Latest news with #ImperialCrown
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
'You have to jam it on': King Charles's Coronation advice to Justin Welby as archbishop feared breaking the monarch's NECK with the crown
Crowning a king is enough to make anyone nervous. But imagine the pressure of being told one wrong move could kill him. That was the situation faced by former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby at King Charles's Coronation in May 2023. During a rehearsal in the Buckingham Palace ballroom, Dr Welby put his hands up to mimic holding the crown. As he prepared to place it on the monarch's head, King Charles told him: 'You have to jam it on.' He added: 'It has to come down to here first - and then push down. Because otherwise, if it's at the back, it's fatal.' Concerned about hurting him, Dr Welby said to Charles: 'I don't want to break your neck, sir. It might ruin the service!' The King, who grew up watching his mother wearing the Imperial Crown around the palace to practise before events, reassured the archbishop that it wouldn't cause any harm, the Mail's Robert Hardman reveals in his book Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story. Dr Welby, who stepped down in January amid controversy over the Church of England's handling of child abuser John Smyth, then placed a replica of the 4.9lb St Edward's Crown on Charles's head. The King was sitting on St Mary's Chair, rather than the real Coronation throne. Dr Welby's nerves showed in other ways, as BBC footage of the rehearsals revealed last year. The then-archbishop was seen fumbling his lines during one of the run-throughs. He said: 'And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be amongst you and remain with you now that can't be right.' The Archbishop of York then leaned over and added, 'and always'. He joked: 'You must have said this before?' The off-the-cuff remark prompted laughter from everyone present - including the King. A grinning Charles shook his head and laughed, then added: 'You knew that was coming.' Dr Welby finished the blessing with: 'Be with you and remain with you always. Amen.' There was even a humorous father-and-son moment between Prince William and Charles. The Charles III: The Coronation Year documentary, co-produced and written by Mr Hardman, showed the scene when William practised giving Charles his 'Stole Royal' - an embroidered cloth band symbolising the sacred nature of kingship. The Prince remarked on how fiddly the catch was and joked to his father: 'On the day it's not going to go in, is it?' The King laughed and replied: '[But] you haven't got sausage fingers like mine!' During the Coronation itself, Queen Camilla backed away from Dr Welby when he was holding her crown. One of the ladies-in-attendance, Lady Lansdowne, revealed: 'But I think that was just because she was worried that the archbishop was going to tread on her dress so she was just pulling herself back.' The Queen's sister, Annabel Elliot, her other lady-in-attendance, added: 'She was obviously incredibly nervous. She doesn't show it a lot, but I know her well enough. 'I think he [the King] was very proud of her. And I think there was a sense of, "I can't believe it. We've made it."'
Calgary Herald
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Smith says 'common ground' found during positive first meeting with Carney
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she's looking for quick action on federal energy policies following a 'very positive' first meeting Friday with Prime Minister Mark Carney. Article content Article content The conversation was the first since Carney's Liberals won last week's election and occurred a day after the province launched legal action challenging Ottawa's clean electricity grid regulations. Article content Article content Smith had previously issued a list of nine economic-focused demands for the next prime minister and pledged to strike a panel to ask Albertans what they would want if the Liberals won a fourth consecutive term. Article content Article content Speaking on her call-in radio show Saturday, the premier said 'some common ground' was found as she raised each of those demands and the two discussed projects of importance to Alberta. Article content 'He listened attentively. He did not dismiss out of hand or reject anything that I said, and that's a very positive first step,' Smith said. Article content 'For me though, it's more than words. We have to see action and that is what I will be pressing for.' Article content Asked if she would advance a referendum if the federal government doesn't agree to her directives, Smith said more assessment is warranted. Article content 'What I have overwhelmingly heard is that people want me to give this new relationship, and this new prime minister, a chance to correct some of the issues that have festered for the last 10 years, and I will go into those discussions in good faith, and I did,' she said. Article content Article content The Alberta government tabled legislation last week that lowers the bar for citizens to initiate referendums, including a possible vote on Alberta separating from Canada. Article content Article content Indigenous leaders from across the province and country have condemned the move, saying Smith is stoking separatism and violating treaty commitments in the process. Article content 'Large swaths of this province are governed by the sacred Treaties between First Nations and the Imperial Crown, including Treaty 7,' reads a joint statement issued Friday by the Tsuut'ina, Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney Nations.
Global News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Global News
First Nations in Alberta, Saskatchewan vow to oppose any efforts to separate Alberta from Canada
A growing number of First Nations leaders are voicing their concerns over calls for Alberta to separate from Canada — calls that have grown louder following the recent federal election. On Friday, following on the heels of several other First Nations who have expressed opposition to the idea, the Chiefs of four Calgary-area First Nations also issued a statement saying that 'any efforts to separate will be met with our full opposition.' While the Chiefs express some sympathy with the 'deep frustration echoing across Alberta and much of the Prairies,' saying as leaders 'we too often feel unheard,' they also insist that 'First Nations will not separate.' The Chiefs said that large swaths of Alberta are governed by 'sacred treaties' between First Nations and the 'Imperial Crown,' including treaties 6, 7 and 8, and those areas 'are held in trust by the Crown for the benefit of the Treaty First Nations, not as property of the provincial government.' Story continues below advertisement The statement adds that those treaties also predate Alberta's entry into Confederation in 1905. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The statement is endorsed by Chief Roy Whitney of the Tsuut'ina Nation, Chief Darcy Dixon of the Bearspaw Nation, Chief Aaron Young of the Chiniki Nation and Chief Clifford Poucette of the Goodstoney Nation. View image in full screen First Nations' Chiefs say that treaties that cover a large swath of Alberta pre-date the province's entry into Confederation and they are vowing that any efforts at Alberta separation 'will be met with their full opposition.' Global News Late Thursday, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, which represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan, also issued a statement expressing its 'serious concern over Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's recent actions to facilitate a potential referendum on Alberta's future in Canada.' 'We are the first peoples of these lands and waters,' said FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron. 'Those that want to leave are free to do so but all the lands, waters, and resources are First Nations.' 'Any process of separation that fails to honour the true spirit and intent of our treaties would violate both constitutional and international law,' added Chief Cameron. Story continues below advertisement Following Monday's federal election, Smith's United Conservative Party government proposed legislation that would make it easier for citizens of Alberta to call for a vote to secede from Canada. Smith responded to claims she is stoking the fires of separation by saying she supports a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada. — with files from The Canadian Press
