman or a good lady who makes us believe that nothing changes.

For the next three days, the anti-monarchists have a choice.

Either to watch these royal celebrations while criticizing, grumbling, denouncing, like an anti-struggle attending a gala, constantly repeating to everyone: it’s arranged, it’s arranged, it’s arranged!

Or let the parade pass. Look at another post. By letting those it excites enjoy the moment.

Anyway, the fervor is much less than that which reigned 70 years ago at the coronation of Elizabeth II.

British royalty will last as long as there are enough people who want to believe in it. Or pretend to believe it.

This is what has changed since Henri IV. Before, people depended on kings. Today, kings depend on people.

Sometimes progress is good.

Long live the king !

But above all, long live progress!