In honor of today’s royal wedding, I draw to your attention a very interesting article that appeared in one of Canada’s leading newspapers, the Globe and Mail – Britain’s Crisis of Succession: Charles and the Story Behind the Royal Wedding. The article gives us a glimpse into the politics inside the royal family and how some in the family (Prince Charles) are more involved in national politics then is generally understood. And one surprising possibility: that Charles may never be king as he will be skipped in favor of William.
The article claims that an internal royal committee, the Way Ahead Group, (which includes the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and their private secretaries, as well as Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward) is deeply concerned about the viability of the monarchy in a post-Elizabethan era:
The British Parliament would have a role in changing royal succession and there is enough precedent to fall back on. But such a move would also drawn in the members of the Commonwealth:
All of this underscores that the British monarchy (and monarchies in general) is more complex and political than most Americans (including me) understand. And the Commonwealth is a complex and still relevant international organization (and function of British foreign policy). When Kate and Will said “I do” today there was a lot more at play than just a couple of lovestruck kids tying the knot. Let the royal intrigue begin.
William in the Driver's Seat – Image Credit: Getty