Charles and his lovely wife Camilla are in Canada and the news media are dishing out their usual orgy of coverage. Not that the coverage will be anything like the more in-depth stuff being prepared for the Pope’s visit during the dog days of summer.
You have to admit that the Roman Pope has far better heralds (public relations professionals) than the Brit royals. And the Vatican must be far richer than Buckingham Palace—and in obviously better repair. (Though I really suspect that the Vatican would be better off with a woman’s touch.) The other serious failure of the Vatican is that they tend to appoint their popes when they are past their prime. No pope has ruled for 70 years like Charlie’s mum.
Maybe the real difference is in the tithing. The Roman Pope has an outreach around the world. He has adherents who kick in cash flow. The Royal’s must make a few quid off their ponies and estates but other than that, they are on the dole. The Brits earn it back from tourism.
I hardly think we Canadians have to apologize for kicking out most of the colonial traces. Continuing the fiction of the royalty in this country is something of an embarrassment. It reflects the inability of our governments of all colors and stripes to grasp the nettle of our constitution and fix it.
As it is, we are having to rid ourselves of royalty in the same way we are dealing with the Roman Catholic Church. More and more of us have learned to ignore it. It worked in Quebec. From a time when the church’s ongoing ignorance interfered with women’s reproductive rights and human rights, Quebec has led the way in assuring abortion rights and medical assistance in dying.
In the meantime, you can curtsy and bow to the royals all you like. If they ask me, I’d probably tell them to get a life.
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