Analysis: This isn't much of a crisis for the royal family, but it's a test of resilience
Written by Jason Farrell, Home Editor
Crowds lined the streets in Windsor this morning to watch the Irish Guards enter the castle grounds with flutes and drums and be replaced by Welsh Guards. It was business as usual. The palace says that even if there is a temporary changing of the guard, the constitutional law applies equally to senior royals.
Although the king continues to hold audiences with dignitaries, he has withdrawn from public engagements, giving the royal family a sense of weakness.
“This is not a crisis. This is a difficult journey,” said Ailsa Anderson, a former press secretary to the late Queen.
But she added: “Obviously it's very difficult and worrying because this is an organization based on stability and continuity and we have two key players who will be out of action for some time.”
The late Queen had to step up her duties after her father developed cancer in the late 1940s. The disease accelerated her succession to the throne when he died at just 56 years old.
Queen Elizabeth II famously said, “It must be seen to be believed.”
It turned out to be true for the Princess of Wales, whose disappearance from public life sparked a frenzy of conspiracy theories. She's been reminding people of her somber reality, but she won't be in the public eye again until her doctors say she's safe to be released from the hospital.
For now, we can hope that public curiosity will give way to sympathy, but clearly a lot rests on Prince William's shoulders.
He wants to spend as much time as possible with Kate and their three children and plans to be with them at least over the Easter holidays. But with his older brother out of the country and somewhat estranged, and his uncle Prince Andrew relieved of his duties, there are fewer big-name royal players available to defend the royal fortress.
Constitutional law expert Craig Prescott said: “There's been a lot of downsizing. There's been more emphasis on a small number of royals, so if they leave, that's probably going to be a bigger problem.” Stated.
Queen Camilla began to play an important role. She delivered a speech written by the King in the Isle of Man this week and will play the King's role at the Maunday Easter service in Worcester next week. An important piece of equipment for the royal family.
The rest of the support team, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, will also have more focus on them. Prince Andrew also led his family at a recent memorial service in Windsor when Prince William needed to be with Duchess Kate.
It's not much of a crisis, but it's a test of the royal family's resilience. They hope this is just a temporary situation, but what we've learned in recent weeks is that while we crave privacy when we're sick, the public also craves information. It means that there is. Finding that balance is just one of many challenges ahead.
