The Royal Issue Insight into History - The Lymm High School History Magazine Issue 2: Feb 2021
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Welcome message Welcome to The Royal Issue!! After the success of the last issue, we’ve had so many more volunteers to help, so this issue is a lot longer than the last. We have articles covering a lot of the past monarchs, as well as some about the current Royals. We hope you will find something you are interested in and learn some new facts too! If you are interested in being involved in the magazine in the future, whether that is writing full articles or just recommend- ing a film you have watched and anything in between, please send us a brief message on our Get Involved page. We hope you enjoy reading our magazine! The Insight Into History Team 2
Meet the Team Editor-in-Chief = George Pitcher Deputy Editor-in-Chief = Gemma Jackson Head of Design = Alisha Bushnell Head of Marketing = Charlotte Wood Editors Chief Political Editor = Jay Palombella Deputy Political Editor = Anna McDonald Gender + LGBTQ Editor = Jessica Salmon Minorities Editor = Emma Parkinson TV + Film Editor = Poppy Harris Head Interviewer = Lauren Cliffe Opinions Editor = Pierre De Villiers The Writing Team Year 12 - Amy French, Hattie Cosgrove, Emilia McMonagle, Sacha Jones, Bella Charlton, Ellie Colquhoun. Year 10– Amy Deeks Year 8 - Jake Sands Year 7 - Annie Martin, Reuben Roberts, Tom Matthews, Lily Norton. Fun Facts contributed by Beth Pitcher (Year 9). 3
Contents In a Nutshell: The role of the Royal Family - p6 Henry VIII and his 6 wives - p8 Henry VIII: Was he really the King he was made out to be? - p10 Queen Victoria: Empress of India - p13 Fact file: George VI - p15 The Great British Scandal: Prince Andrew - p18 William the Conqueror: Taking control of England – p21 Royal Dogs: The Queen’s Corgis - p23 Meghan Markle and the British media - p24 The overlooked triumphs of Queen consorts - p26 Fact file: James II - p28 The Commonwealth - A Relic of Imperialism or A Harmonious Family of Nations? - p29 Queen Elizabeth II: Is she truly the “Ultimate feminist” - p31 4
Edward and Mrs Simpson - The Scandals - p33 Diana: The People’s Princess - p36 Fact file: Charles I - p38 Queen Anne - p39 Bloody Mary: England’s First Queen - p41 Elizabeth I: The funding behind the slave trade - p43 Fact file: William I - p44 Fact file: Mary Queen of Scots - p44 The Royal Family: Is their time up? - p45 Recommendations - p47 The Interview - p51 This Month in History: Royal Events in February - p53 The Quiz - p54 5
In A Nutshell: The Role of the Royals The Royal Family is arguable the most famous family in the world, but what exactly do they do? Throughout this article I am going to explain what they do, and how their role has changed over time. For centuries, the role of the Kings and Queens of England was one of complete power. Power to make laws, declare war and generally decide the path of the country. However, eventually the monarchy lost a lot of its power, all thanks to one person: King John. John was strongly disliked by his barons, church leaders and the general public due to him abusing his power and asking for too much money from everyone. The barons drew up a document that restricted the power of the King and made sure that he had to follow the same laws as everyone else. This document was called the Magna Carta, and on June 15th, 1215 the barons forced John to sign it. The Magna Carta was the first step towards the creation of England’s constitution. After the Magna Carta, the Monarch still held the majority of power of Did you know? There has only ever been one King called John. It is suspected that this is due to the unfa- vourable reputation of the first King John. With nick- names like “the phoney king”, it is easy to guess that not many monarchs would want to be associated with him. Or they might just not like the name! the country, however they were regulated by the nobles. In some cases, the monarch made specific decisions with the permission of most trusted advisors, that still affect us today. For example, Henry VIII who changed the religion of the country from Catholicism to the Church of England, which he invented because the Pope (Head of the Catholic Church) would not allow him to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. The concept of Parliament developed over 100s of years, and it was these officials that kept the Monarch in check. 6
Modern historians often consider the first Prime Minister of England to be Sir Robert Wal- pole in 1721-1742, however he never had that official title. In fact, the first time the title of Prime Minister was used was in 1905 with Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. Nowadays, it is the Prime Minister of the UK that has the power over the country, and they are elected every 4 years. So now we know how the monarch’s power has faded over the years, what is their role today? Well firstly, they don’t have to worry about money because they are supported by taxpayer money. This angers a lot of people, but it is worth adding that they do earn the UK King John approximately £1.8 billion a year, which includes the revenue from the millions of tourists that travel to visit royal attractions every year. The main role of the royal family is to carry out public and charitable “engagements”. These engagements may include overseas visits to represent the nation in other countries, especially Commonwealth countries. Members of the Royal Family often are involved in charitable causes that are close to their hearts, for example the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have a mental health charity called Heads Together. Another example is Prince Charles’ Princes Trust that he started in 1976 to help vulnerable children across the country. In a nutshell, the role of the Royal Family is to be a figurehead for our country and to represent national unity. Some may argue that this is no longer necessary, but many also find great joy from the Queen and her family. However, I am interested to see if the love for the Royal Family continues after the Queen dies. Fun Fact: Kate Middleton was the first royal bride to have a By George Pitcher university degree, when she married Prince William in 2011. 7
Henry VIII and his 6 wives 1. Catherine of Aragon A Spanish princess who had been engaged to Prince Arthur, Henry’s older brother, since childhood, who would become king of England. She travelled to England in 1501 to marry him, however when he suddenly died in 1502, she was betrothed to Henry. Married: 11 June 1509 - 23 May 1533 Children: Mary I born 18 February 1516 Divorced because she was getting older and Henry feared she wouldn’t be able to give him a son, who he desperately wanted as an heir to the throne, to continue the Tudor name and bloodline. 2. Anne Boleyn Anne was a courtier gracing his court when he first caught feelings for her, however she wasn’t necessarily the first in her family. It is highly suspected that Anne’s mother, Elizabeth Howard, was one of Henry’s many mistresses. Married: 25 January 1533 - 19 May 1536 Children: Elizabeth I born 7 September 1533 Beheaded when charged guilty for treason, as Henry held many charges against her, including adultery, incest and conspiracy against the king. 3. Jane Seymour Jane was Henry’s favourite wife, and they are buried together in St George’s Chapel, Winsor. This is most likely because she was the one of his wives to give him a son, Edward, however she sadly died in childbirth. Married: 30 May 1536 - 24 October 1537 Children: Edward 12 October 1537 It is suspected that had she not passed away giving birth to Edward, she would’ve been Henry’s forever wife. 8
