Kings, Crowns and Degrees of Separation

The children at school created portrait bunting for their Coronation Picnic

Hopefully you will find this amusing as well as topical.  Today is the Coronation of King Charles III - not that anyone in the world could avoid this momentous events - and unsurprisingly the school where I work has been preparing with great excitement for a few weeks. 

However, a week ago we received the dreaded OFSTED phone call and hysteria kicked in and the dust was cloud-like!

As part of the tick-box process the Governors are invited to attend, and some interviewed, by the inspectors.  As I am also Clerk to the Governors, I received the following response to this request which just made me smile!

"I am so sorry to miss this. I have to be at the Palace tomorrow afternoon to swear in the new Lord Chancellor."

See:  List of Business

That 's Buckingham Palace he is referring to - because one of 'my' governors is Clerk to the Privy Council and is a big-cheese with all of the comings and goings of royalty and parliamentary protocol.  He is the person who officially announced, to the world, the new King when Queen Elizabeth passed away - before Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt read the official  wording.

Have a look at:  Cabinet Office

He is the most unassuming man and must find my questions and  enthusiasm quite irritating!  However, I did find out that today he has to be part of the proceedings from 7.30am and cannot leave until 1.30pm and "that's a long time to wait if you need to go for a wee".  He only has to wear a morning suit and not all the regalia (cloaks and funny hats and suchlike) but does have to wear his gong" (the Order or Medal of CVO - Commander of the Victoria Order).

Suffice to say, I think I was more excited about it than he was!