THE legendary Anglican divine, William Archibald Spooner, had a nervous habit of getting his words mixed up. It was he who once memorably announced to a startled congregation: “We shall now sing the hymn ‘Shoving Leopard of thy sheep.’” He could inadvertently reduce any solemn and dignified occasion to gales of hysterical laughter. He once announced a hymn as “Kingkering Kongs Your Titles Take”.
Now a Kingkering Kong doesn’t have quite the same majestic ring about it as a Conquering King. But nor does a king riding on a donkey. We all know what a contemporary king looks like, don’t we? Robes. Crown. Majestic bearing. The horse and carriage. Or the Rolls Royce, purring through the streets as people cheer and children wave flags.