Monarchy

  • The Queen & her people: Sir Winston Churchill

    The Second World War brought out the best of our wits, and an inherent ability to strategise. In fact, many people believe the War proved more to us about ourselves than we had known before.

    In its climate of fear, Sir Winston Churchill stands out for us as an example of leadership. In fact, according to MI5 files, he did more than we previously knew.

    His ascent to the top position of politics – and of the war effort over Germany – made him far more aware of things than before. He was privy to see information that usually sat encoded or marked ‘Top Secret’ until it was met by the right eyes.

    He is said to have taken in all this information, and effectively used it during the War effort. An aide of his is said to have confided that he made maps in his mind of the world that nobody else could see.

    He often spoke about things more knowledgeably than other people expected at the time. His ability to give advice to individuals in private is now legendary in many respects.

    The Late Queen felt that he was a good leader, but a more interesting orator. She believed his speeches helped the country more than thought at the time because his manner of speaking was received well in all parts of it.

    She also came to believe – following further tours of the UK and the world later in her reign – that speaking to people directly is a strong gift and can yield benefits in the present moment that can last.

    Her choice of him as not just a great Briton but an icon of the UK is one considered over a long time. She concluded his contribution had been to make things clearer than the enemy had made their thoughts and intents clear in action.

  • Queen Camilla is a consummate performer

    The Royal visit to Rome brought out two aspects of the current Monarchy in full view.

    First, it shows a dominant King that knows his realm and understands the purposes of many international things.

    Second, it shows Queen Camilla is able to hold her own even in a slow, male-led environment.

    She looked the part as the Vatican loomed large over her. She took her place and held it as an English Queen should.

    It was a moment dedicated to friendship but also Royal ways. The Queen is a strong leader and advocate for a modern outreach.

  • A Royal visit to Rome is diplomacy

    The King and Queen’s visit to Rome next week marks another chapter in a developing story of the UK’s eased relationship with Catholics worldwide. We no longer accept the violence of the past and we want peaceful coexistence for all religions, not just Protestant and Catholic.

    Although much has been made of recent strides toward greater harmony, there’s still a striking difference between all faiths, and the creeds of those with none. This forms the bedrock of much contemporary debate about ourselves.

    The Monarchy has now long chosen a path toward greater engagement with everybody, and this has helped keep our heads above water. Although we don’t see eye to eye, at least the schisms aren’t the subject of the same activity as before. However local the hatred, ties still bind us.

  • The King & his people: A rain-soaked coronation

    King Charles was crowned on 6 May 2023 in London. It was a profound affair inside, but quiet outside. A quick walk around the city revealed less enthusiasm than late on a Friday night.

    I saw a few crowds, but none of the ‘pomp and circumstance’ people say there is. Perhaps I was amiss, but I went to all the right places. A wedding was even taking place. A couple posed for a selfie on the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral.

    It was odd to see. The history-making moment just miles away being trounced by a couple spending their nuptial hours in our capital. It’s a strange world, isn’t it?

  • The Queen & her people: “Project Dimitri”

    The work of a Queen is never done, but it’s likely to come under attack as it’s underway. This is the most important part of the journey for a new start, as all Queens feel they must achieve.

    In her reign, the late Queen Elizabeth 2 began to come into her own later on than during its earlier stages. It may be to do with the Second World War and its entire ramifications for the UK.

    As she did, Her Majesty felt there were other plans afoot. This is the sort of nuisance that people cause regardless of who it is. Yet it felt much stronger and more forceful as time went on.

    It was believed that a foreign “player” or actor was meddling in the multiple affairs that any Minister of state has. It was also felt that many offices of state were being used to our disadvantage.

    The security services her Majesty had come to rely on conducted an investigation and quickly found evidence of “Project Dimitri”, a type of espionage plan that is random and difficult to detect.

    It involves using many different types of attack against all sorts of institutions. Its aim was to cause as much disruption as possible in order to reach Her Majesty with personal ultimatums.