The last few days has given thought to something I never really thought
about before. Could there be an England that is a Republic?
I never bought the excuse that the cost of the Royal family to the
taxpayers of the UK was returned by the tourism generated by the Monarchy.
I never went there to see the Royals, only the places where their ancestors
created history. On the other hand the tradition and symbol of it all must
make it all worth while, I thought.
I never looked at the problem from a Brits point of view, and have been
astonished by the anti- royal comments from the Brits in the last few days.
That reaction coupled with commentators advising that the Monarchy was in
trouble, raised my curiosity. I listened to the Queens speech today, and
hardly found it emotional or warm. It sounded cold and read (which it was)
Was I wrong?
In 1990 I ran the COB to England, and in a weird moment, I wrote to Prince
Phillip about our plans to bring 100 T types to Britain (Phillip owned and
may still own a TC which is the car he courted Elizabeth in) To my
surprise, I got an answer from Philip's secretary advising me that His
Royal Highness had read my letter (see the Oct. 1990 Sacred Octagon). I was
advised by my British friends that this was really quite something in that
the letter to me acknowledged that Phillips actually read it. Of course
only a secretary would correspond with a non royal
It seems that this is what is now threatening the House of Windsor and the
traditions of standing off from the people( which Diana broke with) has now
raised serious questions about the future, and Charles in particular.
On this side of the pond, a great deal is being made of the public pressure
to force the Royals to do more about Diana. Is this the feeling in England?
I know this isn't a pure MG subject, but I would appreciate comments from
our British friends.
Mike Leckstein
|