The Week that Put the Windsors Back on Top
The Royal Family’s Platinum Jubilee Glow is Just the Beginning
It was an even greater extravaganza than many had expected. A four-day Royal Event (a genre the British do particularly well) to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking her record 70 years on the throne. Even the notoriously fickle British weather cooperated, as hundreds of thousands of Britons came out to party, from lunches in their own communities, to the packed concert and parade in London. Millions more watched it all from home, in the UK and around the world.
And just like that, The Windsors were back on top. As Mark Twain might have said, “the reports of the monarchy’s death have been greatly exaggerated.”
From a public relations standpoint, it’s been a difficult few years for the British Royal Family, often making headlines for all the wrong reasons. A scandal and subsequent financial settlement involving The Queen’s ever arrogant second son, Andrew, and a soap opera-like exit by her once-popular grandson, Harry.
The drumbeat of discontent was growing, and the Royals were often painted (sometimes unfairly) as out of touch, as if the world was changing faster than they could keep up.
But one thing is certain after years of Watching the Windsors. They often have timing, and a little luck, on their side.
In years past, just as scandal and drama seemed to overwhelm them, a family event would come along that would change the narrative in their favour once again. Pomp and pageantry, and displays of Royal family unity, always seem to remind people of their special brand of magic, still capable of charming the majority of the audience.
As the BBC’s royal correspondent Jonny Dymond wrote, “Every big royal event is a drawing of a line, an ending of sorts — and with it a new beginning. It’s part of the magic — or strangeness — of an institution that, like Dr. Who, gets to regenerate.”
And this weekend, regenerate it did, in a striking way — with the help of theatrics only the British Royals can pull off.
There was The Queen’s magnificent annual birthday parade, Trooping the Colour, then, a Royal family packed Service of Thanksgiving at the grand St. Paul’s Cathedral, a star-studded concert and light show at Buckingham Palace (the greatest stage in the world) and a day of pageantry and parade for the grand finale.
But the greatest show may have been the Royal Family themselves, looking warm, happy, and more “normal” than anyone could have imagined. The Queen having tea with Paddington Bear! Grandpa Charles rocking Prince Louis on his lap! Prince Louise entertaining everyone! Royal cousins, aunts and uncles, new royal babies, all dancing and laughing, singing along, enjoying this national, and family moment, together. Distant and remote? “Not this family!” they seemed to respond.
The celebration was infectious. The refrain heard most often by reporters and correspondents covering the event? How nice it was to celebrate good news for a change, how united the country seemed to be after years of division, how very British it all was.
Max Foster at CNN tweeted, “just what the news doctor ordered? So many people telling me how refreshing it is to have some upbeat content after the year(s) we’ve had…”
Chris Ship at ITV responded, “Totally agree. After covid and Brexit divisions — it’s what I’m hearing a lot.”
Another chimed in, “The West End on Thursday was fantastic, strangers chatting to strangers and just being interested in other people; got quite a lump if the truth be told…”
Suddenly, Andrew, conveniently home quarantining with a reported Covid diagnosis, was forgotten. The drama surrounding Harry and Meghan seemed to fade to complete insignificance. It certainly helped that, despite the press anticipation prior to their arrival, the couple barely appeared in public, and left the country as celebrations were still ongoing.
Their accusations of a cold and uncaring family rang hollow against the unity and warmth people were seeing in real-time themselves.
There also seemed to be a finality about it, as if the Windsors were saying, “those family antics are over, we have moved on and you should as well.”
That sense of looking towards the future was crystal clear at the finale, when The Queen made her third and final balcony appearance. To end these historic festivities, only the future of the British Monarchy was front and centre: The Queen, accompanied by the next three Kings, The Prince of Wales, Prince William, and Prince George.
And this is only the beginning, the Windsors will be firmly back on top of the world stage for some time, with the Royal Family on the cusp of dominating global news. As difficult as it is for most people to imagine, this Elizabethan Era is drawing to a close. There will be a new King Charles, with a Queen Consort by his side. There will be a striking Coronation, the first in most people’s lifetimes. Then, a new Prince and Princess of Wales, as William and Kate step into their future roles — and Kate takes on a prominent title that hasn’t been used for 25 years.
There will be sadness, sympathy, celebration, and shared joy. The Royal Family will go through it all, and if this weekend is any indication, the country and world will be there with them.
For now, at least, the Windsors aren’t going anywhere.