As Shakespeare said, some are born great, others attain greatness, and others have greatness upon them.
Prince Philip was, in a sense, all three, a man born into the Greek royal family, yet denying his birthright; someone who had to work hard to portray his status in life; and a man who has finally, over the course of seven decades on the side of the Queen, earned a unique place in history as the long-serving of any king.
The Duke of Edinburgh was not a man who demanded recognition by law; he went out there and earned it damn well. He understood that titles alone do not make a man a true prince. Yes, he was perhaps in his splendor the despondent, debonair Duke with a thirst for excitement and a modernizing mission; but there was always substance behind the gloss, a true determination to see things through and prove its worth.
At Saturday’s funeral, the Duchess of Cambridge even surpassed her own high standards. It was not only her attitude and style, it was also the way she was a beacon of light in the darkest hours
When she arrives in Windsor, she is caught and looks directly into the camera, her gaze steady and serious, her attitude gloomy and yet impeccably stylish. Calm, confident and self-composed, she behaved, as always, with impeccable grace
Yet he always seemed to carry his accomplishments so lightly. Saturday’s funeral, so touching in its simplicity, illustrated this sentiment.
It was designed in detail by the Duke, and managed to convey the entire moment of a major state event without being flashy or self-sufficient. It was as much a celebration of the man as a tribute to the institution – and the woman – that he served.
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In death, just as in life, the duke acknowledges his commitment to duty while remaining true to his own identity.
Such strength of character and clarity is increasingly rare at this time, which is one of the many reasons why he will be missed so much.
But the British royal family is happy. Despite decades of marital dispute, misjudgment and general unhappiness, there is someone within their ranks who seems ready to tackle his mantle, another royal mill with the intelligence and vision to see beyond their own immediate needs and to recognize the bigger picture: the Duchess of Cambridge.
That slender, fresh-hearted girl from her homeland who caught Prince William’s eye at St Andrews University 20 years ago has grown into a wise and capable woman, a devoted and equal woman and mother, a beacon of style and elegance. , a capable public speaker – and someone who has an aura of calm ability that seems to envelop everyone in his field of power.
It was never more proven than Saturday afternoon.
When she arrives in Windsor, she is caught and looks directly into the camera, her gaze steady and serious, her attitude gloomy and yet impeccably stylish. Calm, confident and self-composed, she behaved, as always, with impeccable grace.
That the Duchess is such a class act is, of course, nothing new. Over the past few years, and especially during the pandemic, she has rarely put a foot wrong. She radiates just the right mix of warmth and discretion and shares unguarded glimpses of life as a royal woman without exposing herself, or her family, more than is right or necessary.
But during Saturday’s funeral, she even exceeded her own high standards. It was not only her attitude and style, it was also the way she showed herself as a beacon of light in the darkest hours.
Her kindness and sense of duty shone in her determination to put aside any sense of personal resentment about Prince Harry, Meghan, and that interview, which placed her in such a negative light; to do what was best for her husband, his family, and ultimately the nation, and to pave the way for reconciliation between the brothers.
That the Duchess is such a class act is, of course, nothing new. Over the past few years, and especially during the pandemic, she has rarely put a foot wrong. She radiates just the right mix of warmth and discretion and shares an unguarded view of life as a royal woman without exposing herself or her family as right or necessary.
Let’s be honest, she would have been perfectly entitled to give Harry a wide berth. Not just because of what the Duchess of Sussex said in the Oprah interview that it was Kate who made her cry, on the contrary, in the run-up to the Sussex’s wedding; but also because the whole thing was so upsetting to William.
It is William who feels the sting of fraternal betrayal and the anger that he is being wrongfully thrown out as part of a racist, bullying family. The Duchess of Cambridge might have easily felt that any form of reconciliation or rapprochement would be premature at this stage.
But instead of giving up on the challenge, she met it straight away as they walked to the castle after the funeral.
The Duke of Edinburgh was not a man who demanded recognition by law; he went out there and earned it damn well
Knowing perhaps that the brothers were less likely to make a spectacle with the three cameras in the world, she reached out her hand of friendship to Harry and drew him into conversation.
Regardless of her own feelings about what was said about her in the interview, she set it aside for the sake of the greater good: an opportunity to turn a deeply sad occasion into one, perhaps, colored with hope. And she did so with such effortless charm and generosity of spirit.
Who knows if Harry and William’s exchange of words will help in any way to bridge the gap between them; but God loves Kate because she tries. To see the bigger picture and put their happiness above her own satisfaction.
Who knows if Harry and William’s exchange of words will help in any way to bridge the gap between them; but God loves Kate because she tries. To see the bigger picture and put their happiness above her own satisfaction
And what a stark contrast, it must be said, with that other royal community, in sunny Santa Barbara, always offended so quickly, always so eager to be cast as the victim.
Well, she can say what she wants: the silent cordiality of the Duchess of Cambridge’s good heart is the truth we need to know.
Because Kate, like the Duke of Edinburgh, understands before her that it can be a long, difficult road to be a companion in the British royal family – but that if you take it slow and one step at a time, and you yourself to be a calm and wise voice of common sense, you can be the rock on which a great and beloved institution stands firm.