Do We Love or Hate Britain?

Abdelmohsen Salama

It is not important whether we love or hate Britain, but what matters is that we benefit from its progress, knowledge, and economic, social, and political conditions.

Like billions of people, I followed the crowning of Charles as King of Britain in a legendary ceremony attended by most leaders, presidents, and kings of the world, with Egypt's Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly representing President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.

The ceremony was legendary in every sense of the word, evoking a sense of grandeur, authenticity, and adherence to traditions.

Charles wore the historic royal robe, held the famous sword, and listened to the priest's advice in strict and historic traditions.

Britain has not experienced a revolution, and I believe it will not. Some think that Charles might be the last king, but that is mere speculation. They said the same about Queen Elizabeth, and now the time has come for Charles to be crowned a new king.

Majestic historical ceremonies with traditions dating back over 1,000 years began with the royal procession moving from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey in a massive military parade involving 60 Spitfire military aircraft, which participated in World War II, and 5,000 soldiers from the British Armed Forces, as well as soldiers from 30 Commonwealth countries.

The Archbishop of Canterbury led the ceremony as the highest religious figure for Anglican followers.

The traditions transported viewers to the depths of history and pointed to the grandeur of a great kingdom without contradicting its modernity or being one of the largest countries to date. It is the sixth-largest economy in the world in terms of GDP and purchasing power, but it is considered the second-largest financial economy after the United States, while London is the world's largest financial center.

Preserving traditions does not mean "insularity" and "fragmentation", but it can be a powerful driving force for "progress" and "modernization" far from the "detestable" closure or "random" and "distorted" openness.