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There were many reasons why our late Queen was held in such deep affection and so widely admired; but one, I think, was her quiet humility.
For all her titles, she was the opposite of entitled. We saw this not only in her attitude to her duties, but also in her personal habits. She was frugal, she abhorred waste, she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty.
She judged people by their actions, not their status, and spent her days with the daughter of a longshoreman—Angela Kelly, her dresser and confidante in later years—as comfortably as any highborn duchess.
The crown was hers to inherit; but she worked tirelessly to prove she was worth wearing.
Whatever the privileges of her position, she never took it for granted.
All this is a very difficult act to follow – and yet it is the task that awaits her successor, King Charles.
For now, of course, he needs to rest after a few very tiring, traumatic and emotionally charged days. But if he is to successfully lead the monarchy to the next chapter, he must show that he understands that the true mark of a monarch is not defined by the symbols and attributes of power, but by concrete actions.
There are many urgent matters waiting for his attention, and he can’t just dismiss them with a grimace and a sullen hand shake, like he did with that pesky pen last week.
That said, if I were King Charles I wouldn’t rush to book the Abbey. I would give myself some time, a period of reflection, and focus on getting my house in order first
We have already seen what the king is capable of. A whirlwind tour of the country, procession after procession, speeches to the nation, solemn speech after solemn speech, endless walks, greeting dignitaries, shaking hands and of course the hardest thing of all: watching over his mother’s coffin before he finally meets her. lay down and take upon themselves the mantle of power.
There aren’t many 73-year-olds who could endure such a grueling schedule, let alone the enormous emotional turmoil of losing someone who was not only a beloved parent, but an icon against which he will inevitably be judged. I hope Camilla got him on the cod liver oil.
But the real test will come in the coming weeks and months as he settles into his new role and the character of his government begins to take shape. There are many urgent matters waiting for his attention, and he can’t just dismiss them with a grimace and a sullen hand shake, as he did with that pesky pen last week.
First and foremost is the matter of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They almost fell in line for the Queen’s memory, but it still feels more like a temporary truce than a lasting peace.
Certainly nothing fundamental seems to have changed in Prince Harry’s behavior, especially after he revealed his anger at having the Queen’s initials removed from his army uniform while he stood guard by his grandmother’s coffin. .
There were many reasons why our late Queen was held in such deep affection and so widely admired; but one of them, I think, was her quiet humility, writes Sarah Vine (pictured)
It won’t be long before he and Meghan are back in California, and without his grandmother’s benevolent influence to keep him under control, it could well turn into all-out war. Unless, that is, the King can convince Harry to give up his plans for an all-encompassing book and find other ways to make a living that don’t involve trading his and Meghan’s so-called “misery.”
Prince Andrew is also a problem – although perhaps less so, as he doesn’t have many social media followers and no army of adoring fans to hunt him down.
But there are also problems outside the immediate family.
First and foremost is the matter of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They almost fell in line for the Queen’s memory, but it still feels more like a temporary truce than a lasting peace
Britons are entering a winter of hardship, with rising energy prices and rising costs of living.
The late Queen, with her two-rod electric stove in Balmoral Castle, would have had no qualms withstanding criticism of the royal lifestyle; this may be trickier for King Charles. Especially given his upcoming coronation, which is likely to take place next spring or early summer. There are already questions about whether, given everything, a full-fledged state opportunity is appropriate.
The optic of opulence has rarely been more difficult to justify, and even a stripped-down ceremony is likely to attract criticism, especially from those who see the queen’s death as an opportunity to undermine the monarchy.
Personally, I think if you’re going to have a coronation, it has to be bells and whistles. Britain is a monarchy after all, and that’s what monarchies do.
That said, if I were King Charles I wouldn’t rush to book the Abbey. I would give myself some time, a period of reflection and focus on getting my house in order first.
I would start by taking measures to slim down the monarchy; deal with the more urgent matters; support the new prime minister (after all, they are both newbies together) and generally work on building allies and goodwill.
That way, when the coronation finally takes place, it will feel completely justified: a well-deserved celebration of a great British institution – and not, as its enemies will no doubt try to frame it, an empty extravagance we can ill-afford.
What the hell are they going to do with all the Queen’s outfits?
When the Queen Mother died twenty years ago, a friend who lives near Ballater, in Royal Deeside, noticed that the local second-hand clothing store had suddenly had an influx of beautifully made items.
Will the Knightsbridge branch of Save the Children (assuming such a thing exist) suddenly be stocked with an array of brightly colored hats and dresses?
Dashing equerry is our kilty pleasure
The Queen’s funeral was a sensational moment, but also a reminder of how much we love a man in uniform.
King Charles’ equerry, Major Jonathan Thompson of the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment, has set social media on fire with his absurd appearance and rambunctious behavior
King Charles’ equerry, Major Jonathan Thompson of the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment, has set social media on fire with his absurdly good looks and rambunctious demeanor.
He is known for his fur sporran in all weather conditions. And no, that’s not a euphemism.
A Swiss politician has sparked outrage by suggesting people save energy by sharing showers.
I wouldn’t necessarily share a shower; but we get the most out of a bath in my house.
It’s me first, then my teenage son, then the dogs. The dogs are understandably outraged by this arrangement.
The new culture minister, Michelle Donelan, did the media rounds yesterday morning – and she was impressive.
Interviewer after interviewer tried their best to trip her up, like relatively fresh meat.
New culture secretary, Michelle Donelan, did the media rounds yesterday morning – and she was impressive
But she beat them all, including Kay Burley on Sky, who looked a complete fool after trying to belittle Donelan’s record at the Department of Education and then trying to catch her taking a payout that, as Donelan patiently told her. told, they never actually received it.
One to watch.
A priceless memory for Louis to cherish
I understand why the Prince and Princess of Wales left Prince Louis at home for the funeral – too young for such a solemn occasion.
But one of the last photos of the Queen sees her dressed in Wedgewood blue, leaning on her cane on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, a huge grin on her face as he claps his hands over his ears to block out the fly’s roar. – past – something he will cherish for years to come
But one of the last photos of the Queen sees her dressed in Wedgewood blue, leaning on her cane on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, a huge grin on her face as he claps his hands over his ears to block out the fly’s roar. – past – something he will cherish for years to come.
What a shame that his cousin Archie, three, does not want to share such memories.
If I had to pick one moment from Monday’s funeral, it would be the lone bagpiper closing the ceremony at Westminster Abbey with a rendition of the traditional lament, Sleep, Dearie, Sleep.
On a day of great pomp and circumstance, for some reason I found the sobriety of that moment the most beautiful of all.