Monarchists have two quite opposite anniversaries to contemplate this weekend: one tragic, the other glorious, one recent, the other distant.
Today, May 28, is the second anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Nepal and the fall of the monarchy. I have written previously here (see other posts with label "Nepal") about what a horrible and outrageous event this was, the only downfall of a monarchy of my politically conscious lifetime, so will not repeat myself at length today. There are some encouraging signs that King Gyanendra and his supporters have not given up completely, but the struggle to reverse the debacle of two years ago remains an uphill battle. I condemn Nepal's new republic utterly as an illegitimate abomination that has no right to exist and ought to be destroyed; may it not last to see a third birthday! Though a Christian myself I stand in solidarity with all supporters of what was once the world's only Hindu kingdom and wish them success in their effort to restore Nepal's venerable Shah dynasty to its rightful throne.
On a much happier note, tomorrow, May 29, is the precise 350th anniversary of the Restoration of the British Monarchy, when the merry King Charles II (1630-1685) on his 30th birthday was restored to the throne of his martyred father, bringing to an end eleven years of dreary Puritan rule. I will be attending the American Society of King Charles the Martyr's celebratory mass and luncheon at St Barnabas Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and am looking forward to the rare opportunity to observe a royalist occasion in the United States and meet other Anglicans devoted to the memory of the Royal Martyr. St Barnabas's organist and choirmaster Nick Behrens is also Central States Delegate of the International Monarchist League and has invited me to sing in the choir for Basil Harwood's Communion Service in A-flat.
Hopefully the people of Nepal will follow the example of England and realize within eleven years of abolition that they made a terrible mistake two years ago. Long live the United Kingdom and long live the Kingdom of Nepal!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
The second is indeed a happy anniversary, sir!
I question, however, the word precise. We must remember that 350 years ago, the Julian Calendar reigned in the British Isles.
On Nepal I think the king underestimated the weight which the Nepalese people regarded the conspiracy theories surrounding the tragic death of his brother's family. A great pity that the last king in the Shah dynasty (hopefully not the final king)did not do more to sooth the paranoia which his people felt at the time (a paranoia not unlike what gripped the UK after the death of Diana, but a little more widespread and violent in Nepal).
Post a Comment