I’ve always considered myself an avid monarchist. For me the royal family represents so much more than just a money-spinning über-British soap opera-come-media circus that exists solely for the entertainment of American tourists; it’s a cornerstone of our national culture and historic link to our past. I get right into the spirit of it, too; my family and I spent the day of the Royal Wedding having an oh-so-very-British party, munching cucumber sandwiches and singing God Save The Queen in a Pimms induced drunken stupor. I was bursting with pride when I had the pleasure of meeting the Duke of York, a man who I found to be incredibly pleasant, friendly and amicable. I even spent hours in front of the TV watching that bloody hospital door, waiting for a first glimpse of our future king. Hell, I’d even go as far as to say that I cooed over his baby pictures.
But recent comments by the Duke of Edinburgh have seen me rethink my views on the monarchy. Now, Prince Philip is hardly a stranger to putting his foot in it. In fact, he’s notorious for his throwaway remarks that regularly fly in the face of political correctness. For the most part, we, as the British public, almost look on them with a kind of twisted affection, as if he’s the nation’s ever-so-slightly racist, sexist elderly uncle who you only ever see at Christmas. More often than not, the media will give him a sharp slap across the wrists and then, with a tut and a shrug, all is usually forgotten.
Still, it’s his latest quip that has really left a bad taste in my mouth. While opening a community centre in Dagenham, he asked a group of women: “who do you sponge off?” Many have been happy enough to see this comment swept under the rug, but it got me thinking. Even for the most passionate of royalists, it seems a tall order to accept that a man who is funded exclusively by the taxpayer can, with any authority, suggest anyone else doesn’t work hard for what they have. Whether you live in Dagenham or Dundee, to be accused of sponging when you, through your taxes, pay for your accuser to live in a palace is frankly hypocrisy at its very worst.
Let’s not forget, this is a man who sat on a golden, diamond encrusted chair in the House of Lords, as government plans to slash welfare entitlements were announced. Granted, he didn’t draw up these plans, but nonetheless it makes his question all the more patronising. In fact, these accusations of ‘sponging’ laugh in the face of people up and down the country who the welfare state was created to protect; the elderly wheelchair bound man in Brighton who risks losing his much needed disability allowance; the single mother of two in Manchester who, like over a million others last year, had no choice but to suffer the humiliation of ‘sponging’ off food banks just to feed her family. Not everyone was born into privilege.
The issue is that the very nature of any monarchy makes it difficult for it to be held to account. Prince Philip, while still a representative of this country on official state business, isn’t elected. Aside from that, it’s difficult to criticise any member of the royal family without hardline monarchists jumping up in alarm and calling for you to be beheaded on a charge high treason in the Tower of London. Regardless, when Prince Philip visits Tonga or Sri Lanka, he’s an advert for this country and – when he makes derogatory comments such as this, that totally misrepresent what Britain is all about – a lacklustre one at that, and only provides ammunition to those who believe we should be a Republic.
While it’s shaken my respect for what the monarchy is meant to reject and thrown my attitude towards it into some conflict, I’m not advocating doing away with the Royal Family. I’m certainly not suggesting we drag our pitchforks up the Mall with torches ablaze to demand the Queen’s head on a commemorative Jubilee platter. Indeed, there is certainly an argument to be had for whether or not the monarchy is even necessary in the 21st century, but irrespective of which side of the debate you stand on, one thing we can all agree on is that if we are to have a Royal Family, there are at least certain standards by which they should conduct themselves. On this occasion, Prince Philip, I’m afraid you very much overstepped the mark.
Words by Thomas Johnston