Hi Folks,

Growing up in the Industrial North East of England, the Royal Family were not something I really thought about. My Grandparents, who raised me, were staunch royalists, as so many of their generation were.  They had a portrait of Her Majesty in the living room and they would be glued to the TV at 3.00pm on Christmas day, for the annual Queens Speech.   Otherwise, the Royals existence was so far removed from mine, I remained ambivalent about them.  

That attitude changed about 10 years ago and I find myself these days, far more supportive of the Royal Family.  Consequently, I have been dismayed over the recent developments surrounding the Queens second Son, Prince Andrew and his relationship with the convicted paedophile and disgraced billionaire, Jeffery Epstein.  This has capped off what has been a bad year for the Royals.  So are the Royal Family in Crisis?

Her Majesty The Queen

Queen Elizabeth II became Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth on 6th February 1952, aged 25.  She was crowned the following year at Westminster Abbey.  The head of the Royal Family, she has 4 children 8 grandchildren and, I think, 8 great-grandchildren.  She is 93 years old now and whilst passing on some Royal duties to her son and heir, Charles, she is still going strong.

By and large, The Queen seems to be held in high regard by the majority of the UK population. There have been a few Royal crisis not to mention Royal scandals down the years.  However, the Queen has typically managed to steer her family through these difficulties in a manner such that she has retained the publics affection.  There has always been an undercurrent of republicanism, wishing to get rid of the monarchy. However, these republicans don’t seem to have gained much traction with the wider population, even after these historic scandals.

Moving with the Times

Over the years,  the Royals under Her Maj’ have managed to move with the times, at least a little. Today, they seem far more open and accessible  than they were in the past. This is doubtless due, in no small part to the younger Royals, particularly Princes William and Harry. But the publics affection can soon change.  Todays society; after a decade or more of austerity, seems far more inclined to be critical of the Royals. So the latest scandal around Prince Andrew plus the recent PR disasters of Prince Harry and Meghan have done the Royals no favours at all.

Towards the end of 1992, in a Speech to the Guildhall, the Queen described  the year as her ‘Annus Horribilis’ and it certainly had been a horrible year. All three of her elder children, Charles, Andrew and Anne split from their respective partners. Prince Charles’ wife, Diane Princess of Wales, published a book which was a tell tale describing Charles infidelity with Camilla Parker Bowles. Prince Albrecht, a nephew of the Queen, died and to cap it off, there was a fire at Windsor Castle, one of the Queens residences, stuffed with priceless art work. Definitely not a good year.

Annus Horribilis No 2?

Unfortunately, it seems 2019 might prove to be an even more Annus Horribilis for her Maj’.  The year got off to a bad start with Prince Phillip, The Duke of Edinburgh and the Queens husband being involved in a car accident in January . Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt, but it took a long time, nearly a week,  before Phillip contacted the family in the other car to apologise. This attracted a lot of criticism.  Whilst there was no further action, Prince Phillip is now 98 and has given up driving, which is probably for the best.

I actually really like prince Phillip. I mentioned earlier I am more of a Royalist now than in my youth. He is partly the reason.  Whilst we lived in Crathie, near Balmoral, I met Prince Phillip a few times. I very much doubt he would ever remember, but these meetings made an impression on me.

Prince Phillip

At a reception in Balmoral Castle, The Duke came over as I was finishing a glass of red wine I have been given. He said he would exchange it for a “proper” drink.  A flunky appeared with a gin and tonic, about 9 parts gin to 1 part tonic.  It was certainly a proper drink. It made my eyes water.  I was one of 3 or 4 chaps he spent a good 15 minutes chatting to.  This was more than just the usual small talk.  More like a group of guys down the pub. I realised during this conversation, that he has quite a sense of humour.  I can imagine it might be a bit of an acid wit at times, but it made me chuckle. Or it might have been the gin.

On another occasion, I found myself standing next to Phillip in the grounds at Balmoral, whilst the pipe band of  the Queens Honour Guard did a march past. I was dressed in a kilt and was conscious he was occasionally glancing round at me. I started feeling very  self conscious and wondering what social faux pas I had committed. Eventually, I caught his eye and he smiled and asked if he could ask me a question. “Certainly Sir”.

