Yesterday’s spoof on the monarchy was a bit premature. Since then, Prime Minister Harper has agreed with changing the 1701 Act of Settlement and the Toronto Star has waded into the issue. It must be more important than anyone thought. Obviously, we should not be making light of it.
Yet, it is hard not to think of all the foolishness as being played out in the boardroom of a very expensive marketing firm. It is a basic marketing problem. It is like when they got the Queen to look all serious and kindly towards Princess Diana after she was killed. The people who produced that funeral event—right down to the surly brother—deserved academy awards. The Queen’s bit of acting was definitely a starring role.
Today’s royal pain in the ass is Charley with his bride Camilla. All the marketing people can do is keep the focus on Willy and Kate. They are not only much better looking, they are more regal and more acceptable. The visuals of dowdy old Camilla going around cutting ribbons and opening livestock fairs is not only repugnant to Commonwealth countries who use the monarchy for their own purposes but hardly sits well with the Brits. The Brits have to live with the Royals on a daily basis and the tabloids are not about to let them forget that.
But, never fear, the Toronto Star has come to their rescue. In a secondary editorial today, the Star said that it would be a bit of alright if women’s liberation came to the law of primogeniture. The editorial writer agreed that the eldest child—boy or girl—should inherit the throne. What was interesting was that the Star writer also agreed to the suggested change that would allow a British monarch to marry a Roman Catholic.
What the Star is sticking its oar into there is the problem that the British monarch is not only the titular head of 16 countries (including the United Kingdom) but is also titular head of the Church of England. If Prime Minister Cameron can get around the religious bigotry in his own country, it will be a breath of fresh air.
But none of this changes the fact that we all look like silly asses supporting a relic of the past such as the monarchy. Let us be rid of it!
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Copyright 2011 © Peter Lowry
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