In June 1953, Queen Elizabeth chose as her signature dish to celebrate her coronation 'Poulet reine Elizabeth' or 'Coronation Chicken' as it became. Invented by the food writer Florence Spry and chef Rosemary Hume of the Cordon Bleu cookery school, it was made from an Indian-inspired creamy curry sauce, to be eaten with salad or in sandwiches. It graced Queen Elizabeth ll's coronation banquet and has remained a national favourite, if somewhat lowbrow.
What would King Charles create? Perhaps a version of the country’s most popular dish Chicken Tikka Masala or Chinese duck with pancakes or a celebration of British pride with Beef Wellington. Would these upset the vegetarians, vegans and non-meat eaters in trying to save the planet?
The Palace announced that the choice of the King and Queen is Quiche! – that unimaginative import from across the channel, a limp tart of custard, flavoured with spinach, broad beans and tarragon – and perhaps bacon? Chaque à son gout!
Even Delia Smith’s recipe for Quiche Loraine, to give its official title, laments the problem of the soggy bottom. Coronation Quiche may be the buffet dish of the future – but more likely a must to avoid.
Gender dysphoria, defined as a sense of unease about the difference between one’s biological state and desired gender, affects only a small number of people according to official data. Children who experience this ought to be treated with understanding and compassion.
The risks of inappropriate dealing with the situation were illustrated by the damning report on the Tavistock Clinic. Parents are the first teachers of their children, to help their offspring to negotiate challenges of early life. But the corollary is that teachers should inform parents of issues which affect their children’s well-being.
A report by the think tank Policy Exchange found that only a quarter of secondary schools may be informing parents when children are showing signs of gender distress.
A worrying example of the confusion involved a teacher at a private school who was required to apologise to 11-year-olds because she had said ‘good afternoon girls’ at the start of a lesson. She was told that not all pupils ‘identify as female’. The head teacher required an apology for any pupil who had been upset or felt offended. The teacher was then ‘managed out’ of the school.
It is unfair to blame teachers for the extraordinarily complex decisions to be made. Their task is more difficult because of lack of clear guidelines on gender teaching. The DfE needs to set explicit guidelines and should underline the right of parents to be notified if their child is exhibiting gender distress. Such guidance has been offered in the past but has not materialised. The prime minister has now promised such guidelines before the summer.
To prepare the country for the future Rishi Sunak proposes that maths tuition continue up to the age of 18. We would then prize numeracy and boost the economy. As a former investment banker, the Prime Minister understands the importance of numbers. Predictably not everyone agrees. Diane Abbott says “It just doesn’t add up!”
The activists are out in force, whether it is Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil, Insulate Britain, Friends of the Earth, anti-royalists or public sector strikers. The aim of activists is to disrupt and attract public attention. Publicity about the Grand National focussed not on the race or the evils of gambling but on the impact of the protesters in delaying the start of the race by only 15 minutes.
Disruption of the World Snooker Championship by Just Stop Oil involved protesters climbing onto the green baize table and scattering orange paint powder, while another glued herself to a table. That protest did not relate to indiscriminate use of oil and gas in snooker – a sedate and very ‘green’ activity – but to raise publicity for the campaign to force ministers to drop plans relating to fossil-fuel projects. Fans may have responded by shouting ‘pot the green’ and ‘put him in the frame’.
After recent negotiation between Extinction Rebellion and the organisers of the London Marathon, the protesters promised to ‘protect’ the Marathon provided there was an announcement supporting the demands for no new fossil-fuel exploration. Hugh Brasher spoke of incredibly positive discussions and stressed ”We run for clean air, for good causes, for our loved ones and to remember people; we run together and we run in peace”. Grant Shapps, the energy secretary, tweeted ‘Those who idiotically put £MILLIONS in marathon donations at risk must be stopped’. Time for more control over disruption caused by extremists infiltrating moderate protest movements?