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Gawking at a rogue Prince
My mother was a bit of a Royalist, complete with the Charles and Diane teacups and of course of Elizabeth. My father was not, he was fond of saying, “it’s all a bit silly isn’t it?”. My parents were Ulster Scots. My father had mugs of the heads of England’s monarchs, I always wondered if in his way that was a political statement. I however am an American, born and raised in New England.
If you aren’t British you may not be familiar with the English custom of putting monarchs on teacups. You can buy a whole dinner set, any Royal event, wedding, birth, ascension, and anniversaries are causes for production of vast quantities of commemorative dinnerware. We Americans make flags, the British make crockery. While teacups are not flags, it does illustrate the place in British hearts the Royal family occupies. The Union Jack and the Queen are symbols of Great Britain.
When royals leave “the firm” they are expected to go away quietly, discrete interviews after a suitable period of time, may be allowed, but it is expected in that interview to express profound support and admiration of whom ever wears the crown.
Above all, never complain, Royals do not complain. To complain is to sully the Royal institution with the vagaries of humanity. As with the Union Jack the Royals must appear to transcend to national symbology. The very cup from which we drink.
