“The accusations against Andrés are an embarrassment for the British royal family, but they do not overshadow the queen” | INTERVIEW

From London, Richard Fitzwilliams answer the videocall. The commentator and expert on the English royal family He talks to El Comercio and explains that if there is something that still surprises him about the British monarchy, it is that it generates a lot of expectations, both in newspapers and online media. Now that Elizabeth II is about to celebrate 70 years as the monarch of the United Kingdom – she does it this Sunday – Fitzwilliams is a good reference to understand the importance of her figure.

READ ALSO | Ambassador of the United Kingdom: “Peru has potential, but the turbulence and political fights do not allow progress”

—“The Crown” creates the illusion of being able to enter the day-to-day life of the royal family, to know its secrets. How reliable is it?

“The Crown” is written by Peter Morgan, who has made a great drama that has generated interest from all over the world, mainly because of its first two installments and thanks to the fact that there are very good actors involved. But, mainly, it is fiction, although it claims to be factual. That so many people are interested is curious. In its latest installments, “The Crown” took an anti-monarchist trend: I mean how the royal family is portrayed. the character of Olivia Coleman He has not given his character dignity, he shows her cold, heartless, he interprets her as if she had bad manners, as if everything were a mafia. “The Crown”, in a strange sense, generates interest in many people and I would like them to know that much of what is shown did not happen.

• “How the night I won $170,000 turned out to be the worst of my life”
• UK records 534 coronavirus deaths in one day, the most in nearly a year
• Boris Johnson: “Russian invasion of Ukraine would be a political and military disaster for the world”

Richard Fitzwilliams, specialist in the English royal family. (Source: richardfitzwilliams.com)

—We see Queen Elizabeth II as a horse lover, but distant and cold, publicly at least, with her children. Is that what you mean?

In the 90’s when Jonathan Dimbleby published the biography of Prince carlos [”Prince of Wales: A Biography”], there was surprise because Carlos himself described his parents as distant people. But to understand that situation you have to take into account what Queen Elizabeth II experienced. When Carlos was born, the king’s health George VI She was getting worse and her daughter, Isabel, was preparing to be the future queen and did not have the time she would have liked to spend with her children. She fulfills the duties of the State since she is 25 years old. It must also be understood that the decision to Philip sending Carlos to certain schools did not work.

“There are those who would disagree with you and say that fewer and fewer people are interested in what the royal families do. What would you say about it?

I do not agree. If you look at the figures for the wedding of the former Duke and Duchess of Sussexof the cambridgeif you look at the interest it generates commonwealth, the ceremonies and the jubilee to be held in June, and the endless list of documentaries, movies… To say that the world is not interested in the British monarchy is nonsense. Republicans want to believe that only the old or those with certain connections tend to be monarchists, but this is not the case. Monarchists believe in the continuity of history, in national unity, in stability that transcends political parties.

—Is it possible that the scandal of the Spanish king emeritus Juan Carlos has affected the image of the English royal family or of the monarchies in general?

There were difficult periods for monarchies: when the queen Victoria lived in mourning after the tragic death of her husband, when in 1936 he abdicated the king edward viiithe death of the Princess Diana. The Spanish monarchy has had a terrible period, which could well happen to any other institution. I mean that it is not a question of monarchies, but of problems for having bad prime ministers or bad presidents. But, just as there are bad periods, there are also good ones. Remember that, broadly speaking, the Spanish monarchy saved democracy in his country.

The accusations of corruption and misconduct against the Spanish crown have generated a disaster, but they are different monarchies. That controversy has no effect on the English royal family. If not, we could well speak of the monarchy of the Netherlands and say that they are a great success.

Queen Elizabeth II is followed by Princess Diana and Prince Charles on their way to Parliament in London, to celebrate the platinum jubilee of her accession to the throne. AP (Bob Dear/)

—This Sunday marks 70 years since Queen Elizabeth II took the throne of the United Kingdom. What celebrations can we expect?

Something spectacular. She has already lived the gold, diamond and sapphire jubilees, and this would be the platinum one. What they will do is take the best of previous jubilees and other services. You can expect there to be a big dinner, a big concert, a parade in front of the Palace. There could also be a horse race. She is an equine expert. In fact, there are those who say that if she had not been part of the monarchy and had not been born at the time she was born or had to reign, when evaluating her future, she would have loved to be a country woman and live surrounded by horses. But fate called her father and her for a different future.

LOOK: Queen Elizabeth turns 70 on the throne on Sunday: How will the British monarch spend that day?

—The trial and discredit of Prince Andrew, will it affect the celebrations?

It will not. It has been a difficult stage for the British monarchy. There are the former Dukes of Sussex, harry and meghan, who resigned, who felt bad that the royal family did not take them in. Now, moreover, Andres fell into disgrace and was cleared of his honors and military titles. All this has been an embarrassment for the royal family, but it does not overshadow the admiration for the queen because this is unique in history.

“Did you expect the queen to react to Andrew the way she did?”

It was unavoidable, absolutely unavoidable. It got to a point where Andres was facing trial in New York and all options were problematic. He also did not help the FBI to find the other accomplices of Jeffrey Epsteinand was never able to explain his relationship with Virginia Roberts Giuffreand that of his friends, among whom were Ghislaine Maxwell. With all that in mind, it was inevitable and essential that she make that decision.

—According to a YouGov survey, 41% of young Britons prefer an elected head of state to a king or queen. How do you explain that reality?

That survey shows a different picture than the previous ones, because before the young people were in great favor of the monarchy. The change came after Harry and Meghan’s case. The interview with Oprah it was very harmful. That and the case of Prince Andrew. Those were the reasons. Institutions go through good and bad times, and the former Dukes of Sussex were seen as modern people in an unfortunate situation and of course that affects the perception of young people. I hope it’s not something permanent.

Queen Elizabeth II with the former Dukes of Sussex, Meghan and Harry. AP (Matt Dunham/)

—According to the same survey, Queen Elizabeth II is loved by the 80% of British people over 18 years of age. And that paradox?

People support her because she is an example of duty, they know that she has never disappointed them, that she has been above politics and that she is a symbol of the nation’s unity. During her reign many changes happened and she fulfilled her duties. Of course they support her and are faithful to her. Also, there is great respect and support for the Commonwealth.

“So what will happen to the English monarchy when she’s gone?”

As these things usually happen, it will be a very different picture. Carlos will ascend to the throne and we would have to start wondering what title Camila will have. It would also be necessary to see what will happen with the “slimmed down monarchy” [el príncipe Carlos planea reducir la monarquía a ocho personas]. Remember that the royal family has three thousand commitments a year and, as you know, 300 institutions linked to them. Let’s see if that continues and what palaces they will use. Those will be some issues to be resolved by the future king.

The Cambridges are the future and they have been doing it brilliantly, even setting trends in fashion. Guillermo and Catherine are tremendously dedicated to the ‘soft power’: He traveled to China to speak with President Xi Jinping about the ivory trade, then went to the Middle East and addressed Israel and occupied Palestine. That is as important as his campaigns for early childhood health. They and his family, Jorge, Carlota and Luis, are the future.

Will young Britons support the monarchy when Elizabeth II is gone?

It must be taken into account that all the rulers are different and that the royal family always changes and not necessarily because of what public opinion wants, although they are never very far away. In this case, I think there is the right balance. Sometimes unexpected situations happen, like the death of Princess Diana, like the Sussexes deciding to leave the royal family, or like someone like Andrew, whose behavior is controversial. But with regard to the institution, it is very possible that the DNA will continue and the British will appreciate it.

—How important is Elizabeth II in the history of the English crown?

Perhaps she has not given her name to a period, as queens Elizabeth I or Victoria did, but she is a symbol of national unity, someone who symbolizes continuity in times of radical change, someone with an unquestionable commitment to her duties. She gave her life to the throne. She has behaved very appropriately, according to the Constitution, and was above the political parties. There is great respect and loyalty towards her. The institution is not in danger.

• What happened on “Bloody Sunday”, the darkest day of the Northern Ireland conflict 50 years ago
• The young man who earns more than 200 dollars a day just for standing in line
• Johnson will express to Zelensky on a visit to Ukraine support for his “sovereignty”
• 4 revelations from the report on Boris Johnson’s parties during confinement
• United Kingdom: the case of the man who has not been able to close his eyes for three years due to a botched surgery

Source: Elcomercio