Sept. 8 marked a day many had feared would come: Queen Elizabeth II’s passing. In the days after the beloved Queen’s passing, several world leaders shared condolences and the public mourned her loss—but some refused to mourn, citing the destruction and cruelty of British colonizers during the early 1900s.
The Royal Family are the heart of the British Monarchy, within which lies sophistication, symbolism and a controversial history. The Royals are seemingly put on a pedestal, far from everyday citizens, but the recent death of Queen Elizabeth II heightened public awareness about the legacy of this family.
Shortly after her death, the Economic Freedom Fighters, a political party from South Africa, released a statement on Twitter, condemning the “atrocities that [Queen Elizabeth II’s] family inflicted on native people.” Even with the British Empire’s vast colonization of lands, historian Stephen Wood describes how “despite such enormous impact, the Queen held no real power in British government.” Wood’s statement highlights the social ramifications of the Queen’s reign, which contrasts with her perceived power and position as a political figurehead.
This sentiment extends to several other impactful figures in the Royal Family, namely former Princess of Wales, Princess Diana. Princess Diana was heavily adored all around the world and became affectionately known as “the people’s princess.”
However, behind the walls of Buckingham Palace, several stories of the abuse and mental health struggles that Princess Diana faced arose years after her death. The princess explained in an infamous BBC News interview, “I was crying out for help, but giving the wrong signals.” Princess Diana felt as though she was “trapped in royal captivity.”
Similar feelings and struggles were felt in modern times by Princess Diana’s daughter-in-law, Meghan Markle, causing her and her husband Prince Harry to leave the Royal Family in Feb. 2021. Almost paralleling Princess Diana’s situation, Markle responded to her own mistreatment in the Royal Family in an interview with Oprah. Marle said, “I think everyone has a basic right to privacy. Basic.”
Despite the noble titles of countesses, earls, dukes and duchesses given to members of the Royal Family, they are not exempted from the sometimes harsh realities of life. Despite their history, the monarchy’s actions and efforts must be viewed in a historical perspective. The family is seen as a national symbol for Britain’s distinct monarchy and for Great Britain as a whole. Now, with King Charles III in a new role, the rest of the world will just have to wait and see how society will evolve with the British Royal Family welcoming a new era.
Written by Pragna Pothakamuri of Thomas S. Wootton High School
Graphic courtesy of Meera Menon of Thomas S. Wootton High School