Bill’s Bulletin Board

There was a documentary on TV last week dealing with the Royal Family and speculating on what we might expect when Elizabeth II is no longer the Queen.

It’s singular that we’re being told there are a sizable number of people who are of the opinion that the monarchy is irrelevant. Yet we are still seeing documentaries on the same topic coming out at sort of regular intervals. Prince Charles and his wife were in Canada recently, and they made the front pages of several of the major newspapers in this country. A group of local young people recently received awards from the hands of the Queen’s representative in Ontario as part of a program established by her husband. That all sounds relevant to me.

I know there are some people in this country who would like to do away with the monarchy, but I also believe that their numbers are relatively few.

During last year’s federal election campaign, I asked all the candidates running in Oak Ridges — Markham and Dufferin — Caledon if they thought Canada needs the monarchy. One clearly said no, another said we don’t need it, but he wouldn’t be in a big rush to get rid of it, citing the historic ties with Britain, and still another was undecided. The rest were opposed to getting rid of the monarch, citing such factors as tradition and the fact it helps separate us from the Americans.

I can’t, with authority, assert what the position is of people living in Britain would be on this. The documentary I watched last week cited the opinions of a number of people who are down on the monarchy. Yet the Queen marked her Silver Jubilee seven years ago, and that brought out the crowds, along with a whole bunch of documentaries which people evidently watched. And she turned 80 in 2006, resulting plenty of additional attention. Watch for a whole bunch more attention in a little more than two years, when the monarchists start marking her Diamond Jubilee.

So people living on the other side of the big pond are still loyal to their monarch, but I know there are others who are not. I had a very pleasant lunch with one of them earlier this year.

As it came out, this woman had very strong opinion that the monarchy will not last long after Prince Charles takes the throne. There were also a couple of harsh comments on the way the Royals handled things in the aftermath of the death of Princes Diana.

I personally disagreed with just about everything heard from her on that topic (many of my opinions on that score have been placed into the public record numerous times). But getting into a heated debate would have ruined everyone’s lunch, so I holstered my tongue.

But my opinions on the monarchy have not changed.

Last week’s documentary raised a number of issues that I’m happy to take issue with.

I believe Charles, his health permitting, will live to sit on the throne, and he will be accepted in that position, at least by most of his people. I think the scorn he’s been enduring the last several years are a matter of fashion, which will die out after a while.

I have heard speculation that he will not keep the name Charles when he’s King, but will follow the example of his grandfather and take the name George VII. He might, or he might not. It will be his call in due time.

And I think Prince William, barring unforeseen circumstances, will get his turn at having his picture on stamps and $20 bills. Despite few lapses (cases of youthful brashness which some have tried to characterize as major character flaws), William has done pretty well on the popularity scale. It looks like he’s a major heartthrob with the young ladies, although he may or may not be spoken for. But I expect we might see that adulation die off. His father was once a major heartthrob, but such is not the case today.

I believe William is going to be spared a lot of the pressures his dad faced, especially when it came to selecting a wife. That was one of the first thoughts that went through my head 12 years ago, as the world reacted to the death of Diana. We were spending the weekend away with a group of friends, and there was plenty of speculation going around the table, much of it focused on the fact that there was undue force imposed on Charles to marry as he did. I predicted at the time that William would consider these circumstances, and be more determined to dig in his heels, make up his own mind and tell anyone who might try to put pressure on him to mind their own business. I think such a stand would prompt a lot more smiles than frowns.

Although we don’t hear as much about as we did say 10 years ago, it’s clear the Royal family has not shed the shadow of Diana. Her case was certainly tragic. I think it’s true to say that the Royals (especially Charles) did not do enough to prepare her for the life she was stepping into. On the other hand, I wonder if they ever imagined just how much of a public and media sensation she would turn out to be.

But I get angry when I hear people try to blame the Royals for what happened to her. She was simply going about her business, and fell into the hands of a drunk chauffeur who was trying to outrun media sharks. Her in-laws had nothing to do with it, despite what garbage the conspiracy theorists might try to sell.

And as for the way the Royals behaved in the days following her death, we should all be shown such respect. The Prince of Wales personally went to France to collect the body and return it to England. Plans for a public funeral were announced within hours, with involvement from Buckingham Palace.

Crowds appeared in front of the palace, placing mountains of flowers at the gates, and there were angry calls for the Royal family to appear in London to join in the mourning. Where was the Queen during those days? To my mind, she was exactly where she should have been, consoling grandchildren who were in mourning for their mother.

There were people who were angry at the time (and I gather still are) that the Royals were not seen out mourning with the people. My opinion is they were dealing with a death in the family. No matter how public a public figure might be, a death in the family is a personal matter.

There are those who would argue that the Royal Family are supported by the public, so they should behave according to public expectations. But we are all supported by the people who employ us. Would you allow your boss to tell you how to behave while dealing with a death in your family?

I think not.

No matter what one may think of these people, they are still drawing interest. In some ways, many are envious of them, while other wouldn’t trade places with them for anything.

But they are relevant.

I’m not too familiar with the concept of making documentaries about the irrelevant.