The UK can afford a coronation for King Charles III, according to UKIP leader and former Tory MP Neil Hamilton. There are reports that the new monarch is in favor of a more slimmed-down service given the precarious financial situation.
When asked by Mark Dolan whether the country could afford such a ceremony given the “struggle of people to heat their homes”, Mr Hamilton claimed it was justified given the rarity of such an opportunity.
He told GB News: “Of course we can afford a coronation, we have a coronation a handful of times in a century.
“The spectacle we witnessed at the funeral of Her Majesty the Queen just a few weeks ago was, in my opinion, unparalleled in its magnificence.
“More than half of the world’s population watched it.
“This is a huge boost for Britain, what we can do well in this country is pageantry.
“Our monarchy is something that is over a thousand years old.”
Hamilton went on to emphasize the importance of the royal family in defining Britain’s role on the world stage.
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“It connects us to our ancestors and this I believe is vital in modern Britain.
“Our monarchy is generally something to be proud of and an asset to the country, while most politicians are viewed with disdain by the public.”
The UKIP leader also argued that the tourist revenue generated by such an event outweighs the cost of the coronation.
Hamilton said it was “something we can’t afford not to do”.