Compelling Television

(Compelling Television)

Eventful day. Today is the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby. Today also happens to be the Coronation of his, now Royal Highness, King Charles III. Both events are similar in the fact that the events themselves are preceded by hours of lead time. The actual running of the horses is set for early evening but before that there endless equine punditry, laying the odds for the various horses until the jockeys mount and maneuver into the gate, And then, they're off. When he had retired for last evening, that was the last 24 hours where King Charles was still "Prince" Charles. Like the Kentucky Derby, Charles' actual Coronation, placing the Crown on his head, a procedure that takes a couple of minutes at best.


The Kentucky Derby is a social event, Men don their southern best and women are in those huge hats. The race in the Kentucy Derby is only the excuse to main-line mint julips for a day. Or a Kentucky bourbon. This is the heart of the Bluegrass State and this Kentucky Derby is a custom. And, after, runners in this race have the opportunity to perhaps advance to the Belmont,, and then the Preakness.


Now, one can wonder if King Charles III would rather have gone to the Derby and have his own Julip with Kentucky "royalty." However, this was the day that was chosen to formally place him on the British Throne. As the U.K. is some six hours ahead, the pageantry of parades and reviews and processions from Windsor to Buckingham, and to Westminster, a full day to be sure.


That being said, the course of Charles' Reign will be about as predictable as to which horse will be first across the wire. Charles; ascension comes after the Reign of his mother, Her Majesty Queen Eizabeth II who was on the Throne for decades. Another Monarch who had an extended time in power was Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great, who was  reign was over sixty years long.


Ramses' had been Pharaoh for so long, however that the New Kingdom began to stagnate. Shortly after Ramses' death, Ancient Egypt began to decline and when foreign invaders emerged, the "Sea Peoples," weakened the state, making it vulnerable to first the Assyrians, the Persians, Hellenistic Greece, and finally the Romans. 


King Charles could prove a place holder for his son William, who in turn will be Crowned King William followed, in the fullness of time, King George. The Seventh when he makes his own trip to be Crowned.


In any event, both the Kentucky Derby and Charles' Coronation are compelling television.

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