The reduced monarchy that King Charles so desired is now, quite quickly, in crisis.
Prince William’s absence from Tuesday’s memorial service for his godfather, King Constantine of Greece, announced just 46 minutes before William’s scheduled arrival, casts a blinding light on the unfolding catastrophe.
Charles is receiving cancer treatment. The Princess of Wales is recovering from abdominal surgery and is not expected to resume public appearances until at least after Easter.
William has been left to take charge, but his sudden withdrawal from Constantine’s service, for unknown “personal reasons”, is yet another rift.
What’s more, it is understood that William’s absence had nothing to do with the sudden death of Tom Kingston, the 45-year-old husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor (Charles’ second cousin), announced just hours later.
Without William’s expected assistance, a hole has been opened in the House of Windsor.
Charles is receiving cancer treatment. The Princess of Wales is recovering from abdominal surgery. William has been left to carry the mantle, but his sudden withdrawal from King Constantine’s service, for unknown “personal reasons”, is a further rift.
Without William’s expected assistance, a hole has been opened in the House of Windsor.
It’s one thing for Charles to be out of commission and it’s nothing unexpected. He is an older man facing health problems.
Kate’s absence, however, is felt more deeply.
She is arguably the most charismatic and glamorous member of The Firm. William, despite her solemn and cheerful duty, simply seems bored without her.
It is Kate who gives William the real glamour. It is Kate, more than her husband or any other royal, who symbolizes youth and futurism.
And with William in modified roles, the monarchy not only feels rusty and dusty, it feels in danger.
Look no further than the disgraced Prince Andrew, who apparently sees this sudden power vacuum as an opportunity to emerge from banishment and lead the royal family – or what’s left of it – to Tuesday’s memorial service. To hell with Jeffrey Epstein and the sex scandals.
How could Charles allow this?
In the wake of those recent reports that prodigal Prince Harry was seeking a way back into the royal fold, and that there was a faction in the palace open to reconciliation, this makes Charles soft.
Too soft, perhaps, and too hopeful.
If only Harry and Meghan weren’t the ingrates they are. If only they weren’t so resentful and distrustful.
If only they had stayed put, serving the Crown and doing everything they could to secure the future of the monarchy. They would have had the full faith of the British people, who would have embraced them like never before.
For Harry and Meghan, their time would have been now. They would have been front and center, the understudies called into the lead roles, taking the place of the Welsh as they navigate Kate’s recovery, Charles’ illness, and raising her three children.
Look no further than the disgraced Prince Andrew, who apparently sees this sudden power vacuum as an opportunity to emerge from banishment and lead the royal family – or what’s left of it – to Tuesday’s memorial service.
How could Charles allow this? In the wake of those recent reports that prodigal Prince Harry was seeking a way back into the royal fold, and that there was a faction in the palace open to reconciliation, this makes Charles soft.
If only Harry and Meghan weren’t the ingrates they are. If only they weren’t so resentful and distrustful. His time would have been now. They would have been front and center, the understudies called to the lead roles.
Meghan, finally, would have had her Norma Desmond moment, getting closer and closer to the camera under a permanent spotlight of hot light.
The stage would have been all his. Poor me.
Harry and Meghan’s attempted rebrand last week, which relaunched the Sussex website with Meghan’s royal crest and the demand from Canada, during Harry’s promotions at Invictus, that she be called ‘Mrs.’, plus from Harry’s interview with ‘GMA’ in which he talked about his recent trip to see Charles; It remains further proof that all they have left to sell is their connection to royalty.
A connection that becomes increasingly weaker with the very royalty they, paradoxically, seek to destroy.
Do Harry and Meghan even realize what they’ve lost? What cost does this have on your own children? To the British people?
In an alternative universe, Tuesday’s service would have seen the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the helm, standard-bearers for an intact monarchy, lean but powerful, packed with key players of vitality and vigour, style and star power.
Instead, they made us suffer through a shameless Prince Andrew in full cock pose, chest forward, smiling widely and emitting an aura of absolute confidence like the royal alpha male.
What an insult to Prince William. What an insult to Princess Anne, after her brother defiled her. His enormous workload and his devotion to the monarchy deserve better.
It was all rather maudlin and colorless, despite Andrew’s radiant white smile, which, frankly, seemed completely inappropriate.
Where does this leave the royals? The future of a monarchy overshadowed by the loss of Queen Elizabeth and further diminished by the withdrawal, for the moment, of Kate?
Could the dissipation of the once-robust royal family, its multigenerational strength displayed annually on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, become an existential threat?
Carlos is 75 years old. He is ill and, although we are told his prognosis is good, it is unclear when he will be able to resume his full schedule.
Queen Camilla does her part, but she lacks star power.
Princess Anne is 73 years old. Despite her esteemed work ethic, she does not attract the attention of the global media. She is not a subject of fascination. She is the workhorse of the Windsors and one wonders how long she can keep it up.
Where does this leave the royals? The future of a monarchy overshadowed by the loss of Queen Elizabeth and further diminished by the withdrawal, for the moment, of Kate?
Could the dissipation of the once-robust royal family, its multigenerational strength displayed annually on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, become an existential threat? (In the photo: Top Gun premiere, 2022).
What’s up with Prince Edward and Sophie? He is rarely seen, and it seems that Sophie (otherwise so prominent during Queen Elizabeth’s funeral services and so close to the late monarch) has been told to back off.
And so, it is in the hands of William and Kate, the only prominent figures among royalty, to guarantee the survival of the monarchy.
And if we’re really honest, Kate is the most important figure: the brightest and, despite her origins as a commoner, really the most royal of royals.
William at the BAFTAs last week did his best. But her lone photo with Tom Cruise reminded me of the 2022 Top Gun premiere, when Cruise offered his hand to help Kate, radiant in her black-and-white strapless dress, up the red carpet stairs while William, somewhat unfortunate, he looked.
That moment said it all: Kate is the star and everyone else, even Tom Cruise, is in the background.