Accession Day

It was good to wake up to sunshine and a day without rain after a long night's sleep followed by a pancake breakfast. Then I finished tomorrow's sermon and next Thursday's Morning Prayer video and it was time for lunch. In the background, news of the King's Accession ceremony broadcasted live for the first time, in the presence of state and church leaders past and present. After the solemn proclamation it was heartening to see the guardsmen kneel to lay down their rifles, then stand to take of their bearskin hats, ready to raise them in three cheers for the king. Whether intended or not, I saw in this moment an expression of personal homage to the new sovereign by men who are by professional soldiers.

Clare cooked me a couple of lamb chops for lunch, stewed with potatoes. She forgot to season them, and the resulting plain flavour reminded me of my mother's home cooking when I was a child. We didn't use a great variety of seasonings sixty years ago, no garlic, few spices or herbs. How life and taste has changed. After lunch I went to Tesco's for a bottle of wine and some flowers forClare, then walked in the park for an hour and a half before returning to watch more news.

Tomorrow the King's accession will be proclaimed in Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff at noon, repeating the declaration made at St James' Palace and the City of London. Good to know digital communication hasn't done away with the human element. At a time when video faking is becoming more sophisticated and taking centre stage in a current work of dramatic fiction on telly, the real presence of a person giving the news in front of live audience of witnesses is as relevant as it ever was. It's much more than just being a piece of tradition.

The Queen's body will lie in state in Holyrood House, and then St Giles' Cathedral Edinburgh over two days for people to pay their respects, then flown to London to lie in state for four days in Westminster Hall, giving a longer opportunity for people to file past her coffin and pay their respects. I wouldn't be surprised if the numbers visiting greatly exceed those anticipated. Her state funeral takes place a week Monday.

I spent part of the evening preparing prayers for tomorrow's liturgy, and then relaxed in front of the telly without non-stop news updates with a rerun of ridiculous 'Girl in the Spider's Web' movie before bed. Just for something completely different.