4. Anne of Cleves- Anne arrived in England on 27th December 1539, landing at Deal in Kent, in preparation for her forthcoming marriage to King Henry VIII. Henry was excited about meeting Anne and so he decided to disguise himself and travel to Rochester to surprise her. Married: 6 January 1540 - 9 July 1540 Divorced as she wasn’t as pretty as she was in the painting Henry saw before agreeing to marry her, he claimed she looked like a horse. 5. Catherine Howard Catherine and Henry met through his wife, Anne of Cleves. The young and reportedly beautiful Catherine Howard was maid of honour to Henry's new queen, and they got married just 19 days after the divorce of Anne. Married: 28 July 1540 - 13 February 1542 She was the second of Henry’s wives to be beheaded for treason. After he was given evidence that she had had affairs before their marriage and that she was having an affair with her cousin, Thomas Culpepper, Henry had her imprisoned Fun Fact: 17 British monarchs are buried at Westminster Abbey, the first was King Edward to the 13th century. 6. Catherine Parr She impressed Henry when the country was in religious turmoil, by reading about the Church of England, and saying she believed it was much better than Catholicism. Married: 12 July 1543 - 28 January 1547 Catherine was Henry’s final wife and outlived him. Click here to listen to the Horrible Histories song. By Gemma Jackson 9
Henry VIII: was he the really king he’s often made out to be? Henry VII is arguably one of the most well-known and recognisable monarchs, with the overwhelming majority of people being able to identify him from his silhouette alone. Every school child has heard the story of his six famous wives, along with the famous rhyme “divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded survived”, but was he actually the glorious king he is usually perceived as? On 24th June 1509, Henry Tudor officially became Henry VIII of England when he took his coronation oath, where he made many promises to the people of England to mark the beginning of his reign, however, it is questionable whether he stuck to some of the most important premises of his coronation oath. I will discuss the following three elements of the oath · Uphold the Church · Deliver Equal and Rightful Justice · Uphold laws and Customs and use them to illustrate how Henry didn’t obey the rules of the monarchy, and therefore doesn’t necessarily deserve the honour he often receives. In 1521, Henry was named the “defender of faith” and as a devout Catholic who attended mass five times every day, was protecting his and his country’s religion against Martin Luther and the rise of Protestantism in Europe. However, this was only fleeting, as his desire to divorce Catherine of Aragon transcended his faith and devotion to the church. Henry famously broke from the Catholic church in 1534, when the Pope, as the head of the Catholic Church, didn’t condone the termination of the marriage. Fun Fact: King Edward VII made his dinner guests weigh them- selves before and after the meal to ensure they were eating properly. It is rumoured that this tradition still continues today. 10
The new religion Church of England was formed, and the Act of Supremacy made the English monarch “Supreme Head of the Church”. Henry was now head of his own religion and could dictate all rules to suit him, allowing him to divorce Catherine of Aragon, and marry the youthful Anne Boleyn. Other incentives of doing this included the act that as head of the Church, he owned all church buildings and artifacts, which he could make money from to repay all his debts from fighting with France. It’s evident that in changing the religion of England, he was acting in his own self-interest, and these insular actions highlight how throughout his reign, he failed to uphold the Church. One of the most well-known examples of Henry not delivering equal and rightful justice is beheading two of his six wives, but Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard weren’t the only ones to lose their heads to Henry’s tyranny. Despite the 1534 Act of Supremacy, a large proportion of the English population refused to recognise Henry’s full authority, keeping their loyalty with God and their Catholic church. For example, a large group of Carthusians who refused to sign the Act of Supremacy were locked up in the Tower of London, then dragged to their execution. Thomas Moor was one of Henry’s closest friends and was the only person allowed to call him “Harry”, however, this wasn’t a ‘get out of jail free card’, as he was executed in the Tower of London when he refused to recognise Henry as head of the Church. Pilgrimages play a large role in the Catholic faith, whereas they’re not recognised in the Church of England, which irritated devout Catholics. A group of people unsatisfied with the new irrelevance of pilgrimages in England decided to embark on the ‘Pilgrimage of Grace’ in 1536, in which they wanted to show their loyalty to their king while practicing their religion. Despite their respect for Henry, over 220 of them were executed. To be executed by Henry, you didn’t have to actively disobey his rules. He said that he wanted to execute people with Yorkist blood, as he believed they could be a threat to his reign, and some of the most famous people purged by Henry for this reason were the Duke of Buckingham and Lady Margret Pole at 67 years old. 11
It is estimated that throughout his 37 year long reign, he executed up to 57,000 people, many of whom were either members of the clergy or ordinary citizens and nobles. This substantiates the point that Henry once again, failed his people by not delivering equal and rightful justice. The third and final assertion that I will be discussing how Henry failed to stick to it is ‘to uphold laws and customs’ Only a totalitarian dictator would try to control the way their subjects think... surely? The 1534 Treasons Act was an attempt from Henry to uphold his tyranny, making it treason to write, speak, or even think ill thoughts of the King. As for abandoning the country’s customs, the Dissolution of Monasteries, 1536-1541, was when Henry believed he could maximise the country's wealth by confiscating the Church's assets so stripped Churches back to minimalistic buildings, using the profit made to repay his debts from war with France. Treasures of religion were lost, and books burned. The country’s religious history was almost entirely lost. Many religious buildings were torn down, including the Fountains Abbey in north Yorkshire, which is now said to be haunted by its past monks and nuns. Ultimately, Henry failed to commit to the promises he made to his people when crowned king in 1509 ad due to the way he enormously let down his country, he does not deserve the respect and honour he receives today. There were many more tragedies than just his failed marriages. By Gemma Jackson 12
