A Prosecco toast to the coronation of King Charles III

There is nothing sacred when it comes to marketing opportunities. 

The coronation of King Charles III next week - an event I am doing my best to avoid - has seen a torrent of "tribute" products released.

And the wine industry was not to be left out with the release of a special release from Prosecco Bottega to mark the grotesque event on May 6 at Westminster Abbey in London.

The press release says: "The Bottega winery, closely linked to the United Kingdom, which represents one of its first commercial markets on a global scale, has produced a Prosecco dedicated to the new King in a limited edition for the special occasion.

"The Treviso-based company wished to commemorate this historic event with 'Bottega Platinum Coronation', an exclusive platinum-coloured metallised bottle. The label and capsule are customised with a reproduction of the crown enriched by the shades of the British flag."

OK.

Bottega Platinum Coronation is a Prosecco DOC made from glera grapes harvested in the province of Treviso.

It retails for around £25.00 ($47.50 in Aussie dollars), so it is not cheap.

It is, apparently, "great with pizza".

I wonder if it also goes well with quiche?

For King and country: a £25,000 bottle of whisky

Distillers Gordon & MacPhail have unveiled a special single malt whisky from 1948 - the year of his birth - to mark King Charles III’s Coronation in May.

There will doubtless be many companies jumping on the coronation bandwagon to sell all sorts of tat, but few will be as expensive as The Private Collection 1948 from Glen Grant Distillery.

The whisky was filled into a first-fill Sherry cask on April 10,1948, by Gordon & MacPhail. 

Only 281 bottles will be available of this ultra-rare release which was bottled on December 15 - the anniversary of Charlie's christening.

Priced at £25,000 per bottle - that's around $47,000 in Australian pesos - the whisky retains a cask strength of 50.4% after more than seven decades of maturation.

I is described as "a vibrant and fragrant single malt packed with festive spices, mulled berries, a hint of raisin and lemon zest."

Gordon & MacPhail also released a 70-year-old single malt to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. And the family has links with the distiller.

HRH Prince Charles - as he was known then - officially reopened the company's Benromach Distillery in 1998.

To celebrate the release of The King Charles III Coronation Edition, a donation of £25,000 will be made by Gordon & MacPhail to The Prince’s Foundation. How very generous of them.

Stephen Rankin, Director of Prestige [what a great job title] at Gordon & MacPhail, said: “This exceptional whisky is a fitting tribute to His Majesty, who has continually promoted and protected British tradition and excellence over many decades.

"This release has been carefully nurtured for over seventy years and is testament to great patience, long term thinking and commitment to creating high quality products; principles that have been handed down through generations of people working for our family business.

“For more than 50 years, King Charles has placed a firm focus on sustainability and supporting communities. Our donation to The Prince’s Foundation will support his vision of a more sustainable world and aims to help create future legacies.”

Founded in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail has bottled spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries.

For more information see www.gordonandmacphail.com

More Heathrow chaos predicted in time for coronation

I personally have zero interest in the coronation of a rather dweebish king.

I just think he and his equally unappealing consort should pay for their own ghastly extravaganza and not expect struggling British taxpayers to foot the bill.

If you are heading for the Charles and Camilla show, however, you might want to make sure you get to London in plenty of time.

Because, as certain as the fact that night follows day, there is talk of another transport strike.

Travel Mole reports that more "Inevitable disruption and delays" are expected at Heathrow Airport next month as 1,400 security officers plan yet another an airport strike.

The industrial action is likely cause some disruption for travellers arriving for the ghastly event.

Security guards also took part in a 10-day airports strike over Easter.

“This dispute is bound to escalate with more workers being balloted and disruption set to continue throughout the summer,” said Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham.

The last strike involved the security officers based at Terminal 5.

Heathrow is acting all defiant.

“We will not let Unite disrupt the flow of visitors to the UK during such an important period for the country,” it said in a statement.

Airport management says it has offered a 10% pay increase plus a lump sum.

The strike could overlap with more industrial action at Passport Office locations.

Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members plan strikes from May 2-6.

Never mind the economy, let's add another national holiday

Here we go again. 

Another public holiday to mark an auspicious occasion in the life of a startlingly dysfunctional rich family. More pomp and ceremony at the expense of taxpayers.

The UK, which we all understood to be having economic difficulties, has declared an extra public holiday to mark King Charles III’s coronation next years.

No doubt Australia will fall into step like a dutiful child.

The UK holiday will be held on Monday, May 8, 2023 - a full two days after the ceremony (and well over half a year since Charles actually took over as king).

The holiday is in addition to the usual May bank holiday just a week earlier.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (who employs that odious Braverman woman) said the holiday represents "a unique moment for our country to come together and celebrate"’.

“I look forward to seeing people pay tribute to King Charles III by taking part in local and national events across the country in his honour.”