Thanks Ma’am for 70 years on throne
Queen is an e x amp l e to the nation
In almost four decades of this column writing business, I don’t think I’ve ever devoted the leading article to Her Majesty the Queen.
To be honest, I’m not a great fan of the Windsor family in general . . . and two or three of them in particular.
For example . . . what IS the point of Prince Andrew? If he was completely useless before his alleged sexual indiscretions . . . what the heck is he now? Even the good people of York are embarrassed by his Duke of York title!
What was that old nursery rhyme again . . .?
The Grand Old Duke of York He had £10 million quid
He gave it to someone he’d never met for something he never did!
The Duke of York still shares his official residence, Royal Lodge in Windsor, with his ex-wife, the Duchess Fergie. But I guess even that must have its moments of friction.
At some point between the pate de foie gras and the crème brulee – Fergie’s bound to ask why the woman he never met got a £10 million pay-off . . . while the mother of his two daughters walked away with only £3million! Then there’s Harry – the Royal who doesn’t want to be a Royal – but is suing the Home Office for failing to protect him like one. And last week, Prince Charles was asking us to believe that he made a Saudi billionaire a Commander of the British Empire in a private palace ceremony but had “no knowledge of the alleged offer of honours on the basis of donation to his charities”. It’s just a coincidence that the Saudi had earlier given £1.5 million to the Prince’s Foundation charity. If Her Majesty thought 1992 was an annus horriblis – she’ll be rating 2021 on Amazon as “would not recommend”.
Who couldn’t have been moved by her lonely vigil beside the coffin of her husband of 73 years? And Sunday’s announcement that the old girl had tested positive for Covid just put the tin lid on the start of 2022.
As long as there’s a throne and someone willing to sit on it – the debate on the legitimacy of the monarchy will reign over us.
It continues to be SNP policy that an independent Scotland would retain The Queen as head of state.
Getting a ‘yes’ vote on a referendum that included the abolition of The Monarchy would be a pretty big ask. But after that . . . who knows? Some Nat MP’s still play games – like crossing their fingers or writing “allegiance to Scotland” on the palm of their hands – while taking the House of Commons oath of loyalty to the Crown.
So why do they bother? Of course – the fact that they don’t start getting their MP’s salary until they’ve sworn their allegiance to The Queen – has nothing to do with it!
There are many shades of Republicanism. Nicola Sturgeon wants to keep the Monarchy but has hinted it could be the subject of a referendum . . . after the next referendum. But some of her MSP’s are a little less royal or loyal. One is on record in demanding the monarchy be abolished in Scotland upon the death of our reigning Queen. Whether her subjects actually need The Queen can be debated until the cows ome home.
But I don’t think there’s any doubt that – at this moment in her reign – The Queen needs her subjects.
Back in 2012, her 60th anniversary on the throne, she could bask in the glory of a recent Royal wedding – William and Kate - and the Olympic Games, quite literally, on her doorstep. The House of Windsor was in its pomp. But 10 years on, the same Royal House is tainted with embarrassing indignities. There could be more to come if Prince Harry’s memoirs – due to be published in November - turn out the be the “Royal hand grenade” that many predict.
The Queen is facing up to all of it – alone. If she ever needed or deserved a great – and grateful – national hug . . . it’s in this Platinum Jubilee year. Her 96th birthday is over a month away but I can’t find any plans to mark the celebration on any South Ayrshire Council website.
Similarly, I see no mention of any official celebrations planned for the four days in June set aside for marking the Platinum Jubilee. Search ‘South Ayrshire’ and ‘Royal Jubilee’ – and all that comes up is SAC’s bizarre attempt to have the entire district registered as a city!
Royalist or not . . . unionist or not
. . . you can’t deny HM has earned a national thank you!