Queen Victoria: The Empress of India Queen Victoria was declared the Empress of India in 1877 by Benjamin Disraeli, the Conservative Prime Minister at the time. This came after 39 years already on the throne for Queen Victoria and after British power in India being passed onto the crown in 1858. The following occupation of India lasted until India gained independence in 1947 and had many effects not only in India but also across Britain as well. The announcement of Victoria's new title of Empress of India came after the country had already been formally accepted into the British Empire in 1858. The new title was only a formality passed in the Royal Titles act of 1876. The country was included officially in the British empire after the British East India Company (EIC) dissolved. They were a British trading company which controlled many parts of the Indian subcontinent. Their dissolution came after the Indian Rebellion of 1857 which was a country wide mutiny against the harsh treatment of the Indians by British people who ruling at the time. It was only suppressed when the EIC called for reinforcements. After this major event, the British were forced to reorganise their army and administration in India. Queen Victoria then issued a statement to the Indians which promised that they would have the same rights as a British citizen living in the Empire and many Indians later used this statement when being mistreated in the following decades although it never had a legal constitution. 13
The effects on India of this new inclusion into the Empire were seemingly limitless. In 1857, education's importance was increased with new universities being established in Calcutta, Bombay and Madras. Under the Empire, the postal service expanded rapidly with 889 post offices processing 43 million letters and more than 4.5 million newspapers annually by 1861. However, India's traditional Hindu and Islamic law courts were broken under the Empire in favour of British common law which may have caused some unrest with those used to the original systems. The British empire also exploited the natural resources of India such as spices, jewels and textiles which left many people across the country in extreme poverty while those in power lived in luxury. At the beginning of the 18th century, India's share of the world economy was 23 percent but by the time the British were forced out of India in 1947, it had dropped to less than 4 percent. The push by Disraeli to convert the country to Christianity meant that missionaries flocked to the subcontinent which led to almost the entirety of North East India got converted to Christianity. This meant that the unique culture, language and lifestyle of the area faded. Fun Fact: Queen Victoria was the longest serving The effects of British British monarch with her reign lasting 63 years, until rule are still being felt Queen Elizabeth II overtook her in 2015. today by many Indians. The colonisation led to deep-rooted and dangerous ideals that fairer skin is more attractive. This has led to bleaching treatments gaining popularity among women in India who are desperate to get fairer skin. Colonisation has led to the insecurities of thousands of women in India who undertake sometimes dangerous treatments to achieve the ‘perfect’ look. Some even believe that skin colour determines social status which is undoubtedly an ideal left behind by the British rule of the past. In conclusion, British rule had many negative effects on India and ones that are so deep-rooted in society that some are unable to even recognise it which means that it will be even longer until they are able to undo its effects. We need to be bringing more light to this issue and attempt to undo the hazardous effects that Britain left behind. By Anna McDonald 14
Fact file: George VI Albert Fredrick Arthur George was born on the 14th December 1895. He was known as ‘Bertie’. His Father- King George V, was very overbearing and ‘Bertie’ was frightened of him. He was a poorly child and had a stammer. It made people think that he wasn’t very intelligent. He lived in the He was left-handed and was forced to write with his right hand. shadow of his brother, David who was heir to the throne. When he was serving for England, he finally got the respect of his father. In 1909 aged 13 he was sent to Navel College. Then in 1914 he was called to serve in WW1. Bertie was married on April 26th 1923 at Westminster Abbey to Initially, she did not want to marry into the royal family , she refused twice, but Bertie persisted. Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. Bertie was very shy and hated public speaking. In 1925 he had Elizabeth found help and took him to a speech Therapist Lionel Logue who helped him overcome his fear of speaking in public. to give a speech to over 100,000 people and he hated it. In 1926 Princess Elizabeth was born, followed by Princess Margaret in 1930. Bertie was a very different father than his father. He was very loving and caring towards Elizabeth and Margaret. 15
On the 20th January 1936 King George V died and David became King Edward VIII. On the 11th of December 1936 he abdicated from the throne and plunged the royal family into chaos. On the 12th May 1937 Bertie became King George VI. People did not think he would make a good King. The Queen consult Elizabeth had a huge impact on King George VI and was INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE. On the 3rd September 1939 Neville Chamberlain declared war against Germany. Within hours of war he prepared for the biggest speech of his life. At 6 pm he went live to talk to the people who were very frightened. It is believed to be one of the most IMPORTANT speeches ever. In 1940, Chamberlain resigned, and Winston Churchill was appointed the new Prime Minister of England. The Royal Family stayed in England throughout the war- it was a huge risk. It boosted morale and they were seen as a symbol of hope. A 50kg bomb hit the palace but didn’t explode and a few days later another one hit WHICH did explode. The Bombs were so close it was a miracle they survived. On the 8th May 1945 war in Europe ended. The King made a speech and the stammer was a thing of the past. King George VI was seen as a national inspiration and a hero. In 1951 he was diagnosed with lung cancer and had a pioneering operation to remove one of his lungs. He died on 6th February 1952 aged just 56. At his funeral thousands lined the streets to pay respect for their beloved king. 16
In the queen’s speech for the 75th anniversary of VE day last year she paid a touching tribute to her father. She had a photo of him on her desk and talked about how he spoke about never giving up and never despairing. King George VI was a shy man who preferred to stay out of the spotlight but went on to become one of the Greatest Kings in English History Fun Fact: King George VI competed in Wimbledon when he was a Duke in 1926. By Reuben Roberts 17
