Exception to the rule: Don't judge the monarchy by Elizabeth's exemplary reign

 

Editorial
Tuesday 08 September 2015 21:45 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Elizabeth II, who surpasses Queen Victoria as our longest reigning monarch today, is the best advertisement possible for a thoroughly bad idea: the hereditary principle. During her reign she has steered the monarchy through difficult times. The most dangerous of these came with the public reaction to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997 – or rather the public’s revulsion at the way they perceived the Palace as being in some way uncaring in the aftermath of that tragedy. For the Queen it was essentially a family matter and a private one at that; for the public it was so much more. For her Prime Minister at the time, Tony Blair, it was a moment for him to offer her sound advice. She, as a studied constitutional monarch, chose to follow that advice. Between them, they saved the House of Windsor.

During wars, riots, terror, economic turmoil, huge social change and the dismantling of an empire, as well as joyful jubilees and royal weddings, the Queen has remained a symbol of constitutional continuity, a benefit to the nation that is sometimes underestimated. She rarely gets things wrong – though for some reason, she seems compelled to wade into the debate on Scottish independence every so often – but has got it right much more often.

But this is also a moment to reflect on the many less impressive individuals who have occupied her position, not least her uncle, Edward VIII, whose private habits and reactionary political instincts threatened much trouble before he was forced to abdicate. There have been plenty of other weak, unwise and reckless kings and queens. As the late Tony Benn once remarked, no one would agree to be treated by a dentist whose sole qualification is that their father or mother was a dentist before them. The hereditary principle is flawed, and even Elizabeth II hasn’t been able to confound that.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in