When I was little I probably wanted to marry a Prince, Cinderella did after all so why couldn't I? In one's 'salad days' all things seem possible. Perhaps it is a tragedy of the human condition when around our teenage years as we gain independence and begin to construct our view of life that the thought of marrying a Prince becomes less enticing. Anyone with a level head on their shoulders knows that fairy tales are pure fantasy. Crucially, not all damsels make suitable Princesses. Elegance, beauty, sympathy, honour, duty, kindness, bearing perfect children and quasi saintliness are rare attributes and few, if any women possess them all. The late Princess Diana came close to encompassing the above but as we know, her fairy tale evaporated with time.
Diana and Prince Charles did themselves few favours when they appeared in those ghastly interviews spilling their guts but they did prove that they were fallible just like the rest of us. However by providing a bit too much information, both Diana and Charles came out looking less 'royal' and more 'alley cat'. Confessions of adultery and in Diana's case, promiscuity, are nothing to bleat about in public. One day Charles will be the Head of the Church of England yet confessed to trampling over several of the Ten Commandments. The new 'royal' therefore is a hybrid of shared imperfections but with bucketloads of privilege and entitlement thrown in. More importantly, they must earn our respect otherwise we would not indulge them as we do.
Princess Diana was very much the catalyst for the new 'royals' we see today. She didn't stamp her feet hoping to revolutionise the Monarchy but because she was painfully unhappy in her marriage. Diana forced Charles' adultery out into the open in an act of revenge but did she destroy the Monarchy? There was certainly a discernable wobble when a surge of public sadness and anger at Diana's death threatened to overwhelm the Crown but to this day, it is our respect for the Queen which continues to sustain the Monarchy. Had she been wiser during her lifetime, Diana would have understood that her revenge was an own goal. Despite her actions, the Queen endured, the instituion endured and not unbelievably, most Brits like having the Monarchy around. The Crown reminds us of tradition and history, a reminder of who we are and some might say, of how great we used to be. Who could not admire the Queen for her tremendous sense of duty? She has never faltered in her promise to dedicate her life to us. In no small measure, Prince Philip has played a huge part in supporting the Queen to whom he has been a 'strength and stay'.
A quarter of a century after Diana's death, we arrive at the burning question: so, why did Meghan Markle marry Harry? If the answer isn't glaringly obvious, permit me to clarify: Ms Markle in all her confectioned and alarmingly plastic physiognomy, didn't marry in order to honour and respect the institution which is as instrinsic to Britishness as is milky tea. Surely there are hidden tribes even in the Amazon who have heard of Diana and her unhappiness? Ms Markle would have known about the Royal Family, its shenannigans, tantrums and tiaras like the rest of the world. She would have known that Diana, the innocent, doe-eyed virgin bride had had her life torn apart because she couldn't conform with what was expected of her (to tolerate her husband's infidelity). Ms Markle would have known that marrying into an historic institution is a bit more serious than a drunken hitch up in Vegas. Despite what she now claims she never knew, Ms Markle's tawdriness and tackiness will culminate tonight in that interview with Oprah, Patron Saint of those who simply must tell their 'truth' no matter what. Please observe carefully the difference between recounting one's perceived version of events and the truth. I won't be watching. There are too many people I know and love whose lives have been ruined by Covid, those who lost jobs, relatives, who have considered suicide, who have not had a hug, confined and housebound for over a year, those who have lost their livelihoods and cannot contemplate the future. Will I indulge Ms Markle and her meal ticket? No. Will the Monarchy survive Ms Markle? Yes.
Photo copyright SvD