The Great British Scandal: Prince Andrew TRIGGER WARNING: content some readers may find upsetting Princes throughout history are known to have humility, courage and the utmost graciousness and courtesy to all members of society, particularly women. So why is this not the case with Prince Andrew? The Duke of York spoke last year during a BBC interview about his friendship with the convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. The Duke has vehemently denied any wrongdoing; however, he has stepped back from his royal life and duty. Prince Andrew admitted that it was a "mistake and an error" to meet Jeffrey Epstein in 2010 after it was public knowledge that he was a convicted sex offender. However, he has never said he regretted his relationship with Epstein. When questioned in the BBC interview with Emily Maitlis, the Prince failed to display any sympathy for Epstein's victims and denied all Virginia Giuffre's claims against him. You can watch the BBC interview here TRIGGER WARNING: content some viewers may find upsetting Their friendship allegedly began when Prince Andrew was acquainted with Epstein through Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's girlfriend at the time. The Prince claimed to be much more familiar with Ghislaine than Epstein. Despite the fact that Prince Andrew revealed that he had stayed at numerous properties owned by Epstein, however he only "saw him infrequently and probably no more than once or twice a year." Even after Epstein's arrest, Prince Andrew remained taciturn about the matter. Though, when Buckingham Palace did comment, in August 2019, Prince Andrew claimed that he did not "see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to [Epstein's] arrest and conviction." A day before Epstein's suicide, legal documents were discovered about Epstein's criminal case, one included allegations about Prince Andrew. On August 27th, Virginia Roberts Giuffre held a press conference about her allegations against Prince Andrew saying "he knows exactly what he's done, and I hope he comes clean about it." In an interview with NBC, Giuffre said that Prince Andrew sexually abused her three times. Again, Prince Andrew denied this. 18
A photograph of him and Giuffre was a huge talking point on the BBC interview: The photograph has been said to have been taken in March 2001; yet, Prince Andrew explicitly claims he doesn't remember it being taken, let alone even meeting Giuffre, who was 17 at the time. She says that the photograph was taken in Ghislaine Maxwell's house (Epstein's girlfriend at the time) in Belgravia, Central London after a night out at the Tramp nightclub, Mayfair. She says that she was forced to sleep with Andrew on three occasions, including once when she was just 17. When explaining the photograph, she said: "All of us went upstairs, and I asked Jeffrey to snap a picture of me with the Prince. I wanted something to show my mom.". The Duke insisted that the allegations were false, and on that day, he had taken his daughter to Pizza Express in Woking for a party. When questioned about the photograph, he believes that it had been fabricated, as he claims he was not Just a few days after the "car crash” BBC interview, Prince Andrew announced he was stepping down from all royal and public duties "for the foreseeable future". His full statement reads: It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein have become a major disruption to my family's work and the valuable work going on in the many organisations and charities that I am proud to support. Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty the Queen if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission. I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein. His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure. I can only hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives. Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required. 19
Nevertheless, the scandal Prince Andrew has been dodging for years does not appear to be going away. Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested on multiple criminal charges relating to Epstein's trafficking and sexual abuse on July 2nd, 2020. U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss told reporters: "I'm not going to comment on anyone's status in this investigation. But I would say we would welcome Prince Andrew coming in to talk with us. We would like to have the benefit of his statement." If the Duke were to travel to the U.S. to testify, Epstein's victim's lawyers could and serve him with either a subpoena (an order issued by a court that requires a person to appear in court and testify) or a lawsuit. The royal would most likely not be shielded by sovereign immunity. It appears Prince Andrew is playing a wait- ing game, any testimony Maxwell gives could possibly be incriminating forcing him to testify. Therefore, this leaves the case in the headlines and the Prince in the eye of the continuing media storm. By Hattie Cosgrove 20
William The Conqueror: Taking Control of England From the moment William the Conqueror came to power on the 25th December 1066, after having defeated King Harold in the Battle of Hastings, he was confronted with a need to consolidate his power and position within Britain as King. His battle was not yet won, he’d go on to be met with almost two decades of resistance and rebellion from dissatisfied English opposing his reign. However, William was insistent on the continuation of his authoritative tactics and over the coming years he’d implement revolutionary devices into Britain like the Feudal System and the Domesday Book to subdue England. The way in which he did this was undeniably brutal, the riots which ensued from his win would be met with unhesitant violence. The most notable of these riots being in the north of England in 1069 which sparked William’s destructive campaigns, known as The Harrying of the North. After William had defeated the rioters, he still lacked trust in the English people so in the north-east of England he commanded villages to be destroyed, people to be killed, herds of animals and crops were burnt and the majority of people who survived starved to death. Even in the context of that time, this act was seen as excessively cruel and unnecessary, but it did allow for William to take control of the north and minimise the risk of future rebellions and he now was really able to set about methodically implementing his systems. William realised he himself couldn’t govern over the entirety of Britain so instead introduced Feudalism to England, a system already well established in Europe. This meant there was a hierarchy, at the top was the king and in return for loyalty and taxes he’d give land to the nobles, who would loan their land to the knights, who would lastly loan their property to the peasants who would work the lands. This allowed William to monitor Britain and eventually, the Normans had almost completely transformed the entire Anglo-Saxon aristocracy. As land was now being increasingly distributed, a new problem arose for William, tracking ownership of this land which led him to demand a survey be taken. 21
