Vivat Rex! | Charles A. Coloumbe
VIVAT REX!
The Orthodox Conservatives Group join with loyal subjects of His Majesty across Great Britain and Northern Ireland and around the Commonwealth in wishing the King, on the occasion of his Coronation, many happy years and a peaceful and joyous reign. We note with approval the 21 January 1993 letter the then Prince of Wales wrote to Tom Shebbeare, at the time the director of the Prince's Trust:
For the past 15 years I have been entirely motivated by a desperate desire to put the "Great" back into Great Britain. Everything I have tried to do---all the projects, speeches, schemes, etc.---have been with this end in mind. And none of it has worked, as you can see too obviously! In order to put the "Great" back I have always felt it was vital to bring people together, and I began to realise that the one advantage my position has over anyone else's is that I can act as a catalyst to help produce a better and more balanced response to various problems. I have no "political" agenda---only a desire to see people achieve their potential; to be decently housed in a decent, civilised environment that respects the cultural and vernacular character of the nation; to see this country's real talents (especially inventiveness and engineering skills) put to best use in the best interests of the country and the world (at present they are being disgracefully wasted through lack of co-ordination and strategic thinking); to retain and value the infrastructure and cultural integrity of rural communities (where they still exist) because of the vital role they play in the very framework of the nation and the care and management of the countryside; to value and nurture the highest standards of military integrity and professionalism, as displayed by our armed forces, because of the role they play as an insurance scheme in case of disaster; and to value and retain our uniquely special broadcasting standards which are renowned throughout the world. The final point is that I want to role back some of the more ludicrous frontiers of the 60s in terms of education, architecture, art, music, and literature, not to mention agriculture! Having read this through, no wonder they want to destroy me, or get rid of me...!
Certainly, this declaration of sanity shall ring true not only to members of our movement, but every Conservative – and indeed, every right-thinking individual – in each of the King’s realms. From the Prince’s Trust to Intbau – and as plainly spelled out by the infamous “Black Spider Memos” – our King has far more concern for and interest in the well-being of his subjects across the globe than do the vast majority of their elected representatives. The name “Charles,” which he took in preference to that of George VII, is redolent with meaning: Charles I, who hazarded life and Kingdoms for his subjects’ welfare, as against a nascent Oligarchy; Charles II, who spent his reign trying to rebuild the British Isles after the horror of Cromwell; and the “other” Charles III, “Bonnie Prince Charlie,” who like his great grandfather was willing to risk his own life for his people.
As our King he would in any case be deserving of our allegiance, but this can only be redoubled given his demonstrated talents, abilities, and interests. Therefore, on Coronation Day we shall be happy to say with multitudes around the globe, “I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.”
