![\"Then-Prince](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/58595011-10879725-Queen_Elizabeth_II_stands_with_Prince_Charles_to_watch_a_special-a-22_1654195829498-e1654711231903.jpg\")
<\/a>Then-Prince Charles and his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth.<\/p><\/div>\n
By the way, Camilla, who will now be Queen, has also grown on me. As a fan of Princess Diana, I was never in Camilla\u2019s corner back in the day. But I love a tale of true love, and that is what the royal couple obviously has. It’s an especially interesting one because it’s very unusual for a man to basically choose an older, unattractive woman over his beautiful young wife. (I saw a TV movie like that once, where Hal Linden’s character chose Anne Meara over Madolyn Smith. I didn’t think it could happen in real life, but Charles and Camilla have proven that it can.)<\/p>\n
Along with the rest of the world,\u00a0I’m\u00a0so<\/em> glad that the Markle woman won’t be there to spoil everyone’s time, as she surely would have. But did you notice that she announced she had just signed with a big show business agency this week, just to steal a little of the Royals’ thunder? What a rotten person she is.<\/p>\n All of us are giving waaay too much coverage to the evil Royal Family member, the Markel woman, so I figured I need to counteract all that with this glorious pic of perfect Princess Kate with her grandmother-in-law, the Queen.<\/p><\/div>\n I covered all the drama with Harry and his creepy wife last week, so I have only happy topics here today. (But, if you missed my rant, and are a fellow Markle-eschewer, here\u2019s that link\u2014you do not want to miss it!: itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/karens-rantsgossip-upcoming-the-creepy-sussexes-vis-a-vis-the-kings-coronation<\/a>.)<\/p>\n On a side note, this is something that amused me about the Coronation: King Charles’ former butler recently said, \u201cThis event is going to be so completely different to Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.\u201d Duh. For some, that was an actual lifetime ago!!! It’s been seventy years!!! Most\u00a0everything<\/em>\u00a0in the world has changed! That’s not the profound statement he\u00a0thought<\/em>\u00a0it was.<\/p>\n It’s perhaps the last occasion on which to share an image of the glowing young Queen, so here she is on her 21st birthday.<\/p><\/div>\n Now let’s get to the important<\/em> info. The King’s Coronation takes place on this coming Saturday morning, May 6, at the crack of dawn United States time. I believe that means 1AM west coast time. It will be shown on many TV stations and streaming services. But I’m hoping to find it on the BBC feed, of course. (Or rather, hoping that Mr. X<\/em> can find it, because he’s the one who does that stuff in our house.) That\u2019s really the\u00a0only<\/em>\u00a0way to watch the festivities, in my opinion.<\/p>\n Of course, I have a few tips for watching the Coronation\u00a0to make it the most\u00a0fun. I know we can all just watch<\/em> it, period, but if you\u00a0are<\/em>\u00a0into making it an\u00a0event\u00a0for yourselves, I’m here to suggest some ways to optimize\u00a0your Coronation experience.<\/p>\n I’ve shared some of these before, for\u00a0two of\u00a0the Royal Weddings, but this grand\u00a0occasion\u00a0presents the perfect time for a refresher course, don’t you think?<\/p>\n MAKE IT A TRUE FETE<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n How\u00a0lovely\u00a0would it be to have a\u00a0Coronation-themed soiree? If, as\u00a0I\u00a0<\/em>am, you\u2019re on the\u00a0west\u00a0coast of America, a late-night gathering will be perf. You can begin at midnight, which will be so unique that everyone who’s able to party at that hour should love it. (And invite\u00a0me<\/em>, please!) For you\u00a0east\u00a0coast-ers, how about a\u00a0very<\/em>\u00a0early morning week-end pajama party brunch? (My readers in the rest of the world can figure it out\u00a0accordingly.)<\/p>\n WARDROBE<\/strong><\/p>\n Karen Salkin modeling one of her many fascinators. (And jewelry and nails!) Photo by INAM staff.<\/p><\/div>\n Women\u2013you absolutely\u00a0must<\/em>\u00a0wear a\u00a0fascinator<\/em> on your head. (If you’re not familiar with that type of chapeau, I’m modeling one in the pic on the left.)<\/p>\n And don\u2019t forget the skinny gloves. Even if the rest of your ensemble is pajamas and a bathrobe,\u00a0(which I hope will both be made of\u00a0silk,) thin gloves, (when you’re not eating, of course,) and a fascinator are the order of the day. (And you can continue to rock that rare chapeau for the Kentucky Derby a bit later that same day!)<\/p>\n And, of course, all nail polish must be light pink. (I’ll show you mine in my Coronation review next week. I even filed my long nails down for the classy mani, which I’m proud to say I do myself, by the way.)