This writing was meant to be posted on the day Russia invaded Ukraine, but I withheld it because I just did not feel humorous any more.
The other day I read the headlines that Prince Charles of England got COVID for the second time since 2020, and is self-isolating. As I was reading the ‘light news’ section, I stumbled on Queen Elizabeth’s recent statement that she wants to see Camilla Parker Bowls be addressed as “Queen Consort” when her husband, Prince Charles, accedes to the throne, and not “Princess Consort” as some Royal protocol specialists suggest she should be addressed as (reasoning being that she is Charles’ second wife and is herself also on her second one.)
“Why should these points be news for the Britons?” you ask. Good question, I don’t know really, certainly Charles’ second bout with COVID. But Queen Elizabeth’s expression of her wish that Camilla be addressed as Queen Consort in the future, should be read as she embracing Camilla. And that is what gets on a lot of people’s nerves.
Charles and Camilla have apparently had a relationship for a long time, and according to many sources, they were practically a couple during Charles’ marriage to Lady Diana. You add this to the affection that people had for Lady Diana, and her tragic death, it is easy to see why people get annoyed by these masquerades.
Furthermore, even though his fortunes have improved, Charles was never a favorite of common Britons, and some people even considered a dozen years ago, that Queen is waiting for William (Charles’ eldest son) to reach maturity and have him replace his father as the heir to the throne. Add Prince Andrew’s troubles with his underage sex-capade accusations, you see the troubled waters the Monarchy is in. But I guess if the Queen is asking for people to address Camilla as “Queen Consort” the option of cutting Charles is out, and we are left with a Barbados type solution: Britons, after BREXIT, vote for an EXIT FROM THE MONARCHY!!
Paris, July 10, 2022
Zeejay