Will the British monarchy recover from the death of Elizabeth II?

The end of an eraheadlines an editorial by The Guardian on this Thursday, September 8, 2022. And if with the death of Queen Elizabeth II the end of the monarchy was also on the horizon? At least “The beginning of a new chapter and a clean sweep for the British monarchy and for the country itself”. But is it legitimate to see (or have some believe) the end of the crown?

When Lady Diana’s death shook the monarchy

“If you are looking for a time when the British monarchy was toughest challenged and got into trouble with public opinion, it was after Diana’s death with the perception that the queen and the royal family had nothing to do with it. “slices Robert Lacey TIMEone of the consultants of the Netflix series The crown.

When Diana died, the royals had then appeared cold and disembodied, distant from the people because they were silent in the face of the shock of the death of the Princess of Wales, brutally killed in a car accident in Paris, when she was 36 years old. A moment perfectly transcribed in Stephen Frears’ film, Queenwhere Helen Mirren embodies an Elizabeth II who welcomes with detachment the news of the death of the very popular Diana.

At the time, a poll asked the British: “One in four believed that the country would be better off without the monarchy”never seen. A drop in popularity regarding the crown that could have left marks.

In March 2021, in a survey conducted before and after Harry and Meghan Markle were interviewed by Oprah Winfrey following the renunciation of their royal titles, only one in five people thought that abolition of the monarchy could be a good thing for the future. of the country.

A worthy heir?

During this same period, Elizabeth II was by far the most popular of the royal familyfar ahead of his grandson, Prince William and Kate Middleton, and even further ahead of his son and heir, Prince Charles, who must now ascend the throne.

Charles III, who automatically became Elizabeth II’s successor upon her death, is therefore far from having achieved the same level of popularity during his lifetime, a welcome condition for maintaining the belonging around a political model that does not shine for its modernity.

If Elizabeth II was the type of unifying queen because she was silent and on whom everyone could impose their opinions and political choices, Charles had time to commit and is therefore far from having the same aura. In this he is much more divisive, but also modern: the first king to even graduate, the first monarch to have divorced, is also particularly explicit on environmental issues and the fight against climate change.

Let’s face it though, by becoming king at 73, Carlo is closer to the end than to the beginning and there is no doubt that heads are already turning towards the eldest son, which in turn will succeed him upon his death. In this, Charles’ reign will likely prove more like a transitional reign.

For MSNBC columnist Hayes Brown, it isa perhaps above all symbolic turning point : “Charles, or more likely William, may find himself presiding over a new craze around the Crown. But it is more likely, and for the better, from my point of view, that Elizabeth II will be seen in history as the last British monarch to have a real claim to lead the British people. “

Towards a more honorary role, guarantor of monarchical folklore, more than the desire to be a beacon that all Brits would turn to?

The uncertain future of the British crown

Could the modernity of Charles III not revolutionize the monarchy but give it a shot? “This way of reigning risks opening the door to criticism, it also risks weakening the monarchy, raising the question of its validity and its raison d’etre in the 21st century”asks the head of the planet’s department Publication Sonia Delesalle-Stolper watching questions posed by the post-Elizabeth II era.

Many years after Diana’s death, other events have also caused damage to the unshakable royal family: the revelations on the racism of some members towards Meghan Markle, but also the scandal that tarnishes the reputation of Prince Andrew, son of Elizabeth II and brother of the new king, due to his ties to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Do the protocols, glitz and privileges passed down from generation to generation really protect members of the royal family? And most importantly, haven’t they had much of their day? Some will also tell you that real stability could perhaps create the union needed to overcome the many crises of our time. If it were to be maintained, the monarchy will undoubtedly have to begin its transformation.

Photo credit: Nicolas de Camaret, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons