Something that I hadn't thought about - that King Charles will be "anointed" with sacred oil during his Coronation ceremony. The headline is that he has chosen to maintain the privacy of the ancient ceremony "during the most solemn part of the Coronation on May 6". The press report says that he made the decision to honour his relationship with God.
Rituals from ancient times are curious today. For example, Queen Elizabeth II had a cloth-of-gold that was held over her head for the anointing. No report so far on what the cloth will be for Charles.
And when did the anointing tradition begin? It is The Old Testament's anointing of Solomon. He was chosen directly by God. So the British monarch was at one time considered divine and appointed directly by God.
The ritual involved seems so out of alignment with our current social traditions. And perhaps because there are so few kings and queens being anointed we experience the great gap of traditions and activities.
Here's what the National Post writes: "When Charles is crowned by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, he will experience what is believed to be a sacramental encounter with God. It is one of the rarest Anglican rituals, and the only European monarchical coronation that retains the practice of “unction,” the anointing of a new monarch with holy oil to signify God’s grace."
The oil - the Chrism oil has been consecrated by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem in March. The oil will be held in the Ampulla, the silver-gilt Coronation Spoon was first used in 1349, and has anointed every Monarch since King James I in 1603.
And what about the Crown? With its controversial jewels being claimed by various countries. And it has been estimated by financial analysts to be worth more than 5 billion pounds. How quaint: It has its own emoji! | 
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