The autumn of 2022 was one of the most momentous periods in British political history: Within just fifty days the Queen died, we had three prime-ministers, four chancellors, panic in the markets and a plummeting pound.

Our spring tour takes place in London with meetings in Westminster – with politicians and advisors from across the political divide, looks at the British constitution, and takes in the celebration of the coronation of King Charles on Saturday 6 May .

DATESTuesday May 2 – Sunday May 7, 2023
DESTINATIONBrexit Britain & The Coronation

London

Speakers include Matthew Dennison,  David Torrance & Peter Kellner

DURATION5 nights
INCLUDED
Accommodation is NOT includedSome Meals
All Transportation in LondonExpert Guide & Access to meetings
COSTCost  £3300.00
This excludes accommodation

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At first glance, Queen Elizabeth’s death and the political turmoil of last year were unrelated. But as Britain prepares to crown a new King, the future of these Isles including even the monarchy seems unclear.

Over five days in May we take a broader look at Britain, the Royal Family, and the turmoil of the last few months and years. The tour coincides with the spectacle of the coronation of King Charles in Westminster Abbey. It is a once in a lifetime display of pomp and pageantry.

We ask if the government can recover?  What will be the future of Scotland and Northern Ireland? At the same time, can the Royal family, nominally at the head of it all yet besieged by internal squabbles, retain its position without Elizabeth at the helm. It’s a balance of pomp, splendour and serious thought.

The tour will be based in London with access to some brilliant speakers including constitutional expert David Torrance, Royal biographer Matthew Dennison and the leading political commentator Peter Kellner.  Those who join us will have access to the people, places and institutions at the heart of government.

The tour includes access to the processions immediately preceding and following the coronation and national celebrations that will follow the day after.

 

As with all of our expert-led tours, we ensure that our groups remain small and intimate, and will not exceed 14 people.

As with all of our tours the itinerary focuses on current affairs, and owing to the dynamic nature of politics means that local conditions may lead us adjust the final schedule.

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Brexit Britain & The Monarchy

Like all our tours the itinerary is focused on current affairs. Events on the ground may change and the final schedule may be adjusted accordingly.

Day 1

Tuesday, 2 May: London

Dinner at 7p.m. with Political Tours experts and a look at the week ahead. Overnight London.
Day 2

Wednesday, 3 May: The Monarchy after Elizabeth II

With three days to go before the coronation preparations are in full swing. David Torrance gives an introduction into the role of the Monarchy in Britain’s unwritten constitution.  David is the House of Commons Library expert on the subject and advises Members of Parliament on the Monarchy and constitution. For Eurosceptics, Brexit was all about the sovereignty of parliament. We visit it for its last sitting before rising ahead of the coronation.  We will meet key Eurosceptic thinkers who believe the government has not gone far enough to break with Europe. Our visit includes the Throne Room, used by the monarch for the state opening of Parliament.  Outside of parliament we visit some of the sites being prepared for the coronation – and remind ourselves that Royal successions haven’t always been a smooth affair. Indeed, we got rid of the monarch altogether at one point.  Free evening
Day 3

Thursday, 4 May: Local Elections & King Charles III

Much of Britain heads to the polls today. While the elections are for local authorities the results are bound to reflect the unpopularity of the government. We’ll speak to voters near a polling station and leading pollster and political analyst Peter Kellner tells us what’s at stake.  The Royal succession has gone far more smoothly than the recent changes in No 10. Does it matter that Charles doesn’t have the same support as his mother?  A Royal correspondent gives her take and later a republican says why we should ditch the lot.  And permissions pending we’ll join a talk radio station ahead of the coronation – a good gauge of politics in general and opinion on the monarchy ahead of Saturday. More speaker details to follow. Free evening.

 

Day 4

Friday, 5 May: What next for Britain?

On Friday we head to the City of London or Square Mile – the original city of London and home one of the most important financial centers in the world. We’ll meet with some key thinkers about Britain’s future post Brexit. To what extent has it been undermined by Brexit or are there opportunities the UK is failing to grasp? There is a break away for those who want to visit the Tower of London and see coronation regalia – this visit may also be held earlier in the week. Later we visit the Institute for Government on Pall Mall an independent UK think tank which gives its assessment of Brexit’s impact.  A leading politician talks about Britain’s role in a changing world. It’s notable that the UK has been at the forefront of support for Ukraine – from Challenger 2 Tanks and there’s talk too about fighter jets. Still British foreign relations are in a bad shape on many fronts. Two foreign correspondents give their take – plus how they have been coping with all the enormous royal coverage over the past six months.  Free evening
Day 5

Saturday, 6 May: Coronation Day

The coronation ceremonies fall into three parts: There is a procession before the (The King’s Procession) followed by the Coronation itself in Westminister Abbey and then a longer procession (The Coronation Procession) through London after. The festivities showcase the United Kingdom and thousands of years of tradition at its best. We will have David Torrance and Matthew Dennison on hand to give us our own commentary and analysis throughout the day. We will be located at one of the key points along the procession route. It will be an amazing day but also a long one – so we will have a break in the afternoon after the ceremonies and procession are over. We will then have drinks and dinner to mark the occasion with our guest speakers.  Drinks & Dinner
Day 6

Sunday, 7 May: The Day After & Lunch

We will look back over yesterday’s events with another key speaker, and then join local celebrations. Street parties are being organised throughout the country. We join one near central London (details to follow). Our tour ends after lunch.

