Diana's Legacy: What is left or what will be left?

[Durham]

That's true of course but in the case of the British monarchy that's a relatively recent innovation. And the dangers of pushing the image of an ideal family are obvious. Humans are flawed after all. Private lives can be messy. Not everyone is capable of living lives like George V & Queen Mary or George VI & Queen Elizabeth or indeed Elizabeth II.

Interestingly on the British monarchy website there is not a whisper of anything to do with family events in its description of the role of the royal family. It's primarily about members of the royal family carrying out their duties to the state, service to the community & supporting the monarch.

[TLLK]

Originally Posted by Durham

That's true of course but in the case of the British monarchy that's a relatively recent innovation. And the dangers of pushing the image of an ideal family are obvious. Humans are flawed after all. Private lives can be messy. Not everyone is capable of living lives like George V & Queen Mary or George VI & Queen Elizabeth or indeed Elizabeth II.

Interestingly on the British monarchy website there is not a whisper of anything to do with family events in its description of the role of the royal family. It's primarily about members of the royal family carrying out their duties to the state, service to the community & supporting the monarch.

Excellent points and I it is true that the website does not focus upon the private family events when it comes to the members carrying out their duties in support of the monarch and the nation. It's only in the individual biographies is their any mention of their spouses and children.

[Heavs]

Originally Posted by Durham

That's true of course but in the case of the British monarchy that's a relatively recent innovation. And the dangers of pushing the image of an ideal family are obvious. Humans are flawed after all. Private lives can be messy. Not everyone is capable of living lives like George V & Queen Mary or George VI & Queen Elizabeth or indeed Elizabeth II.

Interestingly on the British monarchy website there is not a whisper of anything to do with family events in its description of the role of the royal family. It's primarily about members of the royal family carrying out their duties to the state, service to the community & supporting the monarch.

Indeed. I'd argue that it started with Queen Victoria and Albert in reaction to the excess and "wildness" of some of the Hanoverians. Most of Victorian society was in part a reaction to that. And apart from Edward VII the family have more or less kept it up since then.

Before that no royal families were really seen to be a model family of the nation, with mistresses and lovers held openly and illegitimate children either openly acknowledged or very, very open secrets.

If we go further back your closest relatives were obviously the ones most likely to be your greatest threat and not just because they briefed the press against you in a PR war. Those wars and "family" struggles actually tore the country apart.