The Queen will be 95 on Wednesday. In an interview on the sad birthday, a royal expert explains the “Queen of the Century” recipe for success.
Queen Elizabeth II will be 95 years old on April 21. The death of her long-time husband Prince Philip on April 9 overshadowed the actually beautiful event. But not only this great loss, also the drama about her grandson Prince Harry (36), his wife Duchess Meghan (39) after Megxit and Oprah interview and the possible involvement of Queen’s son Prince Andrew (61) in Jeffrey-Epstein – Abuse scandal, clouding the skies over Windsor, the main whereabouts of the Queen in times of the corona pandemic.
In an interview on the monarch’s sad birthday, royal expert Julia Melchior explains which of the two scandal topics should weigh more heavily for the queen. Melchior, whose TV documentary “Prinzgemahle” (ZDF / Arte) was actually planned on the occasion of Prince Philip’s 100th birthday on June 10, 2021 and can currently be seen in the media library, also explains the “Queen of the Century” recipe for success.
Will Queen Elizabeth II celebrate her 95th birthday on Wednesday?
Julia Melchior: Your 95th birthday falls in the period of mourning. The funeral was only four days ago. So there will be no celebrations. The next big celebrations to look forward to in Great Britain will be on the 70th anniversary of the throne next year. Because with this so-called “platinum anniversary”, Queen Elizabeth II shows once again that she is a woman of superlatives: There is no more famous woman on earth. She is the oldest head of state in the world, in years of service and years of life. And no monarch has been married longer than Elizabeth to her Philip.
The physical constitution of the monarch is also conducive to all of these superlatives. Why is the queen so fit?
She has good genes and is sure to be well cared for too. Another important point is their great inner calm. She simply has a deep trust in God and radiates that too. The British monarchs still use the addition “by the grace of God” in their title, even though they are actually sitting on the throne by the grace of the people. But Elizabeth II is a very pious woman. For them, something sacred passed on to them at their coronation. There is something almost mystical about it.
What role did her marriage to Prince Philip play in this context, which was concluded in 1947 and lasted until his death on April 9, 2021?
Their very good marriage was certainly one of the secrets of their success. Prince Philip gave his wife a foundation on which to build her successful reign. And that without interfering in state affairs. That is a crucial point. They always had a very clear distinction between their office and their tasks. It wasn’t easy at first. Especially since he didn’t even know what to do or what not to do. Nowhere is it written what is expected of the Queen’s husband.
It was actually very difficult, and Prince Philip took some time off. Although I would describe it as a thoroughly happy marriage, there was this one serious crisis – it was mainly about the understanding of the roles of the two. But they mastered this with flying colors. That too is what makes a good marriage.
Who else would you put into the Queen’s intimate circle?
It’s always the family. It is very lonely around monarchs and the family members are actually the only ones with whom they can speak openly. Princess Anne (70), for example, is one of her closest confidants. Prince Charles (72), with whom she spends an incredible amount of time ex officio, of course, too. Then there is her daughter-in-law Countess Sophie (56), the wife of Queen’s son Prince Edward (57), who is a very good representative of the royal family because she does not cause a stir, but dutifully does her job.
Other closest confidants were Prince Philip’s cousins, who were her ladies-in-waiting as early as the 1950s. But there are hardly any confidants left from the generation. I am sure that the queen’s family is most important and that the closest confidants are recruited here. Especially those who will inherit theirs. Because she wants to know that the future of the monarchy is in good hands.
How would you describe Queen Elizabeth II’s image today?
Queen Elizabeth II is one of the few people about whom there is unanimously positive opinion. At least in the last few decades, it wasn’t always like that. For the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, I was filming in England a lot, speaking to historians and critics. Even Republicans are of the opinion “May the Queen live forever” because there is simply no convincing counter-concept. Neither to the monarchy – after all, two thirds of the population still support it – nor to it as a person. It does not divide opinions, and that applies across generations and across societies. Queen Elizabeth is a queen of the century.
Could the monarchy end after her?
She herself stands before the judgment of history without blame. But with all the praise for this outstanding queen, there is also one point of criticism. Because her reign will also be measured by whether she has regulated her legacy sustainably, whether the majority of the population continues to support the system. This question came up again not least because of the family drama about Prince Harry and his wife. Nonetheless, the institution is over 1,000 years old, has weathered so many crises and is dear to the British.
What could you do better on this point?
You can see from the other royal houses that it is appropriate to hand over the throne to the next generation while they are still alive. Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, even the Pope and Emperor of Japan have shown the way in recent years. The Queen is a special case because she is so incredibly popular even in old age and nobody wants to imagine the case that the Queen no longer exists.
I don’t think it’s because you don’t trust Prince Charles or Prince William (38), but because an era will come to an end with her that people will mourn a little bit. As of today, however, she has failed to reform the house, which we can see in the drama about Prince Harry, among other things. For the generations after her, it should apply that they vacate the throne during their lifetime. For Elizabeth II, however, the royal dignity is “by the grace of God”, in whose hands she lays her fate.
In your opinion, will Prince Charles ever become king or will the crown go to Prince William?
It’s just coffee grounds now, of course, but I think Charles would immortalize himself if he handed the throne straight to William. It would certainly be very smart for the monarchy. On the other hand, he has dedicated his entire life to this office, so it would of course be granted to him. It would be wiser, however, to forego and pass the title directly on to the next generation and be the gray eminence in the background.
The next generation is ready too. Five years ago I might not have said that. Prince William and Duchess Kate (39) were still a small family with a toddler and a baby, but they have now established themselves. You are approaching 40 and you are the heir to the throne in your prime. They also enjoy the respect and sympathy of the population.
How openly these and other topics are treated behind the scenes. Being able to talk to each other wasn’t always so easy with the British royals …
That’s true. With the Windsors of the Elizabeth and Philip generation, it was precisely this speechlessness that was the flaw in the family from which their own children, especially the sensitive Charles, suffered. They just couldn’t handle family crises well. It is all the more astonishing how emotional the Queen shows in her comments on the Prince Harry crisis. Queen Elizabeth has a double role here.
In her role as queen, she appears strict and consistent in dealing with Harry, Meghan and the Megxit, depriving the renegades of all privileges and offices. That was a tough cut that Harry didn’t expect. At the same time, Elizabeth remains the loving grandmother. In the last sentence of every statement you can read that Harry, Meghan and Archie (1) will always be very beloved members of the royal family. The family ties are inseparable, but the disappointment must be very big.
Which scandal do you think is worse for the queen? Prince Andrew’s possible involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein case or the Oprah Winfrey interview and the resulting allegations of racism by Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan?
If there is anything to the allegations against Prince Andrew, it is inexcusable. As a mother, that would have to shake her deeply. The Oprah Winfrey interview is something else entirely. It’s just a huge disappointment that Harry is ready to harm his own family in such a way.
Every now and then there is talk of “favorite children” and “favorite grandchildren” of the Queen. Do they really exist and if so, who is it?
My impression is that the favorite in the British press is always the one whose scandal is boiling up. I find it really hard to imagine it being that way.
Speaking of which, are you actually watching “The Crown”, the Netflix hit series about the British royal family?
I saw the first two episodes, not seasons. It’s done very nicely. But I don’t want to see more because I’m afraid that this will change my view of history. Because in the series, truth is already mixed with fiction. For professional reasons, I have to try to stick to the truth.