Man and the King’s horse created by Bing AI

A man accuse of a crime was sentenced to death by The King. He pleaded for his life and told The King he could teach the king’s horse to talk with in two years if he would be spared. The king agreed; if the man could teach the horse to talk in the next two years, he would be pardoned. Otherwise, the original sentence would be carried out.

The man returned home to his daughter with the horse and told her his story. The daughter asked him why he was so cheerful after making a promise he couldn’t keep. The man said, “A lot can happen in two years. The king could die. I could die, the horse could die, or the horse could learn to talk.”

Official Portrait of Charles III Distributed by gov.uk for public use

Since King Charles III ascended the throne, the United Kingdom has experienced a whirlwind of significant events and changes. During his reign, the country has seen three different Prime Ministers, each bringing their own policies and challenges. Similarly, Scotland has witnessed the leadership of three different First Ministers, reflecting the dynamic political landscape. In Northern Ireland, history was made with the appointment of the first nationalist First Minister, marking a significant shift in the region’s political dynamics.

The King has also overseen his first general election, a pivotal moment that shaped the future direction of the nation. He has presided over two state openings of Parliament, ceremonial occasions that underscore the continuity and stability of the monarchy amidst political shifts.

The media landscape has not been immune to change either, with the fall of the BBC’s top news anchor, a development that sent ripples through the broadcasting world.

On a more personal note, both The King and the Princess of Wales faced health challenges, undergoing surgery within days of each other. Their subsequent announcements of cancer diagnoses within weeks of each other brought a deeply human element to their public roles, highlighting their resilience and dedication to their duties despite personal hardships.

These events, among others, illustrate the profound and rapid changes that can occur within a relatively short period. The past two years have been a testament to the enduring strength and adaptability of the monarchy and the nation. Yes, a lot can indeed happen in two years.

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At over 96 years old, she had been a steadfast presence on the throne for exactly 70 years and 7 months. Despite her advancing age and declining health, she remained resolute in her commitment to the promise she made at 21: to serve her people for her entire life, whether it be long or short. Her sense of duty was unwavering, and she was determined to fulfill her responsibilities until the very end.

She continued to perform her duties with grace and dignity. She received Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who came to tender his official resignation. Despite being one of the most influential leaders in the world, he had to formally present his resignation to her, underscoring her enduring significance. Following this, she awaited the arrival of the new leader of the Conservative Party, Liz Truss. When Truss arrived, she was invited to form a new government, a role Truss graciously accepted. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in British politics, but also the end of an era. These would be her final public duties, a testament to her lifelong dedication to the role.

Known formally as Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, I, and others, simply call her Elizabeth the Great.

I was home on vacation.  I was relaxing and sleeping in and enjoying not being at work.  However, on Wednesday night I had not slept well.  I woke up on and off all night because I was dreaming about the Queen and her health.  It wasn’t the first time, but it was the most vivid. Unable to sleep I grabbed my phone and looked at my messages and email.  There it was, Susan and Scott talking about the announcement regarding HM The Queen’s health.

“The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”

It was this generations “The King’s life is moving peacefully to its close” used for her grandfather, King George V, over 87 years before hand.

I got out of bed and turned-on BBC World to watch the news.  All the coverage was about the announcement and it early enough that nobody had changed clothes yet.  I texted a friend to give her the news.  I grabbed my laptop and checked a couple of online but “hidden” sources I knew about.  The news there wasn’t good.  I continued to watch BBC as I did a few things around the house, took care of the dogs, and ate a little.  I kept an eye on Unofficial Royalty to make sure it didn’t go down and messaged friends about the situation.  I watched the crowds gather and the talking heads on TV talk.  On my phone I would rotate between the UK Telegraph and the Times of London.  It still didn’t seem real.  I was watching history.  Then I saw it.

The helicopter over Buckingham Palace showed the flag at half-staff.  Just as it was registering in my mind what that meant, Huw Edwards announced The Queen had passed then read the official announcement:

“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”

It hit me a lot harder than I thought it would.  It was 12:30 my time and quite honestly the rest of the day was a blur.  I watched BBC into the night; it would be my pattern over the next few days as I came to grip with what was going on.

A year later and I’m not sure I have fully come to grips with it yet.  Rest-in-Peace Your Majesty, you certainly earned it.

I have been waiting since 1981 for a coronation and since that time I have gotten up early to watch every royal event. I have watched videos of A Queen is Crowned and news reel footage of the coronation of George VI. Needless to say, I was extremely excited about watching the coronation this past Saturday. I got up extra early to watch all the processions and the ceremony and here are my thoughts.

Things experts got wrong:
1. Charles did not wear a military uniform but wore traditional tunics. (He did wear trousers and not britches)
2. Harry was not in the 10th row; he was in the third, which was the first row of nonworking royals.
3. Lady Louise was on the balcony.

Things I did not like:
1. Most peers were not in coronation robes and did not have coronets. That was one of my favorite parts of previous coronations. They could have at least let the peers who were part of the ceremony wear their coronets since they were in coronation robes.
2. The removal of the homage except for the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Prince of Wales.
3. The Queen not holding the consort’s scepter and rod.

Surprising emotional moment for me: After the anointing screens were removed and we see the King kneeling in trousers and white shirt as the bishops prayed over him.

Rock Star of the Coronation: The Lord President of the Council (Penny Mordaunt)

Moment that lived up to all the hype: The actual crowning of the King.

Random Thoughts:
• Louis and Charlotte were every bit a little prince and princess.
• One of the girls in the choir reminded me of a young Lindsay Lohan.
• There were moments when both the King and Queen looked their age.
• No moment brought me to tears, but after the Prince of Wales kissed the King’s cheek, I might have come close.
• The royal salute and three cheers for the King and Queen by the troops was impressive.
• They did an excellent job of making the balcony look full.
• The Queen’s crown looked so big to me.
• God willing, I will live to see one more coronation.
• God save the King!