As the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Canterbury Cathedral in March for the installation of Dame Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury, the murmur in the pews was all about William’s commitment to the Church of England. It amused some, of course, because the prince has always been perfectly open about not being a regular churchgoer. That inevitably raises questions about how he sees his future role as Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church – roles steeped in centuries of expectation.
William isn’t saying any more on the subject, and perhaps that’s wise. I’m reminded of something his father once said when criticised for fishing on a Sunday: he could pray while he was fishing, he observed, but he couldn’t fish in church. It was a wonderfully dry line, and it applies rather neatly to William too. Young men have young views, and most people accept that he’s entitled to express them – providing he’s prepared to weather the commentary that follows. And he nearly always is.
Another controversy has arisen that touches on the royal family’s global image in a surprisingly direct way. The BBC, our national broadcaster for great state occasions, has announced that it will no longer have a dedicated department for royal outside events. This is the very team that has delivered every ceremonial moment since Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953. To say they know what they’re doing is an understatement.
The corporation now considers the award-winning unit – dubbed the ‘crown jewel’ of live British broadcasting – is too expensive to maintain. The sole survivor is the legendary Claire Popplewell, who has the experience to train a rotating group of freelancers if necessary. Even so, the phrase ‘managing costs’, which is how the BBC framed it, has a depressing ring. We will have to wait and see if the magic of BBC events can be produced on a diminished budget.
Some cheery news is that the late Queen’s first grandchild, Peter Phillips, and his fiancée Harriet Sperling have set a date for their wedding. They will not be having a lavish ceremony as they have both been married before and it is not their style. Instead they will have a private ceremony at All Saints Church in the Gloucestershire village of Kemble on 6 June. Forty-eight-year-old Peter has two daughters – Savannah 15, and Isla, 13 – by his marriage to Canadian-born Autumn Kelly. Most recently nurse Harriet has been seen on Peter’s arm at the Cheltenham Festival and, together with her 13-year-old daughter Georgina, she was part of the royal ‘Easter parade’ to church at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
The gathering at Windsor Castle remains an important informal part of the family show of unity. The late Queen loved Easter and took great pleasure in arranging everything down to the smallest detail so that her extended family could be together on Easter Day. It was also a moment to remember Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who died on 30 March 2002 at Royal Lodge. That year, poignantly, it was Holy Saturday, the eve of Easter Day, and the royal family quite naturally withdrew from attending the mattins service.
