Charles Windsor: a Prince the equal of Kings?
The current surname of the British Royal family is Windsor. The word “current” is used advisedly because unlike other family names, the British Royal family name changes! Charles Windsor commonly referred to worldwide as “Price Charles”, is the eldest son of the reigning English Monarch Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He is Heir to the English Throne. In modern day England members of the English Monarchy are “Ambassadors Extraordinaire”. An official visit by any of their high-ranking members is the height of British diplomacy. It’s supposed to indicate the regard in which England holds that nation.
Prince Charles’s recent visit to Nigeria as part of his West African tour was unfortunately one public relations gaff after another. To welcome him, Nigerian Kings drawn from the six geo-political zones dressed in full regalia and assembled at the British High Commission in Abuja. The resultant photograph published in the national dailies, drew the ire of many who believe it to be demeaning to African culture. Seating arrangements represent hierarchy or authority and in the photograph Prince Charles sat centre stage amongst Nigerian Kings.
Nigerians are cynical as to what could have motivated such an assemblage of Kings to leave their domains and congregate in Abuja to welcome a mere Prince. Undoubtedly this was a clear breach of protocol. There is a school of thought that it was supposed to be the children of the Assembled Kings who welcomed the child of the British Queen. That is true if protocol overrides all other considerations. The consternation at the perceived demeaning of Nigerian Kings filtered to Edo State where every Edo man worth his salt, holds the Benin Monarch in the highest esteem. In the preelectricity, pre-television and video days the Monarch was a mystical figure, hardly ever seen in public. Indeed, this was the origin of the expression “you go see Oba!” which Edo people use to threaten themselves. It means you will show the other person something they never expected to see in their life!
There is a trending picture showing the legendary Benin Monarch Akenzua II bowing to greet Prince Charles’s mother at the airport in Benin City back in the day. This has given some people the wrong impression about the relationship between Nigerian and English Royalty. The bow was a sign of nobility, not servility. The Benin visit was hastily arranged during the young Elizabeth’s visit to Nigeria. Traditional rulers were invited to meet her in Ibadan capital of the then Western Region. Akenzua declined to leave his kingdom stating that he was not a King in Ibadan neither was she Queen in Ibadan so there was no basis for them meeting there. True to his word he stayed put in his palace. In Ibadan Her Majesty asked to meet the Oba of Benin. The late Elder Statesman Chief Anthony Enahoro CFR who was at the time Minister of Home Affairs Western Region was mandated to arrange a nonscheduled stopover in Benin for the sole purpose of meeting Akenzua.
In appreciation of the respect shown to him, the Benin Monarch reciprocated by leaving his palace to welcome her at the airport as a Queen visiting his Kingdom. In Prince Charles’s case if he had wanted to meet all rulers in their domains it would have been both a logistical, and security nightmare. However, it’s also true that the only place Prince Charles could be seen to be the equal of the Kings, let alone preside in their presence, was outside their domains. It’s bordering on the absurd for anyone to truly believe that the English Prince should have been welcomed by Nigerian Princes.
In Nigeria there is a traditional respect for age and Prince Charles is the age mate of most of our Kings, if not their senior. Most of the children of the assembled Kings’ are junior in age to Prince Charles’s children. He could not have been expected to associate with Nigerian Princes. The photograph was a public relations disaster simply because it has been juxtaposed besides another one of Prince Charles during his visit to Ghana. In Ghana the English Prince sat on a low stool while Osei Tutu II the Ashanti King sat regally on his throne looking down. It was quite clear who was in charge. That is how it should have been in Nigeria. To give Prince Charles his credit he has never been known for intentionally offending or disrespecting anyone. Rather he has earned a reputation as being “harmless and slightly eccentric in a quintessentially British manner”.
There is no gainsaying that Monarchy and Royalty in Nigeria are just as important as in England. Members of the English Monarchy are not inherently superior to their Nigerian counterparts. Caucasian Princes may arguably be morally superior to African Kings, but they are certainly not equal in status.