London: After the shame of Prince Andrew’s U.S. sex abuse lawsuit and Prince Charles embroilment in a cash for honours scandal, Queen Elizabeth catching Covid has rounded off a week of terrible news for the British royals.
Buckingham Palace said on Sunday the monarch, who turns 96 in two months, was suffering mild symptoms after testing positive for the virus. But growing health fears and scandals involving the family are threatening to overshadow national celebrations to mark her 70th anniversary on the throne.
I suspect this is not a week on which any member of the royal family will look back with particular pleasure, said Matthew Dennison, author of a recent biography The Queen.
Just two weeks ago, the royals were enjoying a warm wave of public and media praise as Elizabeth, currently the world’s oldest and longest-reigning monarch, marked seven decades on the throne, a milestone never reached by any of her predecessors over the last 1,000 years.
The confidence was such that the monarch was able to announce that Camilla, the once vilified second wife of 73-year-old heir Prince Charles, should become Queen Consort when he became king. read more
But, then last Tuesday it was announced Prince Andrew, Elizabeth’s second son, had paid to settle a claim that he sexually assaulted a teenage girl decades ago and, while he admitted no wrongdoing, royal experts say the outcome of the case spelled the end of his public royal role.
Two days later, police said they were investigating allegations that honours were offered to a Saudi national in return for donations to one of Prince Charles’s charities. read more
The same day, Elizabeth quipped she could not move much when she carried out an in-person engagement at her Windsor Castle home, although a palace source said that was because she was feeling slightly stiff rather than being unwell.
Thank God For The Queen, the Sun tabloid said on its front page the following day.
But on Sunday, the Palace announced the queen, who has been fully vaccinated, had tested positive for Covid. While officials said she would still be carrying out light duties, it has cast a pall over her Platinum Jubilee year. read more
This is intended to be a year of celebration for the queen …and events that detract from that obviously are regrettable, Denison said.
But of course the worst possible thing is that the queen could be ill and therefore not enjoy this Jubilee. So…, this is of course bad news.
For most people, Elizabeth is synonymous with Britain, and her recent health scares have raised questions about the monarchy’s future that have hitherto received little public attention.