Why I won’t be watching the King’s coronation

Millions of people are expected to tune into the coronation of King Charles III on 6 May. While some might revel in the crowds, parties, pomp and ceremony, others will do everything they can to avoid the occasion.

BBC News spoke to four people who will not be watching.

‘It’s a huge waste of public money’

Oli in Stroud will not be following the events either.

“I think it’s a huge waste of public money,” says the 51-year-old midwife.

For Oli, a hereditary head of state is elitist and undemocratic.

“You’ve got this tiny little band of elite at the top of our society that are thriving and then everybody else is scrabbling around trying to make ends meet and put food on the table,” she says.

As an NHS worker, she says taxpayers’ money could be better spent.

“The Royal Family have their own personal wealth and yet we, the taxpayers, are having to fund this parade in the middle of a financial crisis,” she says.

Instead of watching, she will be on shift at hospital helping to deliver babies.

‘I’d rather have a lie-in and eat some doughnuts’

Tarek Ahmed says he does not “care enough to watch for hours”.

“I’d rather have a lie-in and eat some doughnuts”, explains the 21-year-old marketing executive from Kent.

Tarek says he has not decided whether or not he supports the Royal Family.

“If they make the country money, happy days. That means more money for things like the NHS and education. But if that’s not the case then I don’t want them. I don’t know the answer,” he says.

A YouGov poll commissioned by the BBC’s Panorama programme suggests broad support for keeping the monarchy, with 58% preferring it to an elected head of state - which was supported by 26%.

Tarek plans to spend Saturday morning watching the new Avatar film with his family instead. But he might catch a quick round-up of the Coronation afterwards.

“I’ll probably look at highlights with the moment the crown goes on his head - that’s a bit of history.”

Despite his views on the Coronation, Tarek is looking forward to the bank holiday.

“We get an extra day off and the entire country deserves that”, he says.

‘I don’t feel like Charles deserves to be King’

Joana Firmino says she does not like King Charles and does not want to see him being crowned.

“I don’t think he’s going to be a good role model,” says the 21-year-old waitress from Kent.

Joana was a fan of Queen Elizabeth II and was “extremely upset” when she passed away.

But she worries King Charles may “not make good decisions” because of his troubled relationship with his first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales. She says his son Prince William would be “a way better king”.

“If it was William being crowned, I would definitely watch. But I don’t want to spend hours watching someone I don’t really like getting crowned as King when I believe he doesn’t deserve to be,” she says.

Instead, Joana will be jetting off on holiday to the Philippines.

“I’m not going to be wasting my time. I’ll be enjoying the sunny weather and tropical beaches,” she adds.

‘I’ll be busy working on Eurovision’

Luke Dudley is working as a spotlight operator at the Eurovision Song Contest and says “back-to-back” rehearsals means he cannot watch the ceremony.

“It’s a very tightly packed schedule which we’ve been religiously sticking to,” he explains.

The 27-year-old from Manchester works in the lighting department, providing the key light for artists and presenters on the stage.

Luke is disappointed to be missing “a momentous period in our history”.

“Friends and family have parties planned, so it’s a massive shame. I love the pomp, ceremony and spectacle of it all,” he says.

Despite Luke not being able to participate in the coronation parties, he says he “couldn’t pass on an opportunity like Eurovision”.

“I couldn’t be more excited. There’s nothing like it.”

生词记录

tune into 收看，收听

coronation 加冕，加冕典礼

revel in sth 陶醉于，着迷于，纵情于

pomp 盛典，典礼，盛况

midwife 助产士

hereditary 遗传的，世袭的

elitist 精英统治的，精英主义的

undemocratic 不民主的

scrabble 翻找；试图快速获得（不易得到之物）

make ends meet 使收支相抵，勉强维持生计

put food on the table 为了维持生活而不断努力工作挣钱

parade 庆祝游行

deliver 接生，分娩，给···助产

lie-in 赖床，早上晚起床

doughnut 炸面包圈，甜甜圈

commission 委托···做；委员会；委任···为军官；在使用中的，在服役的

monarchy 君主制，君主国，君主政体

round-up 简报，综述，概要

crown 为···加冕；使圆满，使完美；皇冠，王冠

bank holiday 公休日

jet 乘飞机旅行

tropical 热带的，产于热带的

back-to-back 一个接着一个的，连续的；背靠背的

rehearsal 排练，彩排

religiously 宗教上，宗教方面地；经常地，很有规律地

momentous 重大的，重要的

spectacle 壮观场面；不寻常的事，出人意料的情况

poll 民意调查