<\/p>\n FOOD\u00a0AND DRINK<\/strong><\/p>\n What you feast on during the proceedings just might be the most important aspect of watching the Coronation, as opposed to just lying there with the TV on, (which could also be\u00a0fun, actually, since it will be the middle of the night.)<\/p>\n As\u00a0I hope that\u00a0many of you know, my\u00a0real<\/em>\u00a0area of dining expertise is Afternoon Tea, and I\u2019m very exacting about it. Even though I\u2019m usually super strict about the official\u00a0rules* of this repast, I\u2019m loosening them a bit for the Coronation, or else we\u00a0would not\u00a0be able to enjoy\u00a0all that deliciousness at this early morning hour. *[Note: If you’d like to be in the know about the differences among the several possible tea meals, you can learn it all right here: itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/national-daydiningkarens-lessons-happy-national-tea-day<\/a>.]<\/p>\n The perfect tea for the occasion! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Since we’ll all be celebrating a happening\u00a0in Jolly Old England, (where Afternoon Tea was invented,)\u00a0I suggest you\u00a0partake of at\u00a0least\u00a0some<\/em>\u00a0of these treats during the festivities,\u00a0(even if that means that you’ll be adding crumbs to your bed!)<\/p>\n ~\u00a0I\u2019m sure that a few of you will love the excuse to sip a spot of sherry or champagne at this hour, so\u00a0I say\u00a0go for it!<\/p>\n ~ Then don’t forget the actual\u00a0tea<\/em>. An English variety, (such as English Breakfast or Earl Grey,) is the most appropriate, of course, but I always find subtly-flavored ones, (such as vanilla, grapefruit, or cinnamon,) to be more delicious. I always add honey to mine, and sometimes a bit\u00a0of\u00a0milk,\u00a0which is very British.\u00a0 (Just remember\u00a0to hold your teacup with your pinky out to the side!)<\/p>\n ~\u00a0I wholeheartedly recommend that, at the very least, you dine on some scones with clotted cream and jam (my mouth is actually watering as I write that.) Scones are\u00a0very<\/em>\u00a0filling, so even one<\/em> of those treats should get you through\u00a0most of the\u00a0hours of\u00a0Coronation\u00a0coverage.<\/p>\n One of the Iveta scone mixes…<\/p><\/div>\n …and the gorgeous and delish scones that Karen Salkin baked from an Iveta mix herself! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n What I’ll<\/em> be doing is the easiest and most delicious of all. Over the years, I’ve whipped up the absolute best scones from Iv\u00e9ta mixes. You just add a cup of cream to the mix, sprinkle it with sugar, bake it for a few minutes, and that’s it! No other ingredients or measuring or worrying. I think that Iv\u00e9ta’s scone mixes are actually the reason I make an Afternoon Tea to begin with! My fave, of course, is their Chocolate Chip, but if I can stop being married to that flavor, I’m also planning on trying their Cinnamon Chip, Maple, new Apricot,\u00a0 and Vanilla (which I’ve never seen anywhere else!)<\/p>\n In a pinch, you can just get a package of crumpets, (if you can find them.) They’re a good enough substitute for scones, but far less satisfying.<\/p>\n The best and official Clotted Cream, also from Iveta.<\/p><\/div>\n ~ And please do not forget the clotted cream and jam with which to top the scones! You can get official Clotted Cream, Lemon Curd, and all kinds of upscale jams from Iv\u00e9ta when you order your scone mixes. It’s one-stop-shopping without leaving the house! www.iveta.com<\/a><\/p>\n I’m making it all as easy as possible for you, so you have no excuse not to celebrate the Coronation in the best way possible.<\/p>\n ~ Some fresh strawberries and cream, in any form, will be a lovely accompaniment. (And, with\u00a0that<\/em>\u00a0dish, you can be satisfied knowing that you\u2019re fulfilling a \u201cfruit portion\u201d of your diet so early in the day!) The easiest way to serve them is to have a bowl of fresh, washed, and hulled berries, and another bowl of whipped cream to dip them in. If more than just you and your fam are in attendance, provide individual ramekins of whipped cream for each guest to dip into, for health purposes.<\/p>\n ~ It’s probably too early in the morning\/day for anything heartier, but you can always also feature a few finger sandwiches. Cucumber and cream cheese ones will be the classiest, and a bit more early-morning-friendly. And most proper for the\u00a0occasion. And an interesting flavored cream cheese spread, such as a nutty or sweet one, on cinnamon-raisin bread, will be perfect. (And it’s so easy to make\u2014just spread it on the two sides of the sandwich, press together, and cut into quarters!)<\/p>\n ~ Tiny desserts, such as petit fours or bite-sized brownies or cookies, are perfect to not only end the meal with, but in this<\/em> case, to munch on throughout the Coronation and attendant events, such as the concert following it. But the most appropriate dessert, if you have time to whip it up the day before, (and the inclination, of course,) is English trifle.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>