Is the British royal family losing relevance? Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Caribbean trip was a flop and Prince Andrew is mired in scandal – but at least Queen Elizabeth still has fans
- The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge recently toured the Caribbean Commonwealth to celebrate the queen’s Platinum Jubilee – but it was faced with backlash and cancelled appearances
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s interview on Oprah cast a negative light on the family, fuelled by recent events that include Prince Charles’ charity scandal
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were expected to visit Jamaica and Belize, but faced protests at every stop, with demonstrators calling for reparations, apologies and independence. Planned appearances were dropped from the schedule amid the outcry and, in one particularly awkward moment, Jamaican prime minister Andrew Holness told the royal couple that his country was “moving on” from the Commonwealth.
It’s just the latest example of dwindling public support for the British monarchy – once the most popular royal family in the world. Faced with public family feuds, embarrassing scandals and the declining health of the family’s beloved matriarch, the British royal family are on thin ice in the court of public opinion. Can they survive, or have the tides of change already turned against the House of Windsor?
Here are some of the challenges they’re up against …
The queen’s health
The 95-year-old monarch contracted Covid-19 in February (she has recovered now), and reportedly relies on a wheelchair to move around. She has recently pulled out of a number of public engagements over concerns for her health, which has led many to question how much longer she will be able to serve in her role.
As the most popular member of the royal family – she holds a 72 per cent approval rating in the UK – Queen Elizabeth’s disappearance from the public eye would be a staggering blow to the royal institution.
Princes plagued by scandals
