The newspapers are full of royal news today – the eve of Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday. Tucked alongside coverage of the sovereign’s longevity is material on the next generations: unusually, the monarch and her next three direct heirs are all alive and have been pictured together. Nothing is a better reminder that, far from being the mother of democracy, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is running an outdated and reactionary caste system.
Of course it is an achievement to reach 90, but the Queen has had an easier journey than most. Throughout her long life she has had enough to eat, been accommodated and had access to top medical care – pleasures which are denied to the vast majority of women around the world. This material difference sees most women across the globe die early, after struggling to feed and water their kids, hold a safe home together and manage without access to even basic medical care.
As a constitutional monarch, the Queen does not really play any great part in government: it would be entirely unrealistic to expect her not to sign the Housing and Planning Bill. (“Erk! Not going to sign this! It would increase homelessness!” – no, it’s not going to happen.) Her role is, like a queen bee in the hive, sitting at the centre and making sure everyone knows their place.
As commander of the UK’s armed forces (who swear allegiance to the Queen), she could technically oust the elected Parliament – often cited as a great flaw in UK democracy, which of course it is. If, however, she or her successors were to try this, Parliament could just say “if they’re your troops, you pay them”. Despite her immense personal wealth, mostly derived from the days when her predecessors appropriated the wealth of their subjects, she could not really sustain the entire armed forces, their equipment and supplies for very long. We are probably safe in the hands of our elected Prime Ministers (well, everything is relative) who, incidentally, also swear allegiance to Her Majesty rather then us commoners who elect them to our House.
Throughout that life, the Queen has dedicated herself to maintaining the status quo – that’s where she plays her major role. She, much more than David Cameron, embodies the spirit of “we’re all in this together” and reminds the Brits to dwell on their past powerful role exploiting a quarter of the world. She is the force which compels cash-strapped councils to spend out on street parties at a time when they are cutting back on incontinence laundry services (which is not a dig against street parties).
The role of the 90 year monarch is a role which the 33 year old Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (a title which means absolutely nothing and which the then Duke of York invented in 1660) is sizing up. He is preparing to be King (taking on duties which include preparing his own heir) because this is his birthright. He will embrace his role in governing us with the assistance of the money his forebears took from ours.
He will defend the status quo – the right of the privileged, the titled and the wealthy to inherit the top jobs, with the highest incomes and greatest power in society. He may have done some “normal” things – gone to an ordinary university, taken an ordinary job (did he have a competitive interview? one wonders) – but one look at the friends he keeps company with, goes to the weddings of and invites to be godparents to his children reveals that it is the elite in society whom Prince William will defend. He is there to ensure that the Henrys and Henriettas of Eton and Cheltenham can be assured of keeping their social standing – while the Honest Joes and Kool Kylies of Essex (and the Mohammeds and Ayeshas of Tower Hamlets) stick to theirs. And in that he is keeping alive not so much the Great British Monarchy as the Great British Caste System.
[Adverts]