I didn’t think much of the TV saturation when it started last week until I happened upon a clip on CNN when I was channel hopping.
CNN are reporting on the Queen’s death with as much deference as the UK companies so it was all the more surprising when Christiane Amanpour commented that some of the televised appearances of the royal family were choreographed to ensure that the continuation of the monarchy was indelibly stamped on the British consciousness.
Whilst the Queen was still alive many - not all, ‘neutrals’ held the view that once she passed, that should be the end of the monarchy; basically, they had no interest in Charles and eventually William taking over.
The tidal wave of affection for Charles started as soon as he got out of the car when he arrived back at Buckingham Palace and greeted the public outside - and it has continued to swell ever since.
I had a lot of respect for the Queen and was 50/50 on Charles but found myself leaning towards ‘giving him a chance’ so to speak.
However, I will wait to see if he allows Andrew to keep his role of Councillor of State which allows him to stand in for the King in his absence.
It was one thing for the Queen to allow him to keep that role - after all, he was her favourite son and a mother’s love can be blind.
However, Charles should be under no illusion that the public’s renewed affection for the monarchy does not extend to Andrew - and it never should, given his nefarious connections to a sex offender after he had been convicted.
It will be interesting to see whether Andrew remains in the background or if he is allowed to creep back in, on a slow but carefully manipulated basis.