But for all the talk of duty, morals, and leadership I saw none of that in the Queen. I saw a figurehead. Shaking hands and listening but what did she contribute? Definitely not morals or direction.
People talk of her speech in 2020 during Covid in which she spoke about WW2 and how we need to stand together. And for me that just makes me feel that she could have made a huge difference in the global struggles that we are going to face coping with climate change. She could have made a real difference last year or 10 years ago. Or 40 years ago.
Her son has been more vocal about caring for the environment. Is it too much to hope that he will spend some of his influence swaying the new UK PM away from her reactionary pro-fossil fuel agenda. As the climate crisis starts to feel more and more like a existential threat is it foolish to hope for an ally.
The Queen is dead. Long live the King
But that's her role -- as figurehead. The job is to be a symbol, not a leader. Leading is left to the democratically elected politicians, and for good reason. And it's not the new king's job to sway the PM. It's literally the opposite of his job.
And if you don't think she contributed morals? Her behavior was impeccable. She contributed morals leading by example.
Charles II decided that his brother would be his heir.
Parliament decided otherwise and replaced James with William of Orange in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
Parliament rules supreme.
It’s why they ceremonially slam the door of the House of Commons in the face of Black Rod every State Opening of Parliament.
It’s a clear reminder of where power ultimately resides.
Our constitution looks “lumpy” because it’s evolved and not designed. Rather like the Common Law.