Home
Many politicians regarded the whole thing as an underhand fix. Enoch Powell thought there had been a serious violation of the constitution, and from the Opposition benches the democratically-elected Labour leader Harold Wilson condemned the method of choosing Home as ‘an aristocratic cabal’.
Many suspected that the Queen had leapt at the choice of Home because, like her, he was old landowning aristocracy and shared many of her perceptions and interests. In the event, his term of office was short and the Queen, being pregnant with Prince Edward, had her mind on other concerns.
Harold Wilson’s narrow 1964 election victory brought a Labour government back to power after a 13-year gap. The new Prime Minister, from Huddersfield working-class roots, could hardly have been a greater contrast to his aristocratic predecessor, and he immediately surprised the Queen by arriving at the Palace accompanied by his wife, children and father.
Wilson
Hereditary monarchs like to be seen enjoying a good relationship with Socialist politicians. In the case of Wilson, the rapport with his monarch was deep and genuine. A traditionalist at heart, Wilson admired what the Queen stood for, and on a personal level he enjoyed the company of strong, intelligent women. He was not in the least overwhelmed by the trappings of Court; he treated the Queen as an equal, neither patronising her nor being awed by her. He was open with her and kept her fully informed of his intentions, for which she grew to admire and respect him.
When Wilson resigned in mid-term in 1976 on reaching 60, he took care to smooth the path of his successor. He first resigned as Party Leader, allowing Labour to elect James Callaghan to the post. Only then did he resign as Prime Minister, allowing Callaghan to step forward as the undisputed sole candidate and avoiding any embarrassment for the Palace. Like Wilson, the avuncular Callaghan enjoyed relaxed and friendly relations with his sovereign.
Heath
There had, of course, been a four-year interregnum of Conservative government under Edward Heath. By that time the Tories had finally established a proper internal process for choosing a leader, and Heath was the undisputed candidate for Prime Minister after his party’s general election victory. But the Queen was never comfortable with him; he had an abrupt manner and no small talk, and he did not share Wilson’s admiration for the throne and its occupant.
Being the man charged with taking Britain into the European Union, Heath also had little time for the Commonwealth, one of the Queen’s enduring passions. But he did do her one favour, agreeing to a major review of the Civil List and a significant increase in taxpayers’ support for the monarchy.
