COMMENTARY Once, when I asked him what he
would choose if he could be unroyal and do anything he liked for a day, he had no wish to lie on a beach or let it all hang out. He replied that he would probably
like to spend it studying some of the hidden artistic treasures of the Royal Collection. That was reflected in his approach
to the role of Prince of Wales. Many of his predecessors in that position had almost always lapsed into a well-heeled playboy lifestyle, for want of having anything very much to do. The future Edward VIII, though re-
garded as dashing and popular by the general public, spent most of his years as heir to the throne partying and chas- ing other men’s wives. When he finally became king in
1936, he served for less than a year be- fore abdicating the throne so he could marry his girlfriend, an American di- vorcee.
Charles could see that he was
destined to spend most of his life in standby mode. So, having left the Royal Navy in 1976, he set about creating an executive role for himself by establish- ing what would become the biggest charitable network in the U.K., the Prince’s Trust. He used the contents of his Royal Navy pension fund to provide start-up finance. It was often said that he had an old
head on young shoulders. The happy result from his point of view is that he is now entirely comfortable being in his 70s, an age when many others start to fear the fading of the light. Not so the king. “Charles is in his
comfort zone,” says one who has known him a long time. Meanwhile, there is one other very
obvious change inside palace walls. The reign of the corgi is over. The
queen and her sister might have loved the breed, but few of the family share their enthusiasm. The new queen is a great fan of Jack Russells and has two of them.
The age of the terrier has begun. Thank Goodness
We Ditched Royals Best thing our Founding Fathers did. BY JACOB LANE
O
ur nation’s founding Fathers were light-years ahead of their time. They did something in 1776 for
which future generations of Ameri- cans should be eternally grateful. They kicked the British royal fam-
ily to the curb. Our founders aptly recognized
the absurdity of this institution. Take away the pomp and circumstance, castles, and “fairytale” weddings, and you begin to see through the smoke and mirrors of this outdated establishment. Yet in present-day America, many
of our fellow compatriots just can’t get enough of the royals. If you don’t believe me, try checking out at a gro- cery store and not spotting the royal family on a magazine cover. Between Prince Andrew’s associ-
ation with Jeffrey Epstein to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s endless complaints about media attention despite frequently seeking it, the royals remain a topic of fascination among Americans. It’s ironic if you think about it, considering these are the descen- dants of the same family that treated our ancestors with open contempt when the latter pleaded for the right to govern their own affairs. Why does the U.K. stick with the
monarchy? Supporters like to point out how
many tourists visit each year to see the royal palaces. However, if that’s the best argument supporters can come up with, the monarchy might be in a lot of trouble. Where is the evidence to suggest
that if the U.K. became a republic visitors would suddenly no longer want to explore other sides of its rich history? Then there’s the cost to maintain
the monarchy. It is presently sup- ported by U.K. taxpayers through the Sovereign Grant, which covers the costs of staffing royal households throughout the nation. At a time when most can barely
afford the rising cost of living, how can one justify the nearly $120 mil- lion price tag which British taxpay- ers are on the hook for? Finally, there’s the undemocratic
aspect of the monarchy. The British public can never hold the royal fami- ly to any accountability via the ballot box, and the monarch can only act in the interests of the government of the day. To be fair, Queen Elizabeth II
lived a long life of service to her na- tion. The late queen was beloved by the British public, enjoying high approval ratings through most of her reign. But there’s no denying that a
hereditary institution like the roy- al family goes against every prin- ciple associated with a democratic society. In America, we have our fair share
of “royalty,” whether we’re talking about Hollywood starlets or profes- sional athletes. Both have adoring fans, but for the most part few think these folks have a divine right from the Almighty to rule over the realm. As an American, I may never fully understand why the U.K. continues to maintain a monarchy. I’ll stick with an elected head of
state. I may have to pay taxes, but at least I don’t have to look at an un- elected head of state that I’m directly subsidizing when doing so. Instead, I get to look at a bunch
of rebels, and that’s far preferable to me.
Jacob Lane is a Republican strategist and school choice activist.
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