This survey led to the creation of the Domesday Book, created in 1086, which contained complete records of property ownership across Britain, in 13,418 settlements, so that William could assess the value of his country and find out how much in taxes he was owed, along with the written documentation to avoid disputes over this. Although William died before he could truly see the benefits of the book, William II had access to extensive knowledge of Britain, including owed taxes and noblemen with wealth that would potentially pose a threat to the throne. William had created a critical device in maintaining control over Britain. Along with this attempt to dominate, William built a multitude of castles and reorganised the churches in Britain. William had his nobles build castles to defend themselves against the Saxons, more than 100 motte and bailey castles were built, and it’s said some were made in just 8 days, although exact numbers are unclear. These castles allowed lords to patrol over their local areas as well as acting as a physical sign of William’s constant dominance throughout Britain. William also showed his power through the reorganisation of the church, a very highly respected source of wisdom at the time, as he brought men from France to be bishops and abbots in order to replace any religious leaders who opposed him, he wanted to ensure he could trust his religious advisors. He also built great cathedrals and monasteries. So overall, although William the Conqueror could not speak English and was believed to be illiterate, he and the Normans undeniably transformed Britain: advancing building, enhancing administration, bringing success as warriors whilst overall establishing Britain more than ever before as a collective, coherent nation instead of various independent shires and under a united system of ruling that would remain prominent in Britain for many years to come. By Amy French 22
Royal Dogs: The Queen’s Corgis Did you know that the Queen has had at least 30 Corgis in her lifetime. It is thought her love for corgis stems from her childhood. When Elizabeth II and her sister Margaret were children they were each given their own dog that they were taught to look after and had the responsibility of grooming and feeding them. However, her love for Corgis came about from her beloved Susan, who was a Corgi gifted to her on her 18th birthday. Elizabeth and Susan were extremely close and she even took Susan on her honeymoon back in 1947. They were inseparable and she was so devoted to her that she bred her in order to have her still with her when she sadly passed in 1959. To this day all 10 generations of Corgis the Queen has owned can be traced back to Susan! The Queen has always had multiple Corgis after she found her love for them through Susan. But British tabloids reported in 2015 that the Queen had stopped breeding her Corgis as she was afraid they’d outlive her and she didn’t want to leave any Corgi behind. Therefore, she hasn’t owned a Corgi since her last, Willow, died in 2018. By Ellie Colquhoun-Lynn 23
Meghan Markle and The British media It is undeniable that Meghan Markle has had a tumultuous relationship with British media. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, the Duchess and Duke of Sussex, left the British public stunned when they announced on January 8th 2020 that they were departing their position as senior members of the royal family. Arguably, one of the most significant changes they made was stating that they would no longer participate in the traditional royal press system that grants exclusive access to a select group of UK outlets, such as, the Daily Express, the Daily Mail, The Telegraph, the Times and The Sun, including many more. Their decision to remove themselves from “royal rota” coverage came after years of ‘tone-deaf’ press coverage and editing decisions that they feel have been biased, filled with favouritism, and callously aimed to turn public opinion against Meghan in particular. Perhaps some of the most shocking and unfair press involving the Duchess of Sussex are the stories from these outlets that show a blatant double-standard between press coverage of Meghan and her sister-in-law Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. For example: Meghan Markle, a biracial woman, being disproportionately criticised for the very things that affluent, white Kate Middleton was praised and admired for shows the British media’s out-right prejudice, which is upsetting yet not surprising. 24
In 2016, Prince Harry put out a statement condemning “the outright sexism and racism of social media” and “the racial undertones of comment pieces” that Markle had already been subjected to. For example, the press has talked about her “exotic DNA”; describing her as “(almost) straight outta Compton”. However, commentators across the country seem to have conveniently missed all of this whilst claiming the coverage of Meghan has been welcoming and amiable, but when they are confronted with the evidence which proves this false, they shamelessly ask: Is it really racism though? Some, like Piers Morgan, have fervently argued it is not racist to talk about the Duchess’s DNA as “exotic”, although this Piers Morgan is exactly the kind of blinding ignorance from the press that allows racism to operate in the UK, undermining the notion that our country is “tolerant” and “progressive”. It is clear that a deciding factor in the couple’s exit from this poisonous limelight is due to the perceived racism that Meghan was unfortunately subject to leading us to question the apparent anti-racist country we live in. By Emilia McMonagle 25
The overlooked triumphs of Queen consorts Queen consorts (the term for wives of the reigning king) are often regarded as merely there to birth heirs and be the King’s devoted wife. However historically, many queen consorts have taken on responsibility and achieved feats within their own right. I will be highlighting just 3 of the many women who deserve more recognition for what they accomplished in a patriarchal society in which women were not seen as capable of leadership. Eleanor of Aquitaine- Eleanor of Aquitaine was perhaps the most powerful woman in 12th-century Europe. She ruled as regent of England from 1154-63 whilst her husband Henry II was away in battle securing his French lands. When her son, Richard the Lionheart, was away crusading she became regent of England once more. A regent meant that Eleanor was simply appointed to temporarily rule until the ‘real’ monarchs returned. However, Eleanor went above what was expected of her and showed her capability as a leader when she settled disputes between religious figures and became a dominant figure at the great council meetings. Eleanor’s biggest achievement as regent was her reaction to the threat of John- her youngest son attempting to take the throne of Richard. Not only did Eleanor, now of 70 years old, stop him securing a French alliance with King Phillip, but she made battle preparations by fortifying the beaches in case of a French invasion. Although Eleanor never obtained the luxury of ruling alone as Elizabeth I and Victoria did, she essentially was a Queen in her own right regardless of her actual title. Elizabeth of York-Elizabeth of York, through her sacrifice, managed to successfully end the civil war between the Houses of Lancaster and York that had divided England for 30 years in the 15th Century. She managed to unite both warring families when she married the Lancastrian Henry Tudor and set aside any future she may have been expecting to become the first Tudor Queen. It was solely down to Elizabeth that normality could be restored to England as she became the mother of the new Tudor dynasty. Her devotion to her family far exceeded the expectations of a Queen consort when she taught a young Henry VIII personally. Furthermore, being charitable was a part of a queen consort’s job but she made it her passion to help the very needy. It’s said no one left the queen’s audience without some financial compensation- despite her being in debt due to her husband controlling her finances very closely. 26
