The coronation was a fascinating blend of the medieval and the modern, and the music at the service was truly sublime - I don't think we will ever hear anything that comes close to it.
I also loved the concert and the fact that there was no big firework at the end to upset the wildlife in the park and create emissions, just a stunning light show and drones.
We had a street party in our neighbourhood yesterday, which was nice.
What far too many Brits have sadly come to take for granted and irrelevant to their own lives (although it actually isn't) is the fact that they are blessed to have a monarchy that provides a much needed balance to a parliamentary democracy which by its very nature is essentially short-sighted and all too easily bogged down in power struggles. Because the sovereign is above politics, they are free to take the long view and carry it through their long reign.
Since Albert and Victoria essentially modernised the role of the monarchy way past its representational function into providing long-sighted and far-sighted leadership in areas that get all too easily lost in the everyday hassle of Westminster this trend has continued. The focus of engagement has of course changed over the nearly two centuries from initially promoting British business and industrial products of Britain and the Empire of the 19th century to moral and exemplary leadership and support during two World Wars to increasingly social and environmental aspects in the post-war period but the hard-working and dedicated ethos of service to the nation and engagement of the crown that Albert and Victoria have established hasn't changed in nearly 200 years - if anything, it has become even stronger.
Unlike the much more restricted and short-lived representational role of elected heads of state or other kings or emperors and their much reduced international appeal, the royal family have come to increasingly champion causes to benefit large amounts of people of all walks of life and to help preserve and restore what can be of our nature and countryside for the benefit of future generations. We have never had a king who has quite cared so deeply about both people and nature on a personal level, and may never have it again.
Charles has had over half a century of adult life to prepare. What he has built up and achieved under his own initiative in a role without any real official function as Prince of Wales is more than impressive. He may not be the longest reigning sovereign but he will leave one heck of a legacy that truly rivals that of his parents'. And like no other monarch, he
really knows what the other end of the social scale is up against and is doing his personal best to improve things wherever he can. The problem that any sovereign faces is that they are just a single person up against millions, or these days even billions he would like to reach directly... but simply can't. So many Brits have disassociated with public life.
But the fact that he has been able to help over 1 million of those at the very bottom or outside of society who would have otherwise not had a chance just via the Prince Trust, which he has started upon his own initiative about 40 years ago and with which he was closely involved in until his mother's death is quite staggering. Who of us can say that they have helped so many - and more people in all walks of life via other charities or community initiatives? I am proud to have been able to help a few hundred people with their piggies over coming up to 15 years on here... just to put things into a bit of a perspective.
What you can also only see from outside of the UK is the enormous kudos that the royal family has around the world. They are some of the most recognised people worldwide. I come from a country which is the polar opposite of the UK; believe me, being able to trot out a member of the royal family or a state visit to Switzerland is a huge deal when you just have a government of 7 ministers one of which is head of the government for one year in turn... The 'gnomes' of Switzerland is an appropriate term in comparison. That is something that should never be underestimated.
Pomp and ceremony are just part of the job; but a much loved part that still garners instant international attention and often affection. Unfortunately, so is the continuing royal soap opera ably supported by the gutter press. But there is a lot more and far reaching work going on; often behind the scenes - the royal family under the Queen would very much not blow their own trumpet.
But nevertheless, the royal family is decidedly not out of touch with the public and does have a very astute idea of what is going on and where help is needed most - see where the king has quickly directed all the monetary donations from the Queen's funeral to: towards the support of food banks and towards acquiring and maintaining freezers/fridges to allow them to extend what they can supply to people in real need for the long term because that is the way the largest number of people in need can benefit. No big interview and headlines, just a quick news item. And many of those who rely on food banks will still feel no connection to the family in the palace because the support is not visible and obvious to them...
What I really do not envy the king for is his daily homework of having to read through all the burocratese and sign so much governmental paperwork that is not necessarily worth the cost of the paper it is printed on for the rest of his life... And giving up so much personal freedom.
He also has the unenviable task of keeping the Commonwealth together while negotiating the long overdue thorny question of slavery and its far reaching and lasting legacy of racism and reparation. Prince Philip has always been clear that it was up to individual countries to decide on their head of state and not up to the Crown post-Empire. Charles is realistic enough that after his mother's death things may move on in that respect and he has signalled clearly that he is willing to do his bit with the process. But what he cares about is the modern community of countries that make up the Commonwealth and that takes it into the future.
Anyway, I started out as a big Diana fan back in Switzerland (inevitable, since we are close in age) but over the decades since I have been living in the UK I have gradually come to really appreciate the far-reaching and pioneering work that Prince Philip and Charles have done; each creating their very own sphere of action and each making so much more of their role than it originally came with without a lot of fanfare and self-promotion.
Over the years I have slowly come to admire the king beyond all the often clicheed ridicule he has received since whenever I looked at things more closely they made sense to me. I do not agree with everything but I appreciate that a lot more thought has gone into his opinions than most people would give him credit for and that he has listened closely to people involved with and affected by the issue.
I have trust in that he is a much safer pair hands to represent the UK nations compared to our current elected politicians and I personally wish him well with all his challenges to make the big leap forward that is needed.
PS:
@Jenni85 , I think that the lady next to him at the concert was the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, who he has a close working relationship with. Even more so since he has been elected Head of the Commonwealth several years ago while he was still Prince of Wales on his own merit and not just because his mother stepped down. Having her sat right next to him at the concert has been a clear signal that he is taking not just his role as king of the UK but also as head his other realms and the Commonwealth very seriously.
. I admired the late queen and felt that King Charles would be a sort of anti-climax after her, but I'm changing my mind and have been very impressed by what I've seen of him recently. 
