On September 8, 2022, the world witnessed one of the most transformational moments of the last century: the death of Queen Elizabeth II of England.
It’s not a secret that the Queen is controversial. Her reign saw the fading of the British Empire, the fall of its colonial regimes, and the liberation of oppressed peoples around the world. Many people feel the monarchy bears at least some responsibility for colonial abuses and have expressed disapproval for the Queen in the wake of her death.
However, the Queen should be respected for representing an island of stability in a fractured world. Even despite the diminished political power of the modern monarchy, the Queen’s positive influence on cultural unity within Britain shouldn’t be ignored. For the British people, she has been a constant in an ever-changing landscape. In a world where political, cultural, and socioeconomic division is rampant, there is immense value in celebrating a single unifying national figure. While criticisms of the monarchy are not unwarranted, it’s important that we both acknowledge the more problematic aspects of the Queen’s reign and celebrate and mourn the life of such an inspirational ruler.
Although some object to the monarchy as a waste of taxpayer money, there’s no doubt that it’s a profitable investment for the British public. In fact, Brand Finance estimates that the monarchy produced a gross uplift of £1.766 billion to the UK economy in 2017, compared with £292 million incurred in expenses. The monarchy is the tourist draw of the country, and even the least relevant members of the royal family are recognized all around the world. Their charity work also contributes positively to many people’s lives. According to the Charities Aid Foundation, Elizabeth raised almost 2 billion dollars for over 600 nonprofits over her period of reign.
No other British political figure in the last century has ever come close to matching Elizabeth’s positive approval rating and significance as a symbol of national unity. Her heir, Charles III, in contrast has been dogged by scandals and has only recovered modestly from his negative image in the aftermath of his divorce from and death of Diana, Princess of Wales. His heirs, William and Harry, are equally problematic. Although a 2021 Newsweek poll indicates that a majority of Britons favor Prince William over Charles as the next monarch, his relationship with his brother Harry, who has broken with and publicly criticized the monarchy, has been fraught. His wife, actress Meghan Markle, has accused the royal family of harassment and discrimination. Through it all, the Queen remained largely removed from scandal, however, and stood as a beacon of stability and encouragement for the British people.
Without her, it’s up to the British people to determine how to regard the monarchy going forward – and if they do, at all.
