The British monarchy has been through turbulent times of late. Rocked by scandal and strife, and without it seems a clear plan for the future following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, we have been left wondering: what happens next?
Nothing seems certain. Will the monarchy survive with its continuing echoes of an Imperial past? Will young people - disenchanted with the political status quo - find the ritual and practice of the monarchy quite so mesmerising as previous generations have done? What might a republican Britain look like?
Ed Owens argues that the monarchy must embrace reform and transform itself radically. No more private jets while preaching about the importance of the environment; no more secrecy obscuring royal influence in high places; and no more hangers on enjoying grace-and-favour homes. A major slimming down is essential. And it's time the family archives were opened.
All these issues will have a direct effect on the common good of the nation as it tries to reinvent itself as a modern working democracy, and endeavours to equip itself for the coming decades. Ed Owens situates this critical moment of royal transition in its historical context in order to set out a vision for monarchy that is future-proof, but which would also see the crown play an integral role in the evolution of 21st-century Britain.
By:
Ed Owens
Imprint: Bloomsbury Continuum
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 153mm,
Spine: 25mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN: 9781399406529
ISBN 10: 1399406523
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 03 January 2024
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Introduction: Crown and country in crisis Part One Ceremony, Spectacle and Tradition 1 Is it still something to be proud of? 2 Consecrated obstruction 3 The seasonable addition of nice and pretty events 4 An alien and uninspiring court? 5 The bride waves, the crowd cheers 6 The new Elizabethans 7 The glamour of backwardness Part Two Duty, Service and Philanthropy 8 Devoted to your service 9 Benevolence sweetens authority 10 A living power for good 11 The heavy burden of responsibility 12 Come on Margaret! 13 A new Jerusalem? 14 The Queen had no choice 15I t’s all part of minding deeply about this country Part Three Family, Celebrity and Scandal 16 The press creates … the press destroys 17 A family on the throne 18 The royal soap opera 19 Killing the monarchy? 20 Annus horribilis 21 Never complain, never explain 22 Don’t make my final years a misery Part Four Nation, Democracy and the Constitution 23 No more good chaps 24 Democratic monarchy 25 One who reigns but does not rule? 26 To be invisible is to be forgotten 27 The spirit of generous compromise 28 The good of the country 29 The perfect constitutional monarch? 30 Queen’s consent Conclusion Acknowledgements Bibliography Index
Ed Owens is the author of The Family Firm: Monarchy, Mass Media and the British Public. He is an historian, royal commentator and public speaker. He is often in demand on radio and television to discuss the subject matter of this book. edowens.com
Reviews for After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself?
A lucid, clear-sighted, and highly readable analysis of the British monarchy's self-inflicted crisis. * Richard Toye, author of Age of Hope: Labour, 1945, and the Birth of Modern Britain. *
