The late Queen Elizabeth II died in Sept. 2022. She leaves behind a mixed legacy, full of public acclaim yet punctuated with profound struggles, particularly involving her family. Throughout her reign, she endeavored to modernize the monarchy, transforming it into a marketable entity while navigating a series of crises, including the tragic death of Princess Diana in 1997. The royal family is facing incredible pressure, particularly with regard to Prince Andrew. This new pressure adds to uncertainty surrounding the fate of the monarchy, as King Charles III takes the throne.
That day in the late 1960s, Queen Elizabeth II took a remarkable step. She agreed to the making of the documentary “Royal Family.” This royal constitutional decision was a watershed moment in royal history. It was meant to bring the monarchy closer to ordinary people. Her father, George VI, originally coined the term “the Firm” to describe their royal household, and Elizabeth II sought to maintain its relevance amid changing societal norms. She was motivated by her husband, Prince Philip, and her press secretary, William Heseltine. She knew that starting to modernize the sometimes staid royal image was key to appealing to the progressive new public mood.
That said, for much of Britain’s history, the monarchy has been no stranger to crises. The year 1992 is widely remembered as Queen Elizabeth II’s “annus horribilis.” At that same time, all three of her children—Charles, Andrew, and Anne—were going through very public, painful marital breakdowns. The tumult came at a time where the entire royal family’s role and purpose in today’s society was being held up for examination. The skepticism about the organization reached its zenith in 1997 following the death of Princess Diana. The public reaction was that the Queen’s first response was not enough. Public support for the monarchy nosedived, and her own approval rating reached an all-time low of 57%.
Still, for all those missteps, Queen Elizabeth II fiercely cultivated—and successfully protected—a brand for the royal family. She might have pined for tradition, but she certainly worked to appeal to contemporary sensibilities. She was lucky in having two children, Charles and Anne, who for the most part held favorable images in the public eye, even if they were deeply flawed. Images of her family savoring tranquil sceneries by a Scottish loch painted the perfect picture that struck a chord.
As public opinion swayed over the years, particularly regarding controversial figures within the family such as Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeth II faced increasing pressure to navigate these challenges effectively. Prince Andrew’s claimed misconduct has been seen for many years as something of a liability to the royal family. In recent years, his health and advanced age forced him to slowly withdraw from public life. This preventative move allows the monarchy to tackle some of the blowback from the continuing controversies over royal spending.
The challenges confronting the monarchy will only become greater as King Charles III takes control. He is faced with the challenge, but the unique opportunity, to reshape the monarchy to meet today’s society’s priorities and ideals. His approach will likely include addressing issues surrounding family members who have become liabilities while striving to restore public trust in an institution that has weathered numerous storms over its history.