Slimming down the monarchy and a modern coronation would be a welcome signal of change from King Charles III.
Sitting on the throne after the death of his much-loved mother, the longest apprenticeship in Royal history means this King has had decades to consider what to do next.
The King must know that he cannot merely replace his predecessor, doing exactly what she did. Not least because she was very special and, to succeed, he must be his own man.
Britain in 2022 is a more diverse, vibrant nation than in 1952 and it is encouraging that this King recognises he must represent and unite people of many different backgrounds.
As he prepares to exclude hangers-on, one figure in particular deserves to be banished from public life. There can be no way back for shamed, disgraced, brother Andrew, the Duke of York. The King appears to know that.
A bit rich, Liz
Liz Truss is gifting the wealthy and large corporations what her rival for the Tory crown, Rishi Sunak, branded a “big bung”.
Tax cuts and cancelled rises giving most to those already doing well is fundamentally unfair, a toxic ideological policy that respected economic thinkers warn will not boost growth or improve the public finances.
Truss shaking an imaginary magic money tree will pile up debt that we fear she will try to pay for by squeezing public services.
From axing the cap on bankers’ bonuses while squeezing the pay of nurses, teachers and police officers and protecting North Sea energy producers from a justified windfall tax is the new Prime Minister scandalously ruling for the rich few over the struggling many.
Line crossed
Denying they jumped the queue for the Queen’s lying-in-state, ITV This Morning presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield are mourning lost popularity.
But the pair did use an official media route rather than pushing in and will hope the ferocious public backlash dies down.
