The extravagant coronation of King Charles III raises questions about the cost of the monarchy and public subsidies. Karla Adam and Mary Jordan examine this issue. Here is an extract:

The first crown King Charles III will wear at his May 6 coronation is a daunting five pounds of solid gold, velvet, ermine and gems. The second is lighter, adorned with 2,868 diamonds. He will receive the customary bejeweled scepters, swords, ring and orb. Afterward, he will travel through the streets of London in a golden carriage.

There will be a lot of bling.

Historically, all this projected the power of the British monarchy. The elaborate coronation rituals still help legitimize the royal transition — and sell the royal brand.

But the glitzy celebration, expected to cost British taxpayers tens of millions of pounds, may also highlight a liability for Charles. With a new king has come renewed scrutiny of the wealth of the royal family and heightened skepticism about how much the public should be subsidizing it.

Read the full article here.