Philippa of Hainault - Philippa of Hainault was a capable regent when her husband was away warring in 1346. She was not just Edward III’s spouse; she was an advisor and a trusted co-ruler. Unconventionally for a Queen consort, she accompanied Edward on his expeditions to Scotland and the European continent in his early campaigns of the Hundred Years War. When King David II of Scotland (aided by the French) attempted to invade England in Edward’s absence, the queen summoned the troops and personally rallied the English soldiers before the battle of Neville’s Cross, which led to an English victory. She was also known for her kindness and restraint, frequently pleading for the lives of those who had been sentenced to die. Her most famous example of her kindness is when she convinced her husband to spare the lives of the Burghers of Calais in 1347. Despite being pregnant, she begged on her knees for him to spare the men. Without Philippa’s constant input on Edward’s snap judgments, he would have probably been remembered more for brutality than kingship. Furthermore, an example of the queen's intelligence is that The Queen’s College in the University of Oxford was founded by one of her chaplains in honour of Phillipa due to her dedication to education. By Jess Salmon Fun Fact: Only 31 countries have some sort of monarchy today. 27
James II Background- James II was born on 14 October 1633 and died 16 September 1701. His parents were King Charles I of England and Henrietta Maria of France. He was the last Catholic King and the last Stuart King in the direct line. He inherited the throne in 1685 from his elder brother Charles II. James II had two daughters with his first wife Anne Hyde, Mary II (who was married to William of Orange) and Anne who both went on to be Queen. He then had a son, James Edward, with his second wife Mary of Moderna. Reign- On April 23, 1685, James was crowned at Westminster Abbey and took the name of James II as King of England and Ireland, and of James VII as King of Scotland. In May, the new Parliament proved favourable to the sovereign and assigned the same income as his predecessor. The Kings most trusted advisor was the Count of Sunderland. He soon faced a rebellion known as the Monmouth rebellion, it was led by James Scott, Duke of Monmouth, the illegitimate son of Charles II, and Archibald Campbell, the Count of Argyll. The attack was divided; Argyll acted in Scotland and Monmouth acted in London. Argyll and Monmouth were both defeated by James II and both of them were sentenced to death. The Glorious Revolution 1688 James II converted to Roman Catholicism before inheriting the throne and his placement of Catholic allies in high positions in the court and army coupled with the birth of his catholic son, alarmed the Anglican establishment. They decided to invite the Protestant William of Orange and his wife, James' daughter Mary II, to invade and depose him. They were successful in removing him from the throne and the revolution resulted in Parliament being permanently established as the ruling power of England. By Bella Charlton 28
The Commonwealth - A Relic of Imperialism or A Harmonious Family of Nations? The final lines of Percy Shelley’s great sonnet “My name is Ozymandias, ‘Ozymandias’ teach us that civilisation is a fragile King of Kings; and brittle thing and, though however strong and omnipotent it may seem, it can easily fall and sink Look on my Works, ye into the endless barrens of time, leaving only its Mighty, and despair! desolated edifices behind. Nothing beside remains. Round the decay The British Empire was the largest empire this Of that colossal Wreck, world has ever seen. It far surpassed the great boundless and bare Roman Empire and fierce Mongol Empire; it was a towering entity which oversaw some great victories, The lone and level sands but at the terrible cost of millions of lives. But now, stretch far away.” much like our dear friend Ozymandias, it seems a relic of past times and is scarcely talked about. We can say with some certainty that it took its last dying breath some decades ago and is now resting peacefully in the pages of history. However, some may argue that it still lives on in some pseudo-imperialist form, this form being the Commonwealth. One might argue that the Commonwealth is, metaphorically, the statue of Ozymandias and serves only as a crumbling relic of the past. Whilst others may disagree stating that the Commonwealth is a unifying community of nations working together for ‘prosperity, democracy and peace’. It is certainly a complicated and multifaceted issue, and if we wish to understand it, we must The Commonwealth began in 1887 when all the leaders of the dominions of the British Empire (dominion meaning a semi-independent country but still largely controlled by Britain) met and held their first meeting. Four decades later at their meeting in 1926 they agreed that they were all equal members of a community within the British Empire. They all owed allegiance to the British king or queen, but the United Kingdom did not rule over them. This community was called the British Commonwealth of Nations. Following a couple of developments, most notably the creation of the Republic of India in 1950, they dropped the ‘British’ and the ‘Commonwealth’ was born. Only a couple years into this new birth it seemed in danger of becoming irrelevant, with the 1956 Suez Canal Crisis and Britain having significantly more involvement with Europe, the commonwealth was starved on attention. In addition to this one of the key parts and attractions of the Commonwealth was the freedom members had to immigrate between countries, this was soon heavily restricted, and many were quickly realizing that they had been, as the director for the Institute of Commonwealth Studies Professor Phillip Murphy writes, “robbed of the tangible benefits that Commonwealth membership had previously been associated with it’’. This, though, was soon saved by a heroic and inspiring crusade in the 1970’s to help put a stop to the vicious South African Apartheid Movement, which re-established the Commonwealth as this charismatic and progressive political force. 29
