Unsurprisingly, the coronation of Charles III on Saturday elicited a wide range of responses from the British press, providing some sense of the mood in British society.
The Telegraph, as to be expected from a highbrow newspaper perceived not only as conservative but royalist, was firm in its commitment to the Royal Family, especially in the regal layout of its main articles. However, the newspaper did not pass up the opportunity to reaffirm its political allegiances, praising Penny Mordaunt's (Conservative Party) elegance and making a dig at Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's facial expression, described as, "How can I blame the Tories for this?"
The paper also took clear sides against Prince Harry describing him as looking "like a surly teenager."
Still on the right side of the political spectrum, right-wing tabloids also took aim at Prince Harry, with The Daily Mail focussing on the brevity of Prince Harry's lightning visit - "28 hours and 42 minutes". With characteristic wit, The Sun called Harry "Heir splitting", but also emphasized the popularity of the Royal Family throughout British society with images of street parties and families watching the coronation at home.
The Mirror, the left-wing tabloid, presented a more rounded image of Prince Harry including an article about Archie and Diana watching the coronation on television, at home in the USA.
The liberal-left highbrow paper The Guardian presented a much wider range of opinions and topics related to the coronation. The news sections and some columnists allowed readers a moment of national pride. However, the paper also devoted space to anti-monarchist republican protests and the columnist Polly Toynbee was extremely critical, describing the main impressions of the coronation as "protestors in handcuffs and bling".
The Times's coverage was broadly supportive to the new king, but emphasized Charles' modernising tendencies, reflected in his reaching out to people of diverse faiths (in the plural).
Sources: The Times, The Mirror, The Guardian, The Sun, The Daily Mail, The Telegraph
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