Britain’s ‘theocracy’ is something to be proud of

This coronation season, punditry is bristling with acute reflections on the British constitution, especially its religious aspect. Or maybe not. There is more comment on Succession (an American TV show that half-satirises, three-quarters worships capitalist excess). But is it not at least a little bit interesting that we officially remain a Protestant theocracy?

The Protestantism of the coronation oath is widely seen as an embarrassing relic from a more sectarian age. The King will promise to defend Protestantism, and protect the Church of England. He won’t say anything unfriendly about Catholicism, but those in the know will know that the Act of Settlement of 1701 remains in place, excluding Catholics from the throne. 

What are we meant to think about this? Secular folk are unlikely to focus on it: it’s just another aspect of the monarchy’s antique absurdity, and religion’s just a load of old cobblers so who cares about the specifics? Roman Catholics have an interesting dilemma.