The departure of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from the British monarchy served as a catalyst for the popularity of Princes William and Kate, who on the one hand underpinned their image as a hard core, committed and reliable, alongside Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, and on the other, they saw how the only couple capable of outshining them withdrew from public life, at least in the United Kingdom. Then a pandemic came that forced Elizabeth II and Prince Charles to withdraw as a precaution and it was they who took their place, little by little, their popularity rose like wildfire and in the Platinum Jubilee they gave their definitive blow, becoming in the undisputed protagonists of the four days of celebration that were celebrated in honor of Isabel II. Already positioned as the image of the monarchy of the future, in that “Cambridge universe” an alternative to the Sussexes was missing and they have finally found an active rearguard that does not compete in the front row.
SEE GALLERY
The way in which Elizabeth II managed the presence of her relatives at the jubilee says a lot about the institution’s intentions for the future, so that the Windsors have been divided into three groups: the key figures of the institution, which are Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Cambridges; those who must support that first line but without overshadowing it, that is, Princess Anne and the Earls of Wessex; and lastly, those who do not have institutional weight and will only be present at acts of a family nature, as is the case with the rest of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the British sovereign, as is the case with the Yorks and the Sussexes.
In this stage, The Earls of Wessex -Prince Edward is the youngest son of Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, therefore, Prince William’s uncle- have become the best alternative to the Dukes of Sussex at a time when the official agenda has recovered the volume of before the pandemic and, in fact, appearances and official trips are constant. In less than a week, Prince Edward and his wife have gone from Northern Ireland to Gibraltar, without missing a single act in honor of Elizabeth II. Once back in the country, last Monday they were in Windsor for the celebration of the Order of the Garter in which Camilla was invested as a lady. In that act, Kate in blue and Sofia in pink, showed harmony and complicity, each in their role, comfortable in the position that they have been given and aware that this was the big day for Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall and wife of the future king, who received a distinction that Kate will probably wear one day.
SEE GALLERY
SEE GALLERY
Especially significant was the detail that the Wessex paraded in the royal procession of the I salute the flag, behind the Cambridges, and then waved from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, however, they did not return to the balcony for Sunday’s photo, the final photo that would go down in history and was reserved for the hard core. If something was clear with the departure of the Sussexes, it is that for the institution to work, the hierarchy must be clear and popularity must surrender to it. So the alternative that the Cambridges have found to support each other in the future, at least until George, Charlotte and Louis of Cambridge are old enough to have their own official agenda, is the most comfortable possible, a marriage – that of Prince Edward and Sofia of Wessex – who have never sought to be in the front row or claimed for their children the title of prince and princess that corresponded to them as grandchildren of the Queen. Of course, forgetting that Countess Sofia is the Queen’s favorite daughter-in-law and that with her discretion and support she has earned a place in a monarchy that is committed – like the rest of the Europeans – to concentrating official functions in the hands of a few few.
Kate, the jewel in the British crown
Click if you want to see “Kate, the jewel in the British crown”, a special where we analyze the figure of Kate Middleton at 40 years old, who has become one of the most important and beloved members of the British royal family. You can see more on the new video platform HELLO! PLAY, where you will find programs on cooking, fashion, decoration and biographical documentaries of ‘royals’ and ‘celebrities’. Do not miss it!
–