The Evil Midge

It was early evening and the midge were out in force.  “Midgies”, he said, “evil creatures”. I agreed and he went on, “Tell me, are they biting your bollocks?”  Not the sort of question I was expecting, but before my brain could engage, I found myself replying.  “A little Sir, but I am hoping for some serious swelling”. Not one of my best  and realising to whom I was speaking and what I had just said, I expected to be immediately thrown off the premises.  Or possibly locked in the tower.  As it happened, he seemed to like  the comment and I got a chuckled ‘good show’ back from him.  So yes, Prince Phillip is OK in my book.

Prince Harry And Meghan

Elsewhere, this has been a bad year for Prince Harry ands Meghan.  From the perceived secrecy and strange confusion around the birth of their first son; Prince Archie, in May.  PR disasters over their relationship with the press, the cost of renovations at their new residence at Frogmore Cottage and the seeming falling out with Prince William and Kate.  This culminated in a cringe worthy documentary during their trip to South Africa attacking the intrusiveness of the press.  After seeming to get back on track with the paparazzi, the couple launched a blistering attack and a legal challenge on the press.

I always thought Harry was pretty grounded, but this year he has repeatedly come across as a bit of a spoiled brat.  His is an example of how  public affection can soon turn to something else.  It seems to me, the deal is, the public are happy to indulge the Royals in their gilded lifestyle provided they are allowed the odd glimpse. Such as sharing in the birth of a new baby.   This might not be very fair, but theirs is not a normal lifestyle. In the age of 24 hr social media, with their lives being so different, they are going to be under the microscope. There has to be a balance, but complaining that life is very hard for them as they flit from International tour, to luxury holidays and  private boxes at Wimbledon.  It’s not going to earn a lot of sympathy.

 

Prince Andrew

And so to Andrew, formerly  known as Prince.  I met him once upon a time in Jakarta when he was part of the British Trade Commission.  My impression then was of an arrogant, unpleasant individual.  It must be hard being the second son. The spare. Knowing that under normal circumstances, you are never going to get the top job.

Whereas Charles seems to have matured into a thoughtful and contented sort with a strong sense of duty, Andrew has maintained the image of someone with a huge sense of entitlement where it should be all about him.  And as the details of his ill advised relationship with Epstein are coming out, he seems determined to make the hole he is in, even bigger.

Car Crash Interview

Andrews self made situation makes all the aforementioned issues pale in comparison.  It has the potential to significantly damage the Royals.  What was he thinking when he gave that absolute car trash of a TV  interview.  Showing no remorse or empathy for Epstein’s victims, he tried to make it all about him and how unfair this all was.  He was only guilty of being too honourable.  Dear lord, whoever advised him to do this should be instantly fired.

The fallout has been predictable.  Angry victims of Epstein, denied justice after the billionaire took his own life are now baying for Andrews blood. His charities and sponsors are abandoning him in droves and finally he has been effectively ‘sacked’ by the Queen and Prince Charles from his Royal duties. He is effectively in internal exile. Will this be enough to salvage the Royals reputation, and avoid further fall out? Time will tell.

The Aftermath

My sense is the public still retain a great deal of affection for the Queen and if anything are sympathetic to her for this latest crisis.  Similary, Charles seems to be doing the right things and is helping with the damage limitation. If anything, this might play into his hands as he has long held a desire to slim down the number of “working Royals”.  Is this the first step towards a slimline Royal ‘firm’.

Theirs is a very privileged lifestyle. One of riches and opulence beyond what most people can imagine.  But with it comes responsibility and a burden of never being able to live a ‘normal’ life.  Having to watch every thing you do and say.  24 hr scrutiny and literals millions of people believing they have the right to know everything and to judge you. The pressures must be enormous.  Its not a lifestyle I would wish on my worst enemy.

A Royal Future?

But I hope the Royals survive this latest crisis. I hope they can continue to be relevant in a fast changing world and I hope they retain the publics affection.  I believe Her Majesty the Queen has been a shining example for Great Britain throughout my lifetime and I think Charles will be a good king after her.  Not so sure about the younger Royals, but depending on how long Charles lasts, there is time for William to mature and the signs are promising.  I hope this because I believe that beneath the privilege, the luxury and the pressures,  the Royals are nice people.

Attending Crathie Kirk, I have abiding memories of them in church.  I recall the Queen waving  and playing Peekaboo with Small when she was a babe in arms. On another occasion,  Harry, William and the Queen sharing a joke and giggling like loons, just a gran and two of her grandsons. And I remember Phillip helping himself to a handful of quality street during the harvest festival service, stuffing them into his pocket.  My grandad used to do that and that makes me smile.

And on that note, cheerio and talk again soon.

 

Graham Wannabe

 28th November 2019.