18 - 24 April 2002
Issue No.582
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 18 - 24 April 2002 Issue No.582 |
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Limelight
Enduring majesty
Last week, amidst an unrivaled show of pomp and pageantry, the British bade goodbye to their beloved Queen Mum who died 30 March at age 101. The grand funeral procession, a majestic state funeral in all but name, brought out an estimated one million people lining the streets from Westminster Abbey to Windsor Castle, where the queen was buried near her husband King George VI. The 45-minute service, with 2,000 invited guests was meticulously planned by the late queen herself since 1960. Large speakers broadcast the service to tens of thousands of Britons who stood outside as the Abbey bells tolled 101 minutes for every year of her life.
The outpour of genuine grief and affection during the 10 days of mourning declared by Buckingham Palace, was totally unexpected by the Royal Family, the British press and the rest of the world. It is a credit to Queen Elizabeth II, who like her father and mother, had raised the character of the monarchy through her actions, her dignified demeanour and her strong sense of duty. The behaviour of the younger generation during the last decade had tarnished the image of the Windsors and sullied the nation's view of royalty. Ironically, the tragic death of a non- royal, princess Diana touched the British populace, 75% of whom watched the funeral on television, which amassed an incredible number of 1,000 million viewers around the world. With the Queen Mother's death observers agree that the future of the British monarchy is now more secure than ever. Historian Ronald Linker writes: " there is no danger of monarchy in Britain, disappearing". A poll of the London Economist reveals that only 1 in 5 Britons would call for the abolition of the monarchy.
Although it has virtually disappeared from all but 25 countries in the world from Spain to Samoa, monarchy still retains a mysterious allure amongst people from all walks of life.
Once upon a time the world was ruled by kings -- the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. Of the 200 monarchs, only some two dozen remain, a far cry from 2 centuries ago when kings, kaisers, czars and emperors ruled the world. 'King' is a title denoting sovereignty. There was a time when every country had a king and every king ruled by divine right and only God could punish a wicked king. But kings fell into the splendid trappings of privilege. They donned the garments of consuming power and indulged in the excesses of their dynastic rights. Monarchy became synonymous with tyranny, oppression and arbitrariness. The first blow at monarchy strangely enough came from the British -- in the year 1640. The English Parliament, unhappy with their King's religious oppression, raised an army, defeated and executed Charles I in 1649. They enjoyed the first Republic headed by Oliver Cromwell (1599--1658) for 11 years. Cromwell's rule was as absolute as the King's. The British soon missed their royals and restored the monarchy, crowning Charles II, the son, while greatly diminishing his powers. A century later, across the channel, the French completely repudiated their ki5ng, asserting the doctrine that the right to rule came from the people. They executed Louis XVI, his queen Marie Antoinette and most of France's nobility in 1793 in a bloody massacre. France's monarchy and its fall are the cause célèbre of Democracy. First came the Fall, then came the Restoration, and again came the second Fall of France's monarchy. Though it took them almost a century to abolish the monarchy, France finally realised its Republic. As a result, 'limited' or 'constitutional' monarchies developed, restricting the power of a monarch as in the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg) and the Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Norway and Denmark) as well as modern day Britain. Only ten European monarchies remain, seven of which have familial ties with England. The Century of Revolution is the name given to 100 years beginning with the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), which rejected England and her King. It was a period of worldwide revolt against tyrannical government and of progress in liberty and a claim for constitutional and individual rights. The 20th century saw the birth of the common man as the greatest power of the state, changing the form of government of virtually every country to a Republic. Socialism, a new idea, was gaining ground, weakening the grasp of monarchy.
Grandmother to a nation
Exceptions prevailed. One of the most ancient and venerated monarchies is Japan's Chrysanthemum Throne, claiming an unbroken line to the country's mythical past. The Japanese royal family enjoys even more popularity than the British royal family. The remaining monarchs of the Middle East, the kings of Morocco, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, claim linkage to the prophet Mohamed, and deposed monarchs of countries such as Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Afghanistan are regaining popularity in areas that have known nothing but strife since the loss of their monarchs. Napoleon is credited with dealing monarchy a fatal blow, but historians believe that what destroyed monarchies were the monarchs themselves. Royalty paid the price of humiliation and defeat, as in the case of the Austria-Hungarian, German, Ottoman as well as the Russian Empires, following WW-I. In the case of Russia, the loss of the war, the brutality, corruption and ignorance of the monarch inspired a revolution. Communism was introduced to the world.
The onslaught of Communism swept away not only the Romanovs but several monarchies in its march around the world. Most of the monarchies that fell with WW-II were victims of Fascism or Communism. In less than a century, Communism all but disappeared, where once it ruled half the world. It could grow wings that allowed it to soar, but could not grow legs to walk amongst the people it championed. Thus died the infant philosophy, noble in theory, disastrous in practice.
Half a century ago the granite foundation of 6,000 years of temples and palaces was destroyed. Monarchy was banished from the shores of Egypt, finally letting in the air of freedom of the common man, relegating Royalty to historic monuments, fond memories or bitter tears. The late King Farouk once predicted that by the end of the twentieth century there shall remain 5 kings: "the Kings of England, diamonds, clubs, hearts and spades." He was not far off the mark. Though she is a Queen not a King, the sovereign of England, the grandest of all surviving monarchies, possesses a strangely enduring popularity for Royalists and non- Royalists alike.
Why do monarchies endure? There are plenty of reasons for the popularity of monarchial regimes. In Europe, the main reason is their withdrawal from the political fray. Monarchs provide a unifying symbol to their people who may be of different ethnic, religious or economic backgrounds.
We all remain inveterate royalists. Dazzled and fascinated by the dignity and splendour of royal ceremonials, we have an unquenchable thirst and an unsatiable craving for all things Royal. Their gilded carriages, their fancy uniforms, their flashing tiaras, their dashing costumes continue to charm and entertain us. Despite the unimperial age we live in, British and other Royals continue to maintain their imperial lifestyle to the delight and admiration of the rest of the world. Proudly and tenaciously, British Royalty flows majestically along, regardless of what happens around it.
Basking comfortably in our modern Republics, lounging leisurely in our republican living rooms, on our republican sofas, we are glued to our television sets in search of more Royal happenings from weddings to funerals. Royal watchers be prepared. The Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II is underway. Some serious Royal watching awaits us, though none will ever equal the graceful charm and sunshine smile of the departed Queen Mum!
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