I find the whole Richard thing quite extraordinary. He's been dead over 500 years, was king for fewer than three years, and yet he's been re-buried with all that pomp and splendour. People queued for hours to see the coffin (although I imagine what was left of him could probably have fitted in a shoe box), and many even came from abroad.
Now, I'm a royalist (pace, Adrian), not least because I'd rather have a royal family than an elected "first family", and I think our queen does a magnificent job. But Richard the third? After all those years spent slumbering peacefully under the car park? Really?
And yet a part of me loves the very Englishness of the whole thing; the quaint eccentricity that is essentially ours. Some time ago, I posted about quaint English customs (you can see it here ), and I wouldn't want us to be any other way.
So cheers, Richard. And may you rest in peace. Again.
I'm afraid that the whole palaver leaves me cold Frances.
ReplyDeletePS Your 'here' link is to you dashboard I think (which means it opens into the dashboard of whoever clicks on it).
ReplyDeleteThank, Graham. I've now put that right. I think.
DeleteIt seemed a bit odd to me too - but then it would have seemed wrong to just dig another hole and shove him in with absolutely no fuss or formality at all. There's not a set procedure for this kind of thing is there?
ReplyDeleteGood points, Patsy.
DeleteI missed this as I have stopped following the news until after the election.
ReplyDeleteDid they inter his horse as well? Silly me he didn't have a horse or a kingdom come to that.
Adrian, even I don't want to be buried with my horse.
DeleteHe seems to have had a somewhat split personality; liberally minded on one side and callous on the other. Of course history always becomes 'clearer' with the passage of time... or so it appears. RIP at last.
ReplyDeleteI'd just like to know who's paying for all this...?
DeleteI've watched a bit on the news the other day. Isn't it just one more example of how everything nowadays gets blown up into a huge EVENT? On the other hand, of course they couldn't just put him quietly back under the grass somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteOver here, the news since Tuesday have been all about that plane crash, as if nothing else has been happening in the world (or in Germany).
Meike, our papers too are full of that plane crash.
DeleteI don't know what to make of it and didn't watch the news once I caught sight of those queues - can't imagine wanting to do that! But Patsy makes a good point - what does one do in this situation?
ReplyDeletePut him back in the car park. Very secretly.
DeleteI've been in that car park. It felt like 500 years by the time I'd found my way out.
ReplyDeleteFunny you should say that, Keith. I said to John that Richard was probably so tired of trying to find a parking space that he simply lost the will to live.
DeleteI'm flummoxed by the whole thing too. Apparantly Shakespeare is to blame for portraying him as a nasty character. Will we ever know the truth? I had to laugh at your last comment Frances.
ReplyDeleteI gather its not even been proved that he murdered those poor wretched little princes, Maggie. But still. The fuss!
DeleteI watched a bit of the procession on Sunday, but only to see Leicester, as that is where I am originally from. My cousin used to park in the space under which he was found, (and my husband went to the school next door )
ReplyDeleteFrances, you should let's someone know of your noble connections. You never know. You may be entitled to royal perks?
DeleteWhat an honour, Frances! That should entitle your family to a life of free parking in Leicester.
ReplyDeleteHa ha…..we never go there now that pa in law died last year!!
ReplyDeleteThe discovery of Richard the Third's body is quite an important event for a lot of us and has more to do with history thana the monarchy.
ReplyDeletePoint taken, Marian!
ReplyDelete