Monday, November 17, 2014

Talk about nonsense ...

This article in the Australian magazine, Woman's Day, ranks as one of the worst pieces of "journalism,"  in some time.

http://www.womansday.com.au/celebrity/royals/2014/11/monarchy-bombshell-duchess-catherine-to-be-queen!/


According to this piece of merde,  the royals are going to crown the Duchess of Cambridge as Queen "sooner or later."

This is based on the reports of threats against the Queen on Remembrance Day.  Queen Elizabeth came to this "momentous decision" to crown her grandson, William, and his wife as the next King and Queen.

A well-placed palace source has apparently told Woman's Day that the Queen will tell the world about her plans when she gives her Christmas speech.

According to these sources (drunk corgis), the Queen will step down.  She apparently had "lengthy meetings" with Charles, who has agreed that William and Catherine's "youth and enthusiasm" is what the British monarchy needs.  

The comments come from someone named Bill Coles, who is described as a "respected royal journalist."   As someone who has been writing about British and European royalty,  I have never heard of Bill Coles.

A few facts here:

The Queen doesn't do the crowning.  Nor does she get to decide who succeeds her.    Succession to the British throne is defined by legislation, which is called the Act of Settlement (1701). 

From then then Princess Elizabeth's 21st birthday speech:  

"To accomplish that we must give nothing less than the whole of ourselves. There is a motto which has been borne by many of my ancestors - a noble motto, "I serve". Those words were an inspiration to many bygone heirs to the Throne when they made their knightly dedication as they came to manhood. I cannot do quite as they did.
But through the inventions of science I can do what was not possible for any of them. I can make my solemn act of dedication with a whole Empire listening. I should like to make that dedication now. It is very simple.

I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.

But I shall not have strength to carry out this resolution alone unless you join in it with me, as I now invite you to do: I know that your support will be unfailingly given. God help me to make good my vow, and God bless all of you who are willing to share in it."

William and Catherine do not carry out a full schedule of royal engagements.  The Queen has not asked them to step up the schedule.  When she feels she needs more support, she will ask the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to take on more duties.  

The couple are not invited to state dinners.  In time, they will be included in more state functions.  They are not shirking duties. William is second in line to the throne, not the heir.  He does not have a constitutional role.

Queen Elizabeth II is unlikely to announce an abdication during her Christmas speech.  Can you imagine the reaction of millions &  millions of people watching around the world, many of whom are wearing their paper crowns from their Christmas crackers if she made such a statement:  On Christmas Day?  Really, Woman's Day, really? 

Obviously, the low-level, poorly educated people who work for this "magazine" know little about their monarchy or their Royal family.  Shame on them for publishing such tripe. 

The Queen cannot abdicate without an act of Parliament.   Edward VIII was able to abdicate only after Parliament passed an act of abdication, which he signed.

May I recommend to the editors of Woman's Day that they read Vernon Bognador's Monarchy and the Constitution, and then purchase a copy for Bill Coles, too.

So what will the editors do on Christmas Day, when they watch the Queen's speech. and she talks about peace and love and Christmas, and not about handing the throne to William.

Will they offer a public retraction of their misinformation.  Will they offer an apology to their readers?  They probably won't  because they do not have the cojones to be professional.

If this were a master class in drivel, I would give them an A+.  As for journalism, they are deep in the gutter. 

If you live in Australia or New Zealand (and there must be a few other places), do not buy this magazine.  Do not give any satisfaction to them but filling their coffers.   This article is the written form of three pieces of silver.

5 comments:

Barbara said...

This magazine is becoming a laughing stock. This is not the first such rubbishy story they have published. Thank goodness most Australians are too intelligent to fall for such nonsense.

Anonymous said...

I googled Bill Coles and he really seems to be a real person! :D

"I was The Sun’s New York Correspondent during the Bill Clinton scandal with Monica Lewinsky, and I’ve also spent some years covering the Royals. "

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-coles/

Not that it makes this rubbish story any more beliavable but it would be really interesting to know if he really has said anything to Woman's Day. The article is going to earn him some more respect in the near future. ;)

phoebes in santa fe said...

Actually, the American "newspaper" The Globe, has been saying the Queen is going to abdicate any day now, and she will be "passing" the crown along to William and Kate. There's an article every week - I am ashamed to say I read it every week - about the Queen and her passing the crown. Of course, last week they had an article that she is suspected of having Alzheimers.

Their big cause-de-celebre is the marriage of Charles and Camilla, who they say is a raving drunk who is constantly putting down poor Kate to the Queen in hopes the Queen will not "pass the throne from Charles to William".

I'd love to write to whoever is writing this crap and point out that the Queen is NOT going to abdicate, and even if she did, she could NOT "give" the crown to anybody but Charles. But there are never "author" names on these articles.

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

whenever the Globe has a stupid royal headline, I take a photo and tweet it ... one of these days, they are going to get a letter from me .. with enough facts to stuff a turkey.

phoebes in santa fe said...

I can't wait to read your letter. I can't find the names who to send my letter to. I suppose no one keeps track of the garbage they're writing so when the Queen does die and the crown goes to Charles as it should, no one will call them on it.