However, one could argue that the Commonwealth is the statue of Ozymandias and but a derelict artefact of past times. The Commonwealth was founded by ‘dominions’ of the empire, the head of the Commonwealth is Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain, and historically it was an outgrowth of the British Empire. There are perfect grounds to argue that the Commonwealth is but a pseudo-empire, masking itself in the façade of being a ‘community’. But in reality and on closer inspection, although it had its roots in colonialism it has far transcended them, I believe it is a wonderful force for good in the world and it represents a family of nations striving for ‘prosperity, democracy and peace’. I’m sure that the Empire’s Ozymandias is still standing half sunken in the barrens of some desolate waste land, and I can say with some certainty that it is not the Commonwealth. By Jay Palombella 30
Queen Elizabeth II: Is She Truly The “Ultimate Feminist” ? Not only is Queen Elizabeth II the most powerful woman in Britain, but she is also one of the most inspiring women in the world. Her reign has outlasted all other British monarchs, as well as most other world leaders. On September 9th, 2015, Queen Elizabeth surpassed Victoria’s record reign of 63 years and 216 days. She is often described as a ‘feminist icon’ by many. In order to consider her as such, we must first consider what it means to be a feminist. A feminist is a person who supports the social, economic, and political equality of sexes. The question is: can she be considered a feminist purely based on the title she holds? Or is it her actions and beliefs that define her as such? Now, if we are to judge her role as a feminist based on her political position, then we should consider the fact that the crown also makes her a symbol of inequality. The British monarchy, historically, is responsible for countless acts of oppression. It is more important to give weight to the actions and beliefs of Queen Elizabeth, rather than her title. When Princess Elizabeth, as she was at the time, turned 18 in 1944, she insisted upon joining the Army, where she trained as a truck driver and mechanic. It is important to note that she remains the only female member of the royal family to have served in the Army. Politically, her actions as monarch have been described as ‘sneakily feminist’. Though this could be an indication of a lack of action, it could also be seen as highlighting the difficulties she may have faced when trying to make progress. In 2011, the Queen oversaw a major change to succession laws as agreed by the leaders of the 16 Commonwealth countries that meant sons and daughters of any future British monarch would have equal rights to the throne. 31
At the time, Prince William had recently married Catherine. This change would have meant that their firstborn child would still be third in the line of succession to the British throne, regardless of gender. In terms of social impact, Queen Elizabeth II has had an astounding impact on female empowerment: the queen has landed in the top five Most Admired Women more than 50 times since Gallup started their annual survey in 1948. Most notably, when King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia visited her in Balmoral, the Queen insisted on giving him a tour in her Land Rover. Up until 2018, it was illegal for women to drive in Saudi Arabia, making this interaction quite the power move. All things considered, I would argue that, although Queen Elizabeth II most definitely has the key attributes of a feminist, she may not be deserving of the title “the ultimate feminist”. Undoubtedly, she is a symbol of female power, proving that a woman can effectively rule at a time when it was practically unheard of. However, I would hesitate to call her much more than a figurehead. In my opinion, the “ultimate feminist” would be someone who actively advocates for equal rights. Considering her political position, the Queen has had the power to make great progress for 68 crucial years, yet she seems to have achieved so little. By Sacha Jones Fun Fact: Buckingham Palace was built in 1703 as Buckingham House, it was bought by George III for Queen Charlotte. 32
Edward and Mrs Simpson: The Scandals Edward VIII, Prince of Wales and eldest son of George V & Queen Mary, was the first monarch in British history to voluntarily abdicate from the throne. The reason? Love. Wallis Simpson, an American Socialite, is responsible for one of the biggest scandals in the British royal family. But this scandal erupted a whole new speculation. In 1936, after the death of his father, Edward VIII became the King of England. 5 years before he was King, Edward had fallen in love with an American woman who was formerly divorced and currently married. During the 5 years leading up to the moment he would be named king, their relationship grew, and she became the woman he wanted to marry. A previously divorced American woman in the royal family would’ve put their image, and the image of the UK, in ruins. Therefore, Edward, desperate to follow his heart, was blocked by the demands of the sovereignty and therefore could not pursue his interest in Mrs. Simpson anymore. Or, could he? Edward and Wallis had the intent on getting married, but like all royal marriages, the King or Queen had to approve. With this duty now in his hands, Edward had to choose between his family or his love. Edward was a King that had great respect from the public. His affair with Mrs. Simpson was reported in American and continental European newspapers, but due to a gentlemen’s agreement between the British press and the government, the affair was kept out of British newspapers. Not only did his decision have impact on his life and the royal family, but it also impacted the image of Britain. On October 27th, 1936, Mrs. Simpson obtained a preliminary decree of divorce, presumably with the intent of marrying the king, which provoked a major scandal. Debates amongst MPs and official representative of the Church of England became increasingly intense as it became more and more likely that Edward would marry Mrs Simpson. The country was in a state of disagreement. Should he be given the freedom to do what he wants? Or should he respect the policies of the crown? After numerous attempts of persuasion from British Politicians, Edward still had the intention to marry Mrs. Simpson. Edward suggested that their marriage could be morganatic, meaning she wouldn’t be given any titles or property. On December 2nd, Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin disapproved this and stated that it would be impractical. With his desire to be married stronger than his need to be King, Edward announced his abdication via a radio broadcast on December 10th. The throne was therefore passed on to his brother, George VI. 33
