My sense is that Prince Philip means more to the everyday people of U.K. & the Commonwealth & his death will have a more resonant effect than the premature death of Diana.
Diana died needlessly at the peak of her beauty & charm, & we had yet to find out what she made of her life on her own terms. For a few she has become an eternal heroine, but for many she was a privileged woman who at best made good use of her royal leverage to help people as an early advocate for people with AIDS & decommissioning land mines, but not much more of grit than that. She overplayed the victim card & given her early demise, she did not get to show what she was really made of.
Philip has a broader more enduring appeal across ages, sexes & classes, a public presence built over decades. I have been struck by how many people have been on MSM & SM recounting their meetings with him, his keen intelligence & sharp wit. No matter the everyday nitty gritty of his marriage with HMTQ, they have had a steadfast union. I wonder how many couples have looked at each other in the past few days & thought they could see things through together rather than let matters drift. Of course, some will look at each other & think ‘FFS, I could do with my own Prince Philip, I’m off’.
Diana died needlessly at the peak of her beauty & charm, & we had yet to find out what she made of her life on her own terms. For a few she has become an eternal heroine, but for many she was a privileged woman who at best made good use of her royal leverage to help people as an early advocate for people with AIDS & decommissioning land mines, but not much more of grit than that. She overplayed the victim card & given her early demise, she did not get to show what she was really made of.
Philip has a broader more enduring appeal across ages, sexes & classes, a public presence built over decades. I have been struck by how many people have been on MSM & SM recounting their meetings with him, his keen intelligence & sharp wit. No matter the everyday nitty gritty of his marriage with HMTQ, they have had a steadfast union. I wonder how many couples have looked at each other in the past few days & thought they could see things through together rather than let matters drift. Of course, some will look at each other & think ‘FFS, I could do with my own Prince Philip, I’m off’.