The Queen, God bless her, has got a few money problems. The monarchy is an expensive proposition, and some republicans in this country would like to replace the monarchy with a republican form of government. As you know, the power of the monarchy is purely symbolic,while the government is run by elected officials, M.P.s (Members of Parliament), one of whom is chosen for Prime Minister to run in a general election and become head of state. The majority of the people, however, still like the symbolism of the monarchy, the pomp and majesty of a tradition dating back to 1066 when William the Conqueror of Normandy, after the Battle of Hastings where his forces defeated Harold and the Anglo-Saxons, became William I, King of Great Britain.
The headlines of one of the major newspapers today states: MONARCHY ‘SHORN OF ITS DIGNITY’ TO SAVE MONEY”. What the paper was referring to was an attempt by the government, in its continuing effort to get a handle on expenses in these austere times, to rein in some of the royal expenses. In fact, it has been proposed to cut the Queen’s budget by 10% over the next four years. George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Secretary of the Treasury), has proposed that the Queen’s budget be subject to governmental review in the form of a new law, agreed to by the Queen, called the Sovereign Grant Bill which would give the National Audit Office the right to scrutinize royal expenses and try to keep expenses in line.
Being a Royal is an expensive proposition. You can imagine that the honeymoon-cum-p.r. trip of William and Kate to Canada and California will cost considerable shekels. The clothes budget for Kate, who is the new Diana, the showpiece of the royal family, has got to be a small fortune. Actually, by the time William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, become king and queen, King William V and Queen Katherine, the monarchy will have changed, slowly but surely. I’m sure they will have the common touch, popularizing the monarchy in a new way. I doubt if I will be around to see that Coronation.
Speaking of coronations,my wife and I were on our honeymoon in 1953 when Elizabeth II was crowned, and we were lucky enough to be in the throng crowding the Mall when her golden coach passed on the way to Westminster Abbey. We had stood in our spot for five hours waiting to catch a glimpse of the Queen. The crowd was fun and good-natured. If you had to go to the bathroom, they would save your place when you returned. Just when you thought you would fall asleep standing up, vendors came with an extra edition of the newspapers, informing us that Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norkay had become the first to climb Mount Everest. Can you imagine the roar from that crowd? I can still goose pimple remembering the pomp and circumstance, especially the sound of the various regiments as they were called to attention when the Queen neared, snapping their boots together with a sound like artillery fire. It's an indelible memory--and we’d do it all over again.
That was a different time and a different place than today. As Bob Dylan would say, “The times, they are a-changin’!”
It costs good money to look good; it costs even more with the whole world watching and the times they are a changing but I hope everybody tightens the belt one more notch. They've got a good thing, some think and should keep it going. Good post, my friend.
ReplyDeleteAfter all these years of dutifully waiting, is Charles going to get screwed out of his chance?
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