Turbulence
The Silver Jubilee came in 1977, celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s 25 years on the throne. The jubilee was significantly more successful than anyone had forecast. There were economic decline, elevated levels of inflation, industrial discontent, and general national uncertainty, but the Silver Jubilee united the nations to celebrate together as street parties were held across the nation.
It was not long before there were more reasons for celebration as the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer would get married. There was a sense of relief that the heir to the throne finally found himself a beautiful young bride – but in the years to come, the marriage would crumble in an unceremonious fashion.
Throughout these years, Queen Elizabeth II remained a dedicated figure and continued with her public duties. In 1986, the Queen paid a six-day state visit to China, becoming the first British monarch to visit the country, and following the events of the Gulf War, she visited the United States and became the first British monarch to address a joint meeting of the United States Congress.
From 1992 onwards, however, came a very turbulent time for the Queen as she and the rest of the Royal Family were affected by scandal and increasingly unsympathetic Press coverage.
Divorce came for Queen Elizabeth II’s second son, the Duke of York, and his wife, Sarah, and it was the same story for Princess Anne and her marriage to Mark Phillips. Rumours of unhappiness between the Prince and Princess of Wales were also spread, and after a spectacularly undignified falling-out marked by massive media coverage, they also went their separate ways.
It did not get any better for Queen Elizabeth II after a large fire broke out at her favourite residence, Windsor Castle, in November 1992. This led to heavy scrutiny from the public over who should pay for the repairs. She went on to define 1992 as her “annus horribilis” and, in a speech in the City of London, looked to acknowledge the need for a more direct monarchy in return for media to reduce their hostility.
“No institution, city, monarchy, whatever, should expect to be free from the scrutiny of those who give it their loyalty and support, not to mention those who don’t. But we are all part of the same fabric of our national society and that scrutiny can be just as effective if it is made with a measure of gentleness, good humour, and understanding.”
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Buckingham Palace was on the defensive and within days announced that Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles would be paying income tax on their private incomes in the future. But the biggest event to shake the monarchy was yet to come.
The death of Diana Princess of Wales in a car crash accident in Paris in August 1997 truly rocked the monarchy and the nation. This led to a tide of accusations against the Royal Family, especially the Queen. Many questions were asked by the public and the media if Queen Elizabeth II cared, as for days after the death the Queen did not leave Balmoral. Additionally, there was a refusal to fly a flag on the roof of Buckingham Palace at half-mast because Queen Elizabeth was not in residence.
Queen Elizabeth II eventually paid tribute with a rare live broadcast to the nation.
“It is not easy to express a sense of loss, since the initial shock is often succeeded by a mixture of other feelings: disbelief, incomprehension, anger, and concern for those who remain,” she said. “We have all felt those emotions in these last few days. So, what I say to you now, as your queen and as a grandmother, I say from my heart.”
