Gilded Butterflies

[poliphilo]

Once in a while I come across an argument for monarchy that impresses me. Peter Hitchens has one this morning. He says the monarch has no power but- like the king on the chessboard- occupies a space that would otherwise be occupied by others less worthy- and hungrier- meaning the likes of Thatcher and Blair and Cameron. I suppose it's not so much a new argument as a telling phrase. King on a chessboard- I like that.

What I really hate about monarchy is not so much the institution itself as all the crawling that goes on around it- all the buttering up and flattery. What other tiny, boot-faced, old lady keeps on getting told she looks stunning in her unfashionable flower-pot hats? But I suppose that vile business- that worship of power and wealth and position- would carry on no matter who occupied the palace. There will always be courtiers.

Comments

[matrixmann]

Hm, this has something...
Well, one can imagine why William now tries to establish the image of "just a normal family" for his one in the public.
Grandma can think what she wants about it, but her time is obviously limited through her high age.
You can hide in a palace, send your children to school where they also only meet other children which come out of a comparable wealthy family, and let yourself be protected by lots of guards and police which need to be paid by the public - or you can just step a little down and try to not be any different than other people, just a person which happened to be blessed or cursed with a big name which you can't choose when you're born.
That whole mumbo jumbo also is like a golden cage that limits the existence and your own mental cosmos...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think William is trying to position himself- insofar as is possible when you own palaces- as a boringly ordinary chap. This is in marked contrast to his father- who has always been determinedly eccentric, opinionated and hungry for attention.

[matrixmann]

Well, appearing pretty normal grants you more popularity than just being a spendthrift. Also, at least I could guess this, after being in a golden cage for decades, there comes the time where you personally say "I'm done with it" and the best it is if you found a family if you start as early to get this also stuck into their lifes. No extra treatment, no wrapping up in cotton wool.
He may also have experiences with his brother why he did do that much nonsense in his younger years - just a trial to break out of all of this and get a "Leave me alone!" done.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

My guess is that William- when and if he becomes king- will try to function as a Scandanivian-style "bicycling monarch".

[matrixmann]

Would guess so too.
But maybe this also is for the better.