FIRST AMONG
As the younger ones step up, how the Queen showed she’s still the boss
THE younger generations may continue to draw more and more of the limelight. We may gently sense a passing of the baton to heirs and successors – be it at the Cenotaph or at Palace investitures or when it comes to buttering up world leaders.
Yet there was no question of who remains firmly at the helm of the ship of state yesterday as the Queen led the Royal Family in prayer at St Mary Magdalene, Sandringham.
There was no Prince Philip at her side on Christmas morning for only the third time in 71 years of marriage (the 97-year- old Duke was said to be in good spirits but erring on the side of caution on a chilly Norfolk day). Yet the Queen looked anything but downcast as the rest of the family bobbed and bowed and followed behind her.
All eyes, understandably, were on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, spending their first Christmas as a married couple. The beaming duchess looked delighted to be there, managing a deep curtsy to the Queen and chatting animatedly with her sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge, as they walked to and from the big house (with zero sign of any rift in that quarter).
Newly-wed Princess Eugenie, in festive red, arrived with husband Jack Brooksbank, the latest addition to the ranks of the royal in-laws. Her sister, Princess Beatrice, walked with Autumn Phillips, wife of the Queen’s eldest grandson, Peter.
Three hours later, the Queen was administering a badly needed dose of equanimity to a fractious nation in her Christmas broadcast. Here was the human embodiment of ‘ Keep Calm and Carry On’ doing just that.
Seeking to apply some perspective to our fetid political atmosphere, she focused on the higher, nobler theme of sacrifice. It was striking that the first member of the family whom she singled out in her address should be her father. The Queen quoted the future George VI, writing home after the Battle of Jutland where he served as a young midshipman.
It was this year’s centenaries of the Armistice and of the formation of the Royal Air Force which led yesterday’s broadcast, along with another centenary – the 100th anniversary of the Christmas carol service at King’s College, Cambridge.
This has, of course, been a year of great family milestones for the Queen. Were she writing one of those round-robin letters stuffed inside so many of our Christmas cards, she could have filled up pages with the weddings, the births, the birthdays and all the other landmarks – all of which have underlined the increasingly important role of the monarchy as the strongest glue which binds our cracked society.
Only someone as secure and selfassured as the Queen would have been quite as blase about, say, Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle back in May. Here was a global media event watched by billions, a glorious sun-kissed advertisement for the UK and for the House of Windsor. It was perhaps the last occasion in 2018 when the entire country buried its quarrels for a day. If this had been a politician’s broadcast, it would have been right up at the top of the bill.
Yet it was reduced to a few frames in the Queen’s annual round-up. Ditto the arrival of Prince Louis or the 70th birthday of the Prince of Wales – and there was just a nanomention of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s impending arrival.
The Queen herself has never liked boasting, except when it comes to her Forces, her Church and her Commonwealth. This year, she herself hosted the largest and most harmonious summit in the Commonwealth’s history when the leaders of all 53 member nations – comprising a third of the world’s population – gathered at Buckingham Palace.
All the family rallied round to help the Head of the Commonwealth host her meeting. Though she has never intervened in its internal workings before, the Queen did voice her wish that the Prince of Wales should eventually succeed her as head (the position that is not a hereditary one).
The leaders duly agreed, without a single dissenting voice, to nominate him as her successor. Few can recall the last time that this argumentative outfit was so united on an important issue.
In her tenth decade, the Queen has continued to guide her Prime Minister on a weekly basis, to tour the nation and to ensure fellow heads of state are made to feel welcome.
In the past six months she has not only staged a full state visit for the king and queen of Holland and entertained the entire Diplomatic Corps to dinner – personally shaking hands with almost 1,000 guests – but she has also charmed Donald Trump. His visit to Windsor for tea (and coffee) went on for twice as long as both sides had allotted.
In other words, at a time when royal officials and commentators talk of ‘Team Windsor’ shouldering more of the chores – with the Prince of Wales in the vanguard – the boss is still very much the boss.
Next year, Britain marks the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the 70th birthday of the Queen’s beloved Commonwealth. I think we can already guess some of the scenes in next year’s Christmas broadcast. Just don’t expect to hear the word ‘Brexit’.
‘A huge propensity for good’
THE Queen used her Christmas message yesterday to warn of the dangers of falling victim to ‘tribalism’ as the nation remains embroiled in the increasingly bitter debate surrounding Brexit.
She also reflected on a busy year for the Royal Family, saying that she has been kept ‘well occupied’ with two royal weddings and the birth of two great-grandchildren.
In her message of conciliation she urged those with ‘deeply held differences’ to treat each other with respect.
As head of state, the Queen remains publicly neutral when it comes to political matters and does not express her views on such issues.
But she appeared to make a coded reference to the toxic Brexit debate, which continues to divide Parliament and the nation, in her annual televised address.
Calling on those with opposing views to act respectfully, she said: ‘Even with the most deeply held differences, treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human being is always a good first step towards greater understanding.’
The Queen, 92, said: ‘Some cultures believe a long life brings wisdom. I’d like to think so. Perhaps part of that wisdom is to recognise some of life’s baffling paradoxes, such as the way human beings have a huge propensity for good, and yet a capacity for evil.
‘Even the power of faith, which frequently inspires great generosity and selfsacrifice, can fall victim to tribalism.’
She reminded her subjects across the Commonwealth of the Christian message of ‘ peace on Earth and goodwill to all’ which she said is ‘needed as much as ever’. In an address filmed in Buckingham Palace’s white drawing room two weeks ago, she said the message is ‘never out of date’ and should be ‘heeded by everyone.’
It comes as Parliament remains divided over the PM’s Brexit deal with the UK preparing to leave the EU in March. The message will resonate with many after last week’s incident in which Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was accused of calling Theresa May a ‘stupid woman’ – an allegation he has denied.
Aside from the more serious messages, the Queen used her speech to quip about being a busy grandmother.
Wearing a cocktail dress in ivory silk and lace, she referred to the May wedding of her grandson Prince Harry to Meghan Markle and that in October of her grand and daughter Princess Eugenie to Jack Brooksbank. She also welcomed the arrival of two greatgrandchildren – Prince William and Kate’s son Louis, born in April, followed by Mike and Zara Tindall’s daughter Lena in June – news of Meghan and Harry’s first child expected in the spring.
Surrounded by family photographs, the Queen said: ‘Closer to home, it’s been a busy year for my family, with two weddings and two babies, and another child expected soon. ‘It helps to keep a grandmother well occupied,’ she added.
‘We have had other celebrations too, including the 70th birthday of the Prince of Wales.’
The Queen also took the opportunity to thank members of the armed forces and offered them her ‘deepest gratitude’.
She remembered her father, George VI, and reflected on his service with the Royal Navy during the First World War and the role he played in the early years of the Commonwealth.
‘At Christmas, we become keenly aware of loved ones who have died, whatever the circumstances. But, of course, we would not grieve if we did not love,’ the Queen said.
This year’s broadcast, produced by Sky News, used a drone to capture aerial shots.
The footage, over Green Park, was filmed before the chaos that shut Gatwick airport last week.
A source said the Queen likes to keep up with technology so ‘it’s not surprising that a drone was used’ and that drones have been used to film on the royal estates before.