Listen to his abdication speech here https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/december/ edward-viii-abdication-speech The Aftermath of the Abdication Edwards title of “Prince of Wales” was removed and he was instead given the title, “Duke of Windsor”. And on June 3rd, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor were married in Mont’s, France, by a Church of England clergyman, with zero royal family members present. The absence of the royals made it clear to the public that they had been declared outcasts. The life of the Duke of Windsor was targeted by all major tabloids, his abdication threw him into the limelight. But not only did the British do this, some Germans did too. The abdication scandal occurred during the growing speculation that World War II was inevitable. The Duke and Duchess were heavily criticised by the papers after their marriage due to a tour of continental Europe. Edward and Wallis made some acquaintances that did hold the same British values a member of the Royal family was expected to rely on, the Nazis. The British Royal Family are descended from Germany, it was during WWI when they changed their name from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to “Windsor”. Unlike the rest of the royals, Edward had a strong relationship with his cousins from the East, therefore he strongly embraced the German culture. When Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party began its rise to power in the late 1920s and early 1930s, many in Europe, Edward included, applauded the economic recovery of war-torn Germany. Edward, and many hierarchal powers in the government, were becoming more open to the idea of fascism. Edward himself once told his German cousin, “Dictators are very popular these days. We might want one in England before long.” Edwards support for British fascists, such as MP Sir Oswald Mosely, and the new German sentiment, made him a target for the British intelligence organisation, MI5. Their phones were tapped, and members of their Scotland Yard security team were tapped to provide information about the king they were once charged with protecting. Edward had been seen with members of the Nazi party, including Joseph Goebbels and Hermann Göring, on numerous occasions. He even visited Hitler himself in the Bavarian Alps, however the transcript of their conversation was lost. Edwards relationship with them was so prominent, they involved him in the scandal, that did not occur, of overthrowing the British throne. 34
Edwards relationship with the far-right German group may have proven to the royal family, and the public who once held great admiration for him, that his abdication was the best thing for the country. Did this relationship bloom because he was shunned out of the family? His memoirs describe Hitler as a “somewhat ridiculous figure” but others have claimed he has referred to Hitler as “not such a bad chap”. What were Edwards true beliefs on Hitler? Edward was involved in some of the biggest scandals of the Royals. It makes you wonder, what would life be like today if Edward didn’t abdicate for the woman he loved? That is something we will never know. Charlotte Wood Fun Fact: There have been 61 monarchs of England, but only 12 of the UK since it formed in 1707. 35
Diana : The People’s Princess Princess Diana was by no doubt one of the most popular members of the royal family , being dubbed the ‘People’s Princess’ by the nation for her efforts into humanitarian work , showing her support for the homeless, disabled and AIDS patients; being part of 100 different organizations to provide relief for many. One of the main contributions to being loved by the public was how despite being a Princess in one of the most prestigious families in the world , she remained like a ‘normal’ person, openly expressing her opinions and talking about her own mental health struggles, including bulimia, where normally this would be considered quite a taboo topic. This openness about mental illness caused the press to name it the ‘Diana Effect’ –so the shift in public awareness about these topics by Diana meant that women found it easier to identify with Diana, if a Princess in the royal family could be bulimic then so could they, likewise if Diana overcame her eating disorder, so could they. This created a positive domino effect in society as it seemed to destigmatize the previously frowned upon mental conditions. So if Diana had such a positive input on people, why was it that she was treated as an outcast in her own family? In the years leading up to her fatal car crash in Paris, 1997 , Diana was becoming increasingly distant and disapproving by the royal family with almost every newspaper headline being centred on her, the press seemed to take note of her every move with Diana describing herself as a ‘good product that sits on a shelf , you sell well , and people make a lot of money out of you’ , on multiple occasions she expressed how exhausted she was becoming. 36
Diana was likely disliked for her consistent disregard of royal protocol , her most famous rebel being the outfit she wore in the light of Prince Charles’ infidelity which massively broke royal dress code. This defiance drove her closer to the public eye but further from her own family and husband. Queen Elizabeth never openly criticized Diana , yet made it quite clear that she was very disapproving of her ‘unprofessional’ behaviour, surprisingly the Queen being the one who ordered for a formal divorce between Charles and Diana rather than continuing their married separation which shocked many as divorces in the royal family aren’t a typically approved thing. Ultimately , the life and death of Diana will probably always remain somewhat of a mystery , from what made Charles cheat on her to what really happened at her death. Yes , it was a fatal car accident but many conspiracies point to it being more than just an accident, it’s likely that we’ll never know. For now , we have the legacy of Diana’s time as Princess through her children , Prince Harry and William who are constantly making efforts to support the same causes that their mother did, from Mental Health to global issues ; starvation , outbreaks and water shortages in suffering countries etc… By Poppy Harris 37
King Charles I Date of birth: King Charles I was born on November 19 1600. Religion: Protestant Parents: James VI Of Scotland and Anne Of Denmark Year he got the throne: 1625 Charles I was married to a Catholic which made his subjects suspicious and Puritans worried that his wife may influence his decisions to do with religion. Between 1625 and 1629, Charles dissolved Parliament three times. King Charles believed he had a ‘God given right’ to rule – he was an absolutist monarch. Charles was becoming increasingly unpopular. King Charles I attempted to force a new prayer book on Scotland but they refused so Charles recalled Parliament for money to fight them. In November 1641, tensions were raised further with disagreements over who should command an army to suppress an uprising in Ireland. Charles then marched into Parliament with troops and attempted to arrest five MPs who criticised him. But Parliament had helped them to flee. In August 1642, Charles I raised the royal standard at Nottingham and the English Civil War began. The Royalists (Charles) lost to the Parliamentarians due to Parliament’s improved New Model Army. The king’s army lost and he fled to the Isle of Wight in 1647. After the ‘Second Civil War,’ which Parliament won again, Charles was put on trial for treason. He was found guilty and executed on 30 January 1649 outside the Banqueting House on Whitehall, London. By Jake Sands 38
You can also read