The bluenecks

Here in the United Kingdom, citizens are known as ‘subjects,’ which is to say we are subjects of the Royal family, and notably the Queen, our unelected head of state.  But perhaps it would be better to phrase this 'we are subject to the royal family,' since we are subjected to them on a daily basis, almost as if we were constitutionally wired into some perpetual tweet, or more prosaically, a soap opera. The latest storyline is the famous interview of Prinny Di by Martin Bashir 26 years ago, and the subsequent discovery of his alleged underhand methods in getting the interview. The whole episode is deeply ironic, not least with the recent memory of Harry and Meghan’s talkfest with Oprah in mind. We have learnt from Meghan what it is like to be an outsider in The Firm—the isolation, the putdowns, the cold shoulders and possibly the racism. Harry has remarked on the behaviour of his father, which to say the least was a Father’s Day message with a difference. But now heir to the throne Prince William has claimed that Bashir’s interview further isolated Di and added to her paranoia. Isn’t it time this lot woke up and realised that they should actually put their own house in order first? Bashir seems to have behaved with journalistic abandon (i.e. doing what it takes to get an interview) but there was substance in that interview, and perhaps the royals would do well to remember that rather than getting too hoyty-toyty about their treatment, they could try out some mindfulness?
 
That said, we now have a perfect storm for the BBC, with rednecks (shouldn’t that be bluenecks? Ed.) on the Tory backbenches smelling an opportunity to hand over the corporation to Murdoch.