The final score, 44-7

New idea today/this week! Especially with the temporary lack of comments (something I hope to start trying to figure out next week ... or at least begin the process of gathering alternatives), I decided to raise a story during the start of the week, get some replies, and write about it today incorporating your thoughts.

So, let's talk about the coronation tomorrow of King Charles III. It's only the third coronation in the last 110 years.

• King George VI had his ceremony on May 12, 1937, and I was surprised to learn it was broadcast on TV -- literally the first thing the BBC ever broadcast outside of a studio. (Limited audience, makes sense.)
• By June 2, 1953, TV was a "thing," and roughly 36 million people watched Queen Elizabeth II's coronation live. Then, they (not sure who "they" were — the BBC?) raced to the airport and flew film of the ceremony across the Pond. Result: 32 million Americans watched the ceremony on tape delay that evening. The CBC likes to brag that they aired the footage a half an hour before the U.S. networks.

Tomorrow's coronation? Well, I feel for King Charles a bit on a personal level. I mean, his mom was a tough act to follow -- and beyond that, the entire concept of the monarchy has taken a massive hit, for what I think are very legitimate reasons.

Also, she was 25; he's 74. Even besides the allure of youth, we just know much, much, much more about him than we'd like (one "much" for each "I" after his name) — and certainly much much (two "I's") more than people knew about Elizabeth at the time.

But, I think it's a good idea for me to get out of the way, and focus on the decision "they" made to ask ordinary citizens in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, the Bahamas, etc—basically everywhere that has the royal family on their money—to swear an oath to the monarchy during the ceremony.

We ran a poll, and we got 107 replies. Among British and Commonwealth readers, the vote was 44-7 against. Here's what you had to say:

🇨🇦 Canadians (26-4)

We had 30 Canadian replies. Four said they'd pledge loyalty to King Charles; 26 said something like, "Heck no, eh? Sorry." Sample replies:

• "The time has now come for Canada to leave behind the monarchy and the Commonwealth of nations. It’s overdue." — Ian Forsyth
• "Swearing allegiance to an ineffective and corrupt monarchy is ridiculous. It's bad enough we'll have King Charles on our money. I'd much rather see Terry Fox, Gord Downy, Gordon Lightfoot or even Wayne Gretzky!" — Mike De Bokx
• "I have to say that I had heard nothing of this prior to your newsletter. I like Canada as a constitutional monarchy and would not want it to become a democratic republic like the US. I also admit, having been born in the UK, I like the monarchy and the pomp and circumstance. Long live the King. 🇨🇦"—Alexandra, no last name given

🇦🇺 🇳🇿 Australians and New Zealanders (10-2)

We had 10 Australians and 2 New Zealanders. Both New Zealanders said no (quite vehemently), as did 8 of 10 Australians. Sample replies:

• "Hell no! The sooner we become a republic the better. Outdated, inbred, elitist notion of no relevance to Aotearoa (New Zealand)." — Jessica, NZ, no last name given (maybe you say surname?)
• "I don't feel that UK has any allegiance to Australia apart from history. When the UK was in the EU, it was closer to the EU than the Commonwealth. To be fair, it really is the Australians that are mostly at fault since they've not been able to get off their arses and agree on a model for a new head of state." — Nanda, AUS, no last name given
• Counterpoint: "The monarchy is an essential part of our system of government. It also a stabilising link to our shared history in this era of massive change." — Pete, AUS, also no last name given

🇬🇧 United Kingdom (8-1)

I've recently learned that our audience is almost 90% American, maybe 5% Canadian, 2% Australian/New Zealand, and just a small number of people in the U.K.

But in any event, 8 of 9 said, "no."

• "Most of the people I know couldn't care less about the RF [royal family] and what they do, we just know them as being fairly good for tourism." — Molly, no last name
• "Swear allegiance to an out of touch geezer who has never known life outside of royalty? Not a chance."—Sumi Nair
• "A further sad reflection and evidence as to how out of touch the King, the Royal Family and his advisers are with his subjects in the UK. This is the 21st century, not the Middle Ages!"—Joe Conneely

🇺🇸 USA (most of the rest)

With a 90% USA audience, you wouldn't be surprised to hear that nearly half of replies were from Americans. Maybe more surprising perhaps is that two of them said they wouldn't mind swearing allegiance to the royals, if they could do so legally. But, more said things like this:

• "There is NO WAY I would do this - it is absolutely medieval!" — Mark W. Bailey
• "Not only is this outdated, but still clinging onto the days of colonialism. I think this is in bad taste, especially with the history of the royal family." - Theresa Personna
• "We fought a war to not have to worry about a king or his damn taxes." — Sarah Wall
• "Seeing as how my ancestors rebelled, I'll ignore the whole thing." — Thomas Bennett

I feel as if I'm supposed to wrap this up here, with some kind of pithy observation about the monarchy. I don't have one.

I'm glad the U.S. and the U.K. have a special relationship. I'm glad I've got 50% Canadian flowing through my U.S.-born-and-bred body (wait, is that why I'm always cold at night?). I've never been to Australia or New Zealand (Bahamas, though), but I've also never met a person from those places I didn't like.

But, I don't get the allure of the monarchy—especially in 2023. I'd normally say, "but if the British and Canadians and Australians etc. like the idea ..." except that now I'm not so sure they do.

So, I'll just wish the king well as a fellow human. Good luck with the job; I sure wouldn't want it!

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We're still working to set up our new website and rebuild comments and community. In the meantime, please let me know you're out there, by clicking or messaging me via the star links below!

The "7 other things" are below; first please check out our sponsor.

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7 other things worth knowing today

• A federal jury in New York concluded Thursday that British singer Ed Sheeran didn’t steal key components of Marvin Gaye’s classic 1970s tune “Let’s Get It On” when he created his hit song “Thinking Out Loud,” prompting Sheeran to joke later that he won’t have to follow through on his threat to quit music. (AP)
• A jury on Thursday convicted four members of the far-right Proud Boys militia group of seditious conspiracy, finding they plotted to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Conviction on the charge can carry up to 20 years in prison. (Reuters)
• Young men who use potent marijuana frequently have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia, according to a new study of almost 7 million health records. (Bloomberg)
• Three McDonald's franchisees are being fined more than $200,000 after breaking federal child labor laws, including employing, but not paying two 10-year-olds, the Department of Labor said Tuesday. They must pay $212,544 in civil penalties, the DOL said. (NPR)
• The first "underwater space station of the ocean" to study marine life and climate change is closer to reality now that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Proteus Ocean Group have agreed to develop and build the underwater habitat. PROTEUS will be built off the Caribbean island of Curaçao. (UPI)
• This is a lot of money: Saudi Arabia is preparing to offer football star Lionel Messi a $400 million annual contract to play with the Saudi Pro League this summer. The deal, which is being negotiated by Messi’s father, would far exceed the more than $200 million deal Cristiano Ronaldo signed. (Bloomberg)
• A woman matched with her former landlord on Hinge — and agreed to a date if he'd pay for it with the security deposit she didn't get back. (Insider)

Thanks for reading. Photo via Creative Commons. Have a great weekend.