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What’s Included

Lunch each day, as well as transport throughout the tour and a dinner at the start and end of the tour. All speakers and access to institutions, museums and monuments listed in the final itinerary.

Accommodation & Flights are not included in the price and need to be arranged by customers themselves or with an agent.

Following the news

Like all our tours the itinerary is focused on current affairs. Events on the ground may change and the final schedule may be adjusted accordingly.

This tour starts and ends in London. 

Group size

As on all our expert-led tours the groups are deliberately small and will not exceed 14 people. Frequently we travel with 10-12 people. Limited spaces are available.

Visa

UK, US and EU passport holders do not need a visa.  Non EU passport holders may require a visa. It is always good to check with the embassy in your country for latest advice regarding visa requirements.

 

Weather

The tour is in Spring.  Weather is unpredictable.  It should be warm in the day, but it can be cooler in the evenings.  Please be prepared for some rain.

 

Dress

We suggest taking layers as the weather is variable. The days can be warm to cool. Rain showers are not uncommon too so please ensure you pack a rain jacket.  Most important is to have comfortable shoes.

Men: Will need a jacket and tie for some of the meetings.

Women: You will need smarter dress for one or two meetings.

Currency

Great British Pounds in the UK.

 

Electricity

Plugs are 3 pin UK.

 

Internet access

Wifi is available in most restuarants.

FCO Website

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office publishes regularly updated travel information on its website www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo which you are recommended to consult before booking and in good time before departure. Where it considers it appropriate to do so, the FCO may advise against all travel or all but essential travel to particular countries or parts of particular countries. Similarly, the FCO may withdraw any such previously given advice. Where the FCO issues such advice, we may as a result cancel your tour or make changes so as to avoid the area concerned (see clause 10). Alternatively, we may ask you to sign a form confirming you wish to proceed with the tour notwithstanding the FCO advice. It is in the nature of the itineraries we offer that the FCO may have issued such advice in relation to the country or parts of the country we are intending to visit prior to confirmation of your booking. In this case, you will be asked to sign the above form before we confirm your booking.

 

Medical Requirements

Advice on health requirements may be obtained from your GP, or alternatively from the Department of Health leaflet Advice on Health for Travelers, or the Department of Health in the UK. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk/destinations.aspx

 We suggest you visit your own doctor or local travel clinic who will have the most up-to-date travel advice, and be able to recommend any vaccinations prior to travel based on your medical history.

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Matthew Dennison

Matthew is the author of the new best-seller The Queen, a comprehensive account of the reign of Elizabeth II, tracing the events of a reign that now spans seven decades, in an era of profound social change and upheaval.

For millions of people, both in Britain and across the world, Elizabeth II is the embodiment of monarchy. Her long life spans nearly a century of national and global history, from a time before the Great Depression to the era of Covid-­‐19. Her reign embraces all but seven years of Britain’s post-­‐war history; she has been served by fifteen UK prime ministers from Churchill to Johnson, and witnessed the administrations of thirteen US presidents from Truman to Trump. The vast majority of Britons cannot remember a world without Elizabeth II as head of state and the Commonwealth.

In this brand-new biography of the longest-reigning sovereign in British history, Matthew Dennison traces her life and reign across an era of unprecedented and often seismic social change. Stylish in its writing and nuanced in its judgements, The Queen charts the joys and triumphs as well as the disappointments and vicissitudes of a remarkable royal life; it also assesses the achievement of a woman regarded as the champion of a handful of ‘British’ values endorsed ‐ if no longer practised – by the bulk of the nation: service, duty, steadfastness, charity and stoicism.

Matthew Dennison is the author of several critically acclaimed works of non-fiction, including Over the Hills and Far Away: The Life of Beatrix Potter, Behind the Mask: The Life of Vita Sackville-West, The Last Princess: The Devoted Life of Queen Victoria’s Youngest Daughter and Livia, Empress of Rome. A journalist, he contributes to The Times, The Daily Telegraph, Country Life, and The Spectator. He is married and lives in London and North Wales.

Peter Kellner 

Peter Kellner CBE is an English journalist, former BBC Newsnight reporter, political commentator, and former president of the YouGov opinion polling organisation in the United Kingdom. He is known for his appearances on TV, especially at election times. Peter is Chairman of NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Service).

Kellner has been Visiting Fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford, a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Policy Studies Institute, London, and served as a member of committees set up by the Economic and Social Research Council to commission research into elections and social exclusion. He received a Special Recognition Award from the Political Studies Association in 2011. Before joining YouGov, he acted as a consultant on public opinion research to a number of organisations, including the Bank of England, Corporation of London, Foreign Office, National Westminster Bank and Trades Union Congress.

Kellner has written for a variety of newspapers and magazines, including the Times, Sunday Times, Independent, Observer, Evening Standard, New Statesman and Prospect. He has also written, or contributed to, a variety of books and leaflets about politics, elections and public affairs. He was awarded Journalist of the Year in the British Press Awards in 1978.

Specialist subjects: Elections and Polls, Public Opinion, Politics and Government, Democracy and Society

Please contact us for a full list of experts you will meet on the tour.

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