Britain’s monarchy is dying, and no PR can save it

The world mostly ignored the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, a reminder of how little the royal family means. Despite the determined efforts of “royal” historians and “journalists” who embarrass themselves and the profession they purport to serve, the long, inevitable decay-into-irrelevant farce of King Charles III and trifling company was made plain, yet again, on the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death last week. The family’s frivolous squabbles – both public and private – take up a lot of time and energy even as they paid “solemn” remembrance to their beloved “grandmama”. This is how one astonished “royalist” correspondent described Harry’s unforgivable faux pas: “Prince Harry dramatically upped the ante in his war with the royal family Friday as he upstaged his estranged brother Prince William by making a shock visit to his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II’s grave on the first anniversary of her death.” Happily, the Princess of Wales – Kate Middleton – came to the PR rescue. The Independent reported that, in touching homage and “poignant tribute” to the late queen, the princess sported a “family heirloom… out in drop-down pearl earrings as an ode to Her Majesty.” Apparently, saccharine-laced copy extolling The Firm’s endearing virtues is not the exclusive purview of Fleet Street’s monarchy-mad tabloid press.