London, England – Preparations are underway for the coronation of King Charles on May 6, the inauguration of a new head of state in the United Kingdom after 70 years.
Flags adorn the streets in towns and cities, shops are filled with memorabilia and fancy dress, and the British have an extra holiday on Monday to mark the occasion.
But while a sense of joy is palpable for many, 64 percent of Britons said they don’t care about the upcoming coronation, according to a recent YouGov survey, while 48 percent said they were unlikely to take part in the coronation celebrations.
Al Jazeera spoke to some members of London’s Caribbean community about their views on Charles and the royal family, whether a troubled history can ever be forgiven, and the Caribbean’s attempts to abolish the monarchy.
This is what they said:
“The way he treats Meghan and Harry is disgraceful”
Ivor John, 82, retired:
Are you watching the coronation?
Maybe I’ll check it out, but I’m not one to watch celebrity news. I don’t think anyone is better than me. I celebrate myself, I don’t celebrate other people.
What do you think of King Charles?
Well, I think he’s fine. But I think the way he treats Meghan and Harry is disgraceful. I don’t know, but I think there is some kind of prejudice or racial discrimination.
What do you think of the monarchy?
My father came here to visit me in 1984, I took him to Buckingham Palace and he was overjoyed. I was so happy to see him happy, but I’m 82 now. I don’t feel the same way he does about royalties. I don’t believe anyone is better than me, so I treat people with due respect. So if I saw the king, I would treat him with the respect he deserves.
What do you think of Caribbean countries removing the monarch as head of state?
I think the Caribbean should have their own thing. Have something to celebrate their heritage. England has the heritage of the royal family.
“Their history is based on colonialism, racism, slavery, corruption”
Cheryl Phoenix, independent legal advocate for education law:
Are you watching the coronation?
No. I have no interest. Watching them waste millions of pounds but refuse to support anything or do anything as reparations. It’s amazing how they got that money so quickly.
What do you think of King Charles?
He is, as far as I understand lately, concerned with the history of the slave trade. So in regards to King Charles, it’ll be interesting to see more about who he is and what he’s about. I’m 70-30 on him though, due to some of the racist dialogue that has come out over the years.
What do you think of the monarchy?
Their history is based on colonialism, racism, slavery, corruption. Unfortunately I can’t say much positive.
What do you think of Caribbean countries removing the monarch as head of state?
We must cut ties. How we became a monarch state in the first place wasn’t because we volunteered. It is important for us as a people in the Caribbean that we become independent from the monarchy. I think it is important that we also tell them to get their forces out of our countries. You have no business being there.
“I don’t know if he has the same kind of gravity as the Queen”
Donald Waugh, 61, actor, creative artist, teacher:
Are you watching the coronation?
If I’m being honest with you, no. No, because it doesn’t really interest me.
What do you think of King Charles?
He wants to join the younger generation. He wants to be more modern, but I don’t know if he really has a lot of strength or weight [as his mother]. Her silence and her anonymity gave her more mystique – when there were problems, she always kept her mouth shut and resolved them in a dignified manner.
It’s a different generation now. King Charles is entering a new era. I don’t know if he has the same kind of seriousness or the same kind of respect that the Queen commanded.
What do you think of the monarchy?
My parents are from the Caribbean. They came over in the 1960s and I still remember the trouble the British caused for what would be my grandparents or my great-grandparents.
[My parents] came here full of life and they wanted to embrace this land, the motherland. But when they arrived here, they faced many hardships.
I’m not really in favor of the monarch, also because of slavery – there’s still a lot of money being made from the slavery period… I’m not really a royalist, if I’m being honest.
What do you think of Caribbean countries removing the monarch as head of state?
I think the generations that come after us, like our cousins or our younger brothers, even though they are scattered in different parts of the Caribbean islands, feel the pain we went through. They want to cut ties, they want to stop being dictated to, you know, “Our country: new rules, new school.”
Let’s solve our problems ourselves. The problem with the British Empire… they took and they plundered and they plundered. The younger generation is slightly better educated in the history that was hidden.
‘I don’t respect them’
Merl Reid, 67, retired:
Are you watching the coronation?
No.
What do you think of King Charles?
I don’t recognize them. I don’t respect them. I have nothing good. Those don’t exist as far as I’m concerned.
What do you think of the monarchy?
I am not thinking about the monarchy, because the monarchy is not for poor people like us. I think it’s a waste of time. They steal all the property and just sit there in the tower with all that gold, all that riches, all that diamonds. If they gave it back to some of these countries, they wouldn’t be poor and hungry. What do you do with it? You can’t take it with you. The queen is dead. What did she bring? Nothing.
What do you think of Caribbean countries removing the monarch as head of state?
Well, they should have done that much sooner. Why are they there? What are they doing for the country every time they show up what they’re doing? Nothing.
“Whenever I hear the term commonwealth, I often think that wealth was not common”
Chukuma Wagadugu, 54, entrepreneur:
Are you watching the coronation?
There is a certain curiosity on my part. I’m not necessarily going to look eagerly at it. But it is possible that I will look at some aspects of it.
What do you think of King Charles?
When I was growing up he was like a playboy man, you know, he just gets all the women. Other than that I didn’t really have an opinion about him if I’m honest.
But that started to change when he married Diana – and I watched the wedding. The failure of that marriage and how he seemed to treat her, I didn’t like that.
He may well have represented a pernicious aspect of the royal family.
What do you think of the monarchy?
There is a mixture of curiosity as well as the critique of the monarchy and what that institution is and what it represents.
In terms of their involvement with the Caribbean and Africa, and what they represent as an upper class institution, they undoubtedly represent colonialism, slavery. What I would consider some of the most heinous acts committed in Africa and the Caribbean.
What do you think of Caribbean countries removing the monarch as head of state?
When I hear the term commonwealth, I often think wealth was not common. It is an organization born out of slavery, colonialism, neo-colonialism.
“Uncle knows what’s best for you, we know what’s best for your natives, you come under this umbrella and we tell you what’s best for you.” And when we visit you, you dance and sing for us, and we continue the ravages of colonialism, but in a different form.
‘Yes, I will definitely look’
Mervelee Myers, 63, activist:
Are you watching the coronation?
Of course, sure. You grow up a certain way, and those are the things you look forward to. So yeah, I’ll definitely check it out.
What do you think of King Charles?
Well, I personally respect all the elderly, but my husband would say Charles is getting older and having a younger person might have been more beneficial. We must prepare the future generation to take on leadership, manage and do the work that the older generation used to do.
What do you think of Caribbean countries removing the monarch as head of state?
Well, it’s already been done by Barbados. I’m from Jamaica and they’re thinking about it, but my opinion is, are they ready? Barbados made preparations and they left. But in my country there is so much going on in my country right now in terms of leadership, crime and stuff.
“I love Prince Charles. He does a lot of good’
Howard Facey, 71, retired:
Are you watching the coronation?
Yes.
What do you think of King Charles?
I love Prince Charles. He does a lot of good. I cannot bite the hand that feeds me. I called my sister and she said those things [like state security] those in England are not in Jamaica.
What do you think of the monarchy?
I like them because I was in Jamaica when the Queen of England came here and drove them around and waved to everyone.
What do you think of Caribbean countries removing the monarch as head of state?
When the Queen of England ruled Jamaica, things were better.