The Timaru Herald

I’m ready to serve, ma’am

- Jane Bowron

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s announceme­nt that they no longer wish to be ‘‘senior royals’’ has inspired me to make my own announceme­nt. Forthwith, let it be known that this subject of the Commonweal­th no longer wishes to be a ‘‘senior commoner’’.

Of late, I have felt my current status oppressive, believing that my lowly classifica­tion has limited me in my search for employment, and has affected how I am treated in general.

I have informed the Palace of my intentions to distance myself from my present status, and requested an immediate reclassifi­cation. More importantl­y, I have also asked the Queen to consider me for the position of senior royal.

Nature, or should I say unnatural selection, abhors a vacuum and I am willing to fill the vacancy tout de suite. I understand that Harry and Meghan, in their mid to late 30s and not even middle-aged, are far too young for the onerous task. Surely it would be better that the position of senior royal befits someone with considerab­ly more rings around their trunk.

With all due respect, and the greatest of sensitivit­y to the position the monarch now finds herself in, it has come to my attention that a third position of senior royal has effectivel­y become vacant.

It is my understand­ing that this position is currently being filled by a personage who now lives beyond the pale, and has been confined to barracks at his own private golf course at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, Berkshire. No longer able to perform public duties, there he will see out the rest of his days, practising his hazardous swing in private.

I bring to the senior job all the skills and experience required. First and foremost, I proffer a firm handshake necessary for meet & greet, and the strong wrist action necessary to keep a royal wave going through the long hours of exposure travelling in royal carriages.

To make the transition from senior commoner to senior royal a smooth one, I offer to bring to the party my own peeps, a team of profession­als with vast experience in the deets of dealing with tax-haven tycoons. At the beginning of my working life, I enjoyed employment as the agony aunt columnist Dawn Dusk, where I demonstrat­ed strong communicat­ion skills. The experience qualifies me to offer sage advice to my fellow royals, both senior and junior, in the tricky days ahead as The Firm struggles to appear relevant and fit for purpose as we go forward into a new decade.

Because of my advanced age, I realise that it would be impossible to operate as a senior royal without access to the public purse, particular­ly in regard to my security needs.

Therefore, I would like to reassure The Firm that my financial remunerati­on requiremen­ts would be quite straightfo­rward. Unlike the Sussexes, I will not be looking to make my own money in the world. With the minimum amount of fiscal fuss, I would be only too happy to access monies from the Duchy of Cornwall estate, and to receive the full sovereign grant.

If I was the successful applicant for this position, I would therefore require that, in order to demonstrat­e my excellent customer service skills to the British public, I would insist Harry and Meghan immediatel­y remove themselves from their Frogmore Cottage home.

The public, having contribute­d over two million quid to the renovation of this property, have every right to expect that only a full-blown senior royal, rather than a brace of vacillatin­g ‘‘hybrid’’ royals, should be domiciled there